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Articulating apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue

  • US 5,797,538 A
  • Filed: 03/13/1997
  • Issued: 08/25/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue comprising:

  • a) a handle assembly;

    b) an elongated body extending from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

    c) a cartridge housing pivotably connected to a distal end portion of the elongated body;

    d) a fastener cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners and positionable in the cartridge housing;

    e) an anvil pivotally mounted adjacent relative to the cartridge housing and defining a fastener forming surface against which surgical fasteners are driven when ejected from the fastener cartridge, the anvil being pivotable relative to the cartridge housing between a first position in longitudinal alignment with the cartridge housing and a second position skewed relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge housing;

    f) a fastener driving mechanism operatively associated with the fastener cartridge and actuatable from the handle assembly to eject fasteners from the fastener cartridge;

    g) a single rod link member in direct operative association with the cartridge housing, which pivotably moves the cartridge housing between a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and a second position out of alignment with the elongated body longitudinal axis; and

    h) a pivotable control lever in direct operative association with the single rod link member and pivotable between a position corresponding to the first position of the cartridge housing and a position corresponding to the second position of the cartridge housing, the relative pivotable position of the control lever providing visual indication of the position of the cartridge housing relative to the elongated body.

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