Surgical stapler
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler comprising a staple channel, a staple magazine for staples, means for advancing the staples in the staple magazine and delivering them to the staple channel, an anvil surface disposed at the end of the channel movable relative to the channel between an operating position and a retracted position, a driver displaceable in the channel relative to the anvil surface for deforming a staple in cooperation with the anvil surface, and a leaf spring to which the anvil surface is fastened, the leaf spring extending in the channel and having an inclined surface which cooperates with a projection on the driver for moving the anvil surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stapler, particularly for suturing skin wounds or incisions, is disclosed which comprises a channel in which a driver is advanced by a slide in the direction of an anvil surface. A staple magazine which extends substantially parallel with the driver includes a curved section which opens into the channel to deliver staples into the channel for engagement by the driver. During forward displacement of the driver, a projection on the driver presses a leaf spring to which the anvil surface is connected. The anvil surface at the forward end of the leaf spring is thereby brought into its operating position and is automatically moved back into its retracted position upon release of the spring after the driver is retracted. The curved section in the staple magazine enables the stapler to have a slim profile which does not obscure the working area during a stapling operation. After completion of a stapling operation, the anvil surface is automatically retracted from a closed, implanted staple.
373 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A surgical stapler comprising a staple channel, a staple magazine for staples, means for advancing the staples in the staple magazine and delivering them to the staple channel, an anvil surface disposed at the end of the channel movable relative to the channel between an operating position and a retracted position, a driver displaceable in the channel relative to the anvil surface for deforming a staple in cooperation with the anvil surface, and a leaf spring to which the anvil surface is fastened, the leaf spring extending in the channel and having an inclined surface which cooperates with a projection on the driver for moving the anvil surface.
Specification