Surgical staple

Claim 1

STHE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A surgical staple for closing wound edges jkcomprising a central portion and opposed side portions, the central portion including an arcuate region curved in the direction of the side portions and adapted to be flattened by a stapling tool such that a substantially circular movement of the side portions is produced. 2. The surgical staple according to claim 1 wherein Sthe arcuate central region extends along an arc of a circle of constant radius. 3. The surgical staple according to claim I and Scomprising a straight leg disposed between the arcuate central region and each side portion. 4. The surgical staple according to claim 3 wherein the legs are bent at an angle with respect to the central I: iregion such that the ends of the side portions substantially abut against each other after the arcuate region is flattened. The surgical staple according to claim 4 wherein the side portions are curved and include a section having a radius centered at the center of the arcuate central region. 6. The surgical staple according to claim 3 wherein in the side portions are curved and include a section having a IIradius centered at the center of the arcuate central region. 7. The surgical staple according to claim 4 wherein I' the arcuate central region extends along an arc of a circle I of constant radius and the side portions are curved and i include a section having a radius centered at the center of the arcuate central region. 8. The surgical staple according to claim 3 wherein S-9- j f the arcuate central region extends along an arc of a circle of constant radius and the side portions are curved and include a section having a radius centered at the center of Sthe arcuate central region. 9. The surgical staple according to claim 5 wherein the tangent to the center of said side portion section extends at an angle of less about 600 to the longitudinal 0099 axis of the straight leg. 00o 091 10. The surgical staple according to claim 6 wherein 049 4, 0 0 0 the tangent to the center of said side portion section 0 0n extends at an angle of less about 600 to the longitudinal axis of the straight leg. 00 a 11. The surgical staple according tr claim 7 wherein the arcuate central region extends along an arc of a circle of constant radius and the side portions are curved and 0* include a section having a radius centered at the center of the arcuate central region. 12. The surgical staple according to claim 8 wherein the arcuate central region extends along an arc of a circle of constant radius and the side portions are curved and include a section having a radius centered at the center of the arcuate central region. 13. The surgical staple according to claim 1 wherein the free ends of the side portions are configured so as to i!facilitate cutting or puncturing of skin or tissue. S14. The surgical staple according to claim 1 wherein a point on the curved arcuate region lies substantially in the planar center of gravity of the staple. DATED this 8th day of February 1983. INTERMEDICAT GMBH EDWD. WATERS SONS PATENT ATTORNEYS MELBOURNE. VIC. 3000. i I]