Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument for aspiration, irrigation, and blowing gas adjacent a surgical site is provided. The instrument includes a handle portion and a cannula member extending distally from the handle portion. First and second connection ports are supported by the handle and are in fluid communication with the cannula member. An insertion port is also supported by the handle portion and is preferably axially aligned with the cannula member. A blow tube is removably positioned within the cannula member via the insertion port. The first and second connection ports are adapted to communicate with a source of irrigation fluid and a vacuum source and the blow tube is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized gas such that irrigation fluid, aspiration, and/or pressurized gas can be selectively provided via the cannula member at the surgical site.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for anastomosis of first and second blood vessels is provided having a handle and a body portion extending distally from the handle. A collet is mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body portion and defines a passage therethrough for the reception of an end of a first blood vessel. A plurality of surgical fasteners are releasably supported by the collet and radially oriented about the distal end thereof. An anvil is mounted adjacent of the collet. The anvil and collet are relatively slidable in response to actuation of the handle to simultaneously deform then release the surgical fasteners.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar sidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier.

Abstract: A self-contained powered surgical stapling device is provided which includes an elongate body and a disposable cartridge assembly detachably supported in a distal end portion of the body. The cartridge assembly includes a frame configured to engage the distal end portion of the body, a housing supported within the frame and containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, an anvil mounted for movement with respect to the housing, an actuation assembly configured to translate relative to the housing and the anvil to progressively move the anvil from an open position to a closed position and to sequentially eject the surgical fasteners from the housing to be formed against the anvil, and an axial drive screw mounted in the frame and threadably associated with the actuation assembly for effectuating the longitudinal translation thereof.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to the jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted with respect to the housing and envelops the jaw blade assembly for camming the jaws closed upon closing of the handles. The clips may be fed to the jaws by a spring biased feed bar which operates upon closing of the handles, or may be urged by pusher bar which provides a biasing force to the clips to be retained by the jaws. The instrument may be used in conventional surgical procedures, or may be adapted for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures requiring the application of microsurgical clips.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to the jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted with respect to the housing and envelops the jaw blade assembly for camming the jaws closed upon closing of the handles. The clips may be fed to the jaws by a spring biased feed bar which operates upon closing of the handles, or may be urged by pusher bar which provides a biasing force to the clips to be retained by the jaws. The instrument may be used in conventional surgical procedures, or may be adapted for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures requiting the application of microsurgical clips.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus has a handle assembly and an elongated body which extends distally from the handle assembly. A fastener applying assembly is operatively associated with a distal end of the elongated body and includes a cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuation assembly is configured to translate through the fastener applying assembly to effect progressive closure of the anvil and concomitantly effect sequential ejection of staples from the cartridge.

Abstract: A self-contained powered surgical stapling device is provided which includes an elongate body. A fastener applying assembly is operatively associated with a distal end of the elongate body and includes a cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil actuable to move between an open position and a closed position. A motor assembly is disposed within the elongate body for driving an actuation assembly configured to translate through the fastener applying assembly to progressively close the anvil and sequentially eject staples from the cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to dosing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier.

Abstract: An everting forceps comprising first and second outer resilient legs rigidly interconnected at one end thereof, and a third leg intermediate the pair of legs. Each of the outer legs terminating at a tip provided with an arcuate jaw. A moving device positions the intermediate leg with respect to one of the first and second legs. A locking mechanism for locking the intermediate leg and at least one of the outer legs is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus has a handle assembly and an elongated body which extends distally from the handle assembly. A fastener applying assembly is operatively associated with a distal end of the elongated body and includes a cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuation assembly is configured to translate through the fastener applying assembly to effect progressive closure of the anvil and concomitantly effect sequential ejection of staples from the cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for stapling the plaque lining of an artery or vein to the wall of the artery or vein, which comprises first and second opposed cooperative elongated members pivotably associated with one another. The first and second elongated members have distal ends, and proximal ends forming handles. The first elongated member forms an anvil portion at its distal end which is configured for placement into an open end of a vein and/or an artery. A staple cartridge assembly is disposed on the distal end of the second elongated member and includes a staple magazine containing a multiplicity of staples longitudinally and sequentially aligned with the staple magazine. Actuating means are provided which are supported by the staple cartridge assembly for movement in a given direction therealong to drive the staples in the staple magazine toward a staple exit end.

Abstract: An instrument for tightening wound closure elements around body tissue, such as a human sternum following surgery. The instrument includes a first handle and a second handle pivotally attached to the first handle and movable between an open and a closed position. A retaining system is also provided to tighten wound closure material in response to movement of the second handle.

Abstract: A suture holding clip including legs each having a suture contacting surface. The legs can be closed to define an interface for holding a suture in a serpentine configuration. In another embodiment the suture holding clip is initially in a spider leg configuration with a spine and legs projecting from the spine and alternately angled to one or the other of two directions so as to define therebetween a lengthwise extending passage for the reception therethrough of a suture.

Abstract: A surgical fastening apparatus comprises first and second handles with an anvil jaw pivotally connected to at least one of the handles for movement from an open to a closed position in response to a first movement of a handle to clamp body tissue. Fastener pushing means are provided for advancing an individual fastener into contact with the anvil jaw in response to a subsequent movement of a handle. An indicator is provided to alert the user to the termination of the first movement; in a preferred embodiment this indicator is a second movement dwell period of the apparatus in which handle movement continues but the anvil jaw remains stationary and the fastener pushing means is not yet actuated. The apparatus further comprises means for preventing incomplete actuation of the fastener pushing means during the subsequent handle movement.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for tightening a strap loop to a predetermined tension about split tissue portions includes a frame, an advancing mechanism for tightening the strap loop, a linkage mechanism which severs excess strap material not used in securing the tissue portions together and a control mechanism for controlling operation of the apparatus. The advancing mechanism includes a tensioning lever and a gear mechanism. The gear mechanism includes a tensioning hub and a clutch which releases when the tension in the strap loop exceeds a predetermined value. The control mechanism includes a safety feature for preventing inadvertent activation of the linkage mechanism. A buckle and a method for use with the surgical apparatus is also disclosed. The invention is particularly contemplated for repair of the human sternum when the sternum has been split during surgical procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a buckle assembly about split portions of tissue is provided. The apparatus is particularly contemplated for use with a buckle of the type having a base member with an opening extending generally transversely therethrough for reception of a first strap end portion and a clamp member slidably housed within a channel formed in the base member. The apparatus includes a frame member, a mechanism disposed in a lower surface of the frame member for releasably supporting the buckle member and a mechanism associated with the frame member for advancing the clamp member within the channel of the buckle to a strap securing position wherein the strap member is secured within the buckle member in a looped configuration about the tissue portions.In an alternate embodiment, a surgical system for repair of split portions of tissue includes a flexible strap member having a buckle member attached thereto.

Abstract: A suture holding clip including legs each having a suture contacting surface. The legs can be closed to define an interface for holding a suture in a serpentine configuration. In another embodiment the suture holding clip is initially in a spider leg configuration with a spine and legs projecting from the spine and alternately angled to one or the other of two directions so as to define therebetween a lengthwise extending passage for the reception therethrough of a suture.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for removing fasteners from the body includes a pair of fastener removing members which are configured and dimensioned to contact the legs of a fastener to be removed. The legs are then forced apart so as to caused the fastener legs to deform to a configuration suitable for removable from the body.