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Apparatus and method for placing staples in laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures

  • US 5,425,745 A
  • Filed: 10/29/1993
  • Issued: 06/20/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of endoscopically driving fasteners into body tissue comprising the steps of:

  • providing an endoscopic opening into a body for accessing tissue to be fastened;

    providing a surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue including;

    a frame;

    an endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic portion including;

    i) an elongated support for receiving a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and including a plurality of surgical fasteners slidably mounted therein, and having a tissue engaging surface;

    ii) a jaw member having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said jaw member being pivotally retained in said elongated support such that the jaw member is movable between an open position and a closed position in close cooperative alignment with the tissue engaging surface of the cartridge assembly and said distal end of said jaw member is in juxtaposed alignment with said distal end of said cartridge assembly;

    iii) a closure member for moving the jaw member between the open position and the closed position comprising a collar operatively associated with at least a portion of said support and said jaw member, said collar having a camming edge and being movable between a first position in which said camming edge is located proximally to the proximal end of said jaw member, and a second position in which said camming edge is located distally to the proximal end of said jaw member, said collar cooperating with said jaw member such that when said collar is moved from said first position to said second position, said jaw member is urged to said closed position;

    iv) pusher elements for ejecting the surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly through tissue; and

    v) an elongated member which translates with respect to said endoscopic portion independent of said closure member for actuating said pusher elements;

    linkage for moving said collar between said first position and said second position; and

    a seal member for sealing said endoscopic portion to effect an internal seal therewithin;

    translating the closure member to the second position to approximate said jaw member towards said cartridge assembly prior to inserting said jaw member and cartridge assembly into said encloseopic opening;

    inserting said approximated jaw member and cartridge assembly of said surgical apparatus into said endoscopic opening;

    translating the closure member from the second position to the first position to open said approximated jaw member and said cartridge assembly to define a tissue receiving space therebetween;

    positioning body tissue into which said fasteners are to be driven such that said body tissue enters said tissue receiving space between said jaw member and said cartridge assembly in a direction extending from a distal to a proximal end of said jaw member and said cartridge assembly;

    translating the closure member back to the second position to cause said jaw member to move said jaw member from said open position to said closed position; and

    remotely manipulating said elongated member independent of the closure member for actuating said pusher elements for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge assembly to drive said surgical fasteners into said body tissue.

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