Abstract: A surgical apparatus may include a staple holder, an anvil connected to and movable relative to the staple holder, and at least one axle extending outward from the anvil; and an overtube slidable relative to the end effector, the overtube including at least one slot defined therein; where each slot receives a corresponding axle. A surgical method for treating tissue of a patient may include providing an end effector that includes a staple holder and an anvil connected to and movable relative to the staple holder, and an overtube slidable relative to said end effector, making an incision in the patient; inserting the end effector and at least part of the overtube through the incision in a first, insertion configuration in which substantially no gap exists between the anvil and staple holder, and moving the overtube relative to the end effector to open the end effector to a second, unclamped position where at least part of the anvil is spaced apart from the staple holder.

Abstract: An exemplary staple holder of a surgical stapler may include a cavity defined therein, staples held within that cavity; an upper surface; apertures defined through the upper surface through which staples are deployable, at least one wedge movable within the cavity, and at least one staple trap including a strip and arms extending from and bent relative to the strip, where at least one arm resides in a neutral position directly underneath a corresponding aperture.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus may include a staple holder, an anvil connected to and movable relative to the staple holder, and at least one axle extending outward from the anvil; and an overtube slidable relative to the end effector, the overtube including at least one slot defined therein; where each slot receives a corresponding axle. A surgical method for treating tissue of a patient may include providing an end effector that includes a staple holder and an anvil connected to and movable relative to the staple holder, and an overtube slidable relative to said end effector, making an incision in the patient; inserting the end effector and at least part of the overtube through the incision in a first, insertion configuration in which substantially no gap exists between the anvil and staple holder, and moving the overtube relative to the end effector to open the end effector to a second, unclamped position where at least part of the anvil is spaced apart from the staple holder.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical staple may include a base including a first end and a second end; a single tine extending from the second end of the base; and a barb extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base. An end of such a staple may be frangibly affixed to a feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one staple including a base including a first end and a second end, a first tine extending from the second end of the base, and a second tine extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base.

Abstract: One exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting the strip to produce a feeder belt with at least one lateral edge, and staples affixed to the feeder belt in proximity to at least one lateral edge, where the staples and feeder belt are substantially aligned along a first plane; and bending at least one staple out of the first plane, while the feeder belt remains in the first plane. Another exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting that strip to produce a feeder belt with edges, and staples affixed to different edges of the feeder belt; and coining at least one staple after the cutting.

Abstract: An exemplary active wedge for use with surgical staples, comprising a wedge base having an upper surface; and at least one wedge grate movable relative to the wedge base between a first position and a second position, where in the first position of the wedge base substantially all of the wedge grate is located below the upper surface of the wedge base, and where in the second position at least part of the wedge grate is positioned above the upper surface of the wedge base.

Abstract: An exemplary staple holder of a surgical stapler may include a cavity defined therein, staples held within that cavity; an upper surface; apertures defined through the upper surface through which staples are deployable, at least one wedge movable within the cavity, and at least one staple trap including a strip and arms extending from and bent relative to the strip, where at least one arm resides in a neutral position directly underneath a corresponding aperture.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt configured as a continuous loop; staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; apertures defined in the continuous feeder belt; and a gear positioned at the distal end of the feeder belt within the continuous loop, where the gear engages at least one of the apertures to move the continuous feeder belt around the gear. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a plurality of staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; and a plurality of teeth defined on the continuous feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a continuous belt assembly that has a flexible rack with two ends, and a feeder belt with two ends, each end of the feeder belt connected to a corresponding end of the flexible rack; and staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt.

Abstract: An integrated anastomosis tool may include an effector that both makes an opening in the wall of a target vessel and connects a graft vessel to the target vessel. The effector may include a cutter assembly and a connection module that are independently actuatable. The connection between the graft vessel and the target vessel may be compliant, and may be achieved by suturing an end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel with the connection module.

Abstract: An integrated anastomosis tool may include an effector that both makes an opening in the wall of a target vessel and connects a graft vessel to the target vessel. The effector may include a cutter assembly and a connection module that are independently actuatable. The connection between the graft vessel and the target vessel may be compliant, and may be achieved by suturing an end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel with the connection module.

