Surgical instrument for applying fasteners said instrument including force supporting means (case IV)
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for stitching tissue by means of staples, said instrument comprising a support body, a pair of jaws mounted at one end of said support body, a staple housing mounted in one of said jaws, said jaw containing said staple housing being movable with respect to the other of said jaw means mounted on said support body for moving said jaw containing said staple housing towards the other jaw to close the gap therebetween and clamp tissue therebetween, drive means mounted on said support body for driving the staples from the jaw containing the staple housing towards the opposite jaw, actuating means mounted at the end of said support body opposite said end on which the jaws are mounted for actuating said staple drive means, the improvement comprising engaging means connecting the support body and movable jaws containing the staple housing when the appropriate gap is set between the jaws to reinforce the central portion of said jaw and transmit forces from the jaw to the support body while the staples are being driven.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument for applying fasteners to tissue to be joined. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The instrument has force supporting means cooperating with the movable jaw to reinforce the jaw as the fasteners are being placed in the tissue.
1416 Citations
5 Claims
- 1. A surgical instrument for stitching tissue by means of staples, said instrument comprising a support body, a pair of jaws mounted at one end of said support body, a staple housing mounted in one of said jaws, said jaw containing said staple housing being movable with respect to the other of said jaw means mounted on said support body for moving said jaw containing said staple housing towards the other jaw to close the gap therebetween and clamp tissue therebetween, drive means mounted on said support body for driving the staples from the jaw containing the staple housing towards the opposite jaw, actuating means mounted at the end of said support body opposite said end on which the jaws are mounted for actuating said staple drive means, the improvement comprising engaging means connecting the support body and movable jaws containing the staple housing when the appropriate gap is set between the jaws to reinforce the central portion of said jaw and transmit forces from the jaw to the support body while the staples are being driven.
Specification