Abstract: A hand held surgical instrument for grasping and clamping tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument has a handle body assembly and an elongated shaft. The shaft is connected to the handle body assembly at a proximal end and has an end effector at a distal end. The end effector is operably coupled to an actuation member extending from the handle body. The actuation member is moveable toward and away from the handle body to open and close the end effector. A locking tab is located on the handle body assembly and is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A locking rod is movably engaged with a hole in the locking tab. When the locking tab is in the unlocked position, the actuation member is free to move towards and away from the handle body assembly to open and close the end effector. When the locking tab is in the locked position, movement to open the actuation member is prevented.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapler which allows for the multi-directional release of staples includes a stapler body and a driver contained therein. A magazine is connected to the stapler body and includes a staple track for carrying a plurality of staples wherein each of the staples has staple legs. An anvil is associated with the staple track for providing a staple forming surface for forming a staple thereon. A feeder element which is spring biased against the staples is used for feeding each staple from the staple track to the anvil. A trigger is operatively connected to the driver and is movable from a pre-fire position to a firing position for advancing the driver against the anvil for forming the staple against the anvil. A kick-off spring is positioned beneath and substantially parallel to the staple track and the anvil.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including an improved handle and latching mechanism is described. The handle comprises an instrument trigger pivotally connected to an instrument body with a toggle link connecting the instrument trigger to an actuating mechanism in the handle. The toggle link includes a latch notch or latch stop which is adapted to receive a latch link which is pivotally connected to the handle at a first end and contacts the toggle link at a second end. A latch trigger is adapted to contact the latch link.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle, an end effector including jaws, an elongated tube connecting the handle to the end effector, a connector within the tube connecting the handle to the jaw members; and a first slot in the first jaw and a second slot in the jaw wherein the first and second slots are arranged such that only a portion of the slots overlap when the first and second jaws are closed to create a hole in the jaw which may be used for positioning a suture in the tissue. The first slot in the first jaw extends to a side of the first jaw and the second slot in the second jaw extends to a side of the second jaw creating pathways for removing the suture when the jaws are opened. The surgical instrument may also include a retractable tying pin adjacent the end effector and a knot pusher at the distal end of the end effector.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a device for tying knots intracorporeally during laparoscopic surgery. It is intended to simplify the process of tying intracorporeal knots to the point that the average laparoscopist can quickly learn to suture laparoscopically with confidence. The unique features of this invention include: a driven shuttle; integral grasper or needle driver; the system is reloadable; and the system may have a detachable end effector. The system also may have a multi function handle, and incorporates an integral needle driver mechanism.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a device for tying knots intracorporeally during laparoscopic surgery. It is intended to simplify the process of tying intracorporeal knots to the point that the average laparoscopist can quickly learn to suture laparoscopically with confidence. The unique features of this invention include: a driven shuttle; integral grasper; the system is reloadable; and the system may have a detachable end effector. The system also may have a multi function handle.

Abstract: An tissue retention spring for use with a surgical circular stapler used to perform an anastomosis. The tissue retention spring is mounted onto the anvil shaft of the stapler. The spring has a plurality of connected helical coils defining a member having an axial passage therethrough. The spring provides tissue retention, tissue and fluid venting, and improved stapler closing.

Abstract: An anvil bushing for use with a surgical circular stapler used to perform an anastomosis. The anvil bushing is mounted to the anvil shaft of the stapler. The bushing has a tubular member having an axial pathway therethrough. The tubular member has a proximal end, a distal end and an exterior surface. A first flange member having a first diameter is mounted to the distal end of the tubular member. A second flange member having a second diameter is mounted to the proximal end of the tubular member. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter. Legs for locating the bushing on an anvil shaft extend axially from the first flange member. Tissue notches are contained in the second flange member.

Abstract: An improvement in a bait cast reel of the type having a line-carrying spool, a rotatable crank handle with an associated crank shaft for imparting rotation to the spool to wind line thereon, a line guide, and a worm bear operable in response to rotation of the crank shaft for causing reciprocative movement of the line guide across the spool as the spool is rotated to thereby evenly distribute line on the spool. The improvement is a drive pulley element that follows rotation of the crank shaft and frictionally engages a shaft carrying the worm gear to impart rotation thereto. Slippage can occur between the drive element and the worm gear shaft when a predetermined resistance to rotation of the worm gear shaft is encountered, i.e. when a user's finger jams the line guide.

Abstract: A communication set tuner has a control member which varies the tuning status of the set; a rotatable input member is provided for driving the control member; the driving connection between the input member and the control member is so designed that the input member may be positioned on the set in any one of a large plurality of available positions. Thus a single driving mechanism structure may be provided which can be used in many different set environments calling for specifically different locations of the input member.