Abstract: One exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting the strip to produce a feeder belt with at least one lateral edge, and staples affixed to the feeder belt in proximity to at least one lateral edge, where the staples and feeder belt are substantially aligned along a first plane; and bending at least one staple out of the first plane, while the feeder belt remains in the first plane. Another exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting that strip to produce a feeder belt with edges, and staples affixed to different edges of the feeder belt; and coining at least one staple after the cutting.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device designed and constructed for cutting and stapling tissues in a surgical procedure. The surgical stapling device includes an actuated wedge to deploy staples. The actuated wedge is put into an active state by a first wedge actuation element. In the active state, the actuated wedge is ready to engage and deploy staples in a staple holder. The actuated wedge is put into a neutral state by a second wedge actuation element. In the neutral state, the actuated wedge disengages with the staples and does not deploy the staples. The surgical stapling device includes an I-beam that acts to maintain a clamp gap between the anvil and staple holder of the surgical stapling device to ensure proper stapling of tissue.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt configured as a continuous loop; staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; apertures defined in the continuous feeder belt; and a gear positioned at the distal end of the feeder belt within the continuous loop, where the gear engages at least one of the apertures to move the continuous feeder belt around the gear. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a plurality of staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; and a plurality of teeth defined on the continuous feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a continuous belt assembly that has a flexible rack with two ends, and a feeder belt with two ends, each end of the feeder belt connected to a corresponding end of the flexible rack; and staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt.

Abstract: A surgical staple for connecting two tubular tissue structures may include a substantially rectangular base having a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to one another, and a third edge substantially perpendicular to the first and said second edges; and may also include at least three deformable tines extending from the first and second edges of said base; where no tine that extends from the first edge may be positioned at substantially the same distance from the third edge as any said tine that extends from the second edge; and where deformation of the tines secures the tubular tissue structures together.

Abstract: A method of performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, each having a circumferential wall and a lumen therethrough, may include providing an anastomosis tool including a tissue effector and a fluid-driven actuator operationally connected to that tissue effector; connecting the fluid-driven actuator to an energy source; placing an end of the graft vessel in proximity to the side of the target vessel; and actuating the fluid-driven actuator to connect the end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel.

Abstract: A surgical instrument may include a knife moveable from a stowed position completely within said surgical instrument to a cutting position in which at least part of the knife is positioned outside the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may also include at least two cam slots, a cam pin extending from the knife into the cam slots, at least two guide slots that are substantially linear and are spaced apart from said cam slots, and a guide pin extending from the knife into the guide slots. In some embodiments, the cam slots are shaped to cause the knife to move from the stowed position to the cutting position as the knife is urged proximally.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a surgical staple deformable from a first configuration to a second, deployed configuration, where the surgical staple includes a first leg and a second leg; where in the second, deployed configuration the surgical staple forms substantially a D-shape. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a surgical staple deformable from a first configuration to a second, deployed configuration, where the surgical staple includes a first leg and a second leg connected to the first leg, where one end of the first leg is frangibly affixed to the feeder belt and one end of said the leg is free; where in the second, deployed configuration the surgical staple forms substantially a D-shape. An exemplary method of treating tissue may include providing a surgical staple; urging the surgical staple into tissue, while the surgical staple has a first shape; and deforming the surgical staple into substantially a D-shape.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt configured as a continuous loop; staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; apertures defined in the continuous feeder belt; and a gear positioned at the distal end of the feeder belt within the continuous loop, where the gear engages at least one of the apertures to move the continuous feeder belt around the gear. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a plurality of staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; and a plurality of teeth defined on the continuous feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a continuous belt assembly that has a flexible rack with two ends, and a feeder belt with two ends, each end of the feeder belt connected to a corresponding end of the flexible rack; and staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt.

Abstract: One example of a surgical stapler may include a first staple holder, a second staple holder opposed to the first staple holder; a first feeder belt extending into the first staple holder, a second feeder belt extending into the second staple holder; and staples affixed to and frangibly separable from each feeder belt. Another example of a surgical stapler may include an anvilless end effector that in turn includes two opposed staple holders; at least one feeder belt extending into each staple holder, and staples frangibly affixed to each feeder belt.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include fabricating an anvil that includes an insert composed of a first material, the insert located within a cavity in a body composed of a second material, where the first material and the second material have different properties.