Tissue-fixing surgical device, and method of fixing tissues
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for fastening together adjacent portions of a body tissue, comprising:
- a staple having first support means for supporting one of the adjacent portions of the body tissue, second support means for supporting the other of the adjacent portions of the body tissue, and connecting means having a proximal end portion fastened to said first support means and a distal end portion, at least said distal end portion becoming soft when heated and fastened to said second support means when hardened after having been softened; and
an applicator having operation means for provisionally holding said first and second support means, for positioning said first support means at one of said adjacent portions of the body tissue, for positioning said second support means at the other of said adjacent portions and for causing said first and second support means to clamp the body tissue, thereby to align said distal end portion with said connecting means, and a heater for heating and softening the distal end portion of said connecting means, thereby to fastening the distal end portion of the connecting means to said second support means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument for fastening together opposing portions of a body organ. The instrument comprises a first support for supporting the first opposing portion of the body organ, a second support opposing the first support, for supporting the second opposing portion of the body organ, and a displacement-preventing member connected to the first or second support for preventing the supports from displacing relative to each other. The member comprises a pin protruding from one of the supports and a hole formed in the other of the supports. The pin is made of thermoplastic resin. When heated, the pins is softened and deformed, whereby the first and second supports are secured to each other, fastening together the opposing portions of the body organ.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument for fastening together adjacent portions of a body tissue, comprising:
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a staple having first support means for supporting one of the adjacent portions of the body tissue, second support means for supporting the other of the adjacent portions of the body tissue, and connecting means having a proximal end portion fastened to said first support means and a distal end portion, at least said distal end portion becoming soft when heated and fastened to said second support means when hardened after having been softened; and an applicator having operation means for provisionally holding said first and second support means, for positioning said first support means at one of said adjacent portions of the body tissue, for positioning said second support means at the other of said adjacent portions and for causing said first and second support means to clamp the body tissue, thereby to align said distal end portion with said connecting means, and a heater for heating and softening the distal end portion of said connecting means, thereby to fastening the distal end portion of the connecting means to said second support means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A staple for fastening together adjacent portions of a body tissue, comprising:
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a first claw provided at one end of said staple body, for piercing into one of the adjacent portions of the body tissue; a second claw provided at the other end of said staple body, for piercing into the other of the adjacent portions of the body tissue; and means provided on said staple body and capable of being deformed when heated and being hardened when cooled. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of applying a staple to body tissues by means of an applicator, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a staple having legs made of thermoplastic resin and designed to pierce through the body tissues; loading the staple in said applicator; piercing the legs of said staple through the body tissue; and heating and deforming the legs of said staple and leaving the legs to cool, thereby to fasten the staple to the body tissues. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of applying a staple to a body tissue, thereby to fasten two adjacent portions of the body tissue, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a staple comprising first support means having legs made of thermoplastic resin and designed to pierce into the body tissues, for supporting one of the adjacent portions of the body tissue, second support means for supporting the other of the adjacent portions of the body tissue; loading the staple in an applicator; piercing the legs of said first support means through the one of the adjacent portions of the body tissue; connecting the legs of said first support means to said second support means; and heating and deforming the legs of the first support means, thereby securing the legs to the second support means, and leaving the legs to cool, thereby to fasten the first and second support means to the body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument for fastening together adjacent portions of a body tissue, comprising:
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a staple having a piercing portion to pierce through the body tissue, a holding portion for holding the body tissue, and a deformable portion which is sharp enough to pierce through the body tissue and which is capable of being softened when supplied with energy and of being deformed; and an applicator having operation means for causing the holding portion of said staple to hold the body tissue, and energy-supplying means for supplying energy to the deformable portion of said staple. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of applying a staple to body tissues by means of an applicator, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a staple having a piercing portion made of thermoplastic resin and designed to pierce through the body tissue, a holding portion for holding the body tissue, and a deformable portion which is sharp enough to pierce through the body tissue and which is capable of generating heat supplied with energy and of being permanently deformed; loading the staple in said applicator; driving the piercing portion of said staple through the body tissue; heating the deformable portion of said staple, thereby softening and deforming the deformable portion, and leaving the deformable portion to cool, thereby to fasten the staple to the body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method of applying a staple to a body tissue, thereby to fasten two adjacent portions of the body tissue, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a staple comprising first support means for supporting one of the adjacent portion of the body tissue, having a piercing portion which is made of thermoplastic resin and which is designed to pierce through the body tissue and a deformable portion which is sharp enough to pierce through the body tissue and which is capable of generating heat supplied with energy and of being permanently deformed, second support means for supporting the other of the adjacent portions of the body tissue; loading the staple in an applicator; piercing the piercing portion of said first support means through the one of the adjacent portions of the body tissue; connecting the piercing portion of said first support means to said second support means; and heating and deforming the deformable portion of the first support means, thereby securing the first support means to the second support means, and leaving the deformable portion to cool, thereby to fasten the first and second support means to the body tissue.
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Specification