Surgical stapler

Claim 2

A surgical stapler having stored therein at least one staple for suturing tissue, comprising a frame structure adapted to be held by a hand having a generally thin nose section for directing the staple at a wound site and including gripping means; an anvil about which the staple is formed by a translatable driver manually actuated by said hand; and a staple ejector for removing the staple from said anvil, characterized in that said generally thin nose section is downwardly curved for providing improved visibility at the wound site.

Claim 3

The surgical stapler according to claim 1, further characterized in that said frame structure (12) includes first and second gripping means, one of said gripping means (18) is connected to said translatable driver (22), and said stapler further includes spring means (40) for returning said translatable driver (22) from a position of forming said staple about said anvil (61) to a staple reloading position.

Claim 4

The surgical stapler according to claim 2, further characterized in that said frame structure comprises a split frame with a handle portion and a trigger portion, said trigger portion (18) is connected to means for actuating said driver (22) in a substantially translatable direction, and said actuating means comprises a toggle mechanism having a force transmission member linking together said driver (22) and a connecting end portion (50) engagable with a drum (24) rotatable by strap means (32) connected to said trigger portion (18).

Claim 5

The surgical stapler according to claim 3, further characterized in that said stapler includes a housing formed by top and bottom covers (80,84) and incorporating said ejector (86), said driver (22), a spring-loaded staple follower (72) disposed atop said driver (22) for continually urging in front thereof a plurality of staples (74) stored end to end against each other in said stapler, and an escapement member (76) for urging one staple at a time into position in front of said driver (22) prior to the actuation of said driver (22), with said anvil (61) being provided on said bottom cover (84), with said staple ejector (86), bottom cover (84), driver (22), stapler follower (72), top cover (80) and escapement member (76) forming a substantially thin laminated unit with the driver (22) having an end portion (50) extending outwardly therefrom, and with said driver (22) and said staple follower (72) being sandwiched between said top and bottom covers (80,84) in a single track (79).

Claim 6

The surgical stapler according to claim 3, further characterized in that said stapler includes means to prevent double loading of said staples in said stapler, said means including a deflectable pawl arm (106) integral with and extending from said trigger portion (18) and a ratchet element (110) integral with said driver (22) having at least one tooth (114) which is engageable with said pawl arm (106) for ensuring that each actuation cycle of operation is completed before a new cycle can commence.

Claim 7

The surgical stapler according to claim 1, further characterized in that said stapler includes a removable approximating blade (102) disposed at the curved nose section of said frame structure (12) and a window (138) in said frame structure (12) for observing the number of remaining staples stored in said stapler.

Claim 8

A surgical stapler having stored therein a plurality of staples and having a frame structure, with a nose section for directing the staples at a suture site and being adapted to be gripped by a hand, characterized in that said stapler further comprises a housing supporting an anvil (61), and having a single track (79) encompassing a driver (22) for deforming said staple about said anvil (61) and a staple follower (72) in juxtaposition to said driver (22) for continuously urging said staples (74) forwardly in said track (79) in cooperative association with a release member (76); manually operated actuatuing means for actuating said driver (22) in a substantially translatable direction by a toggle-like drive mechanism for forming a closed staple about said anvil (61); and biasing means (32,40) restoring said driver (22) to its unactuated position; with said staples (74) being stacked and nested end to end between said driver (22) and the upper portion (80) of said housing, whereby when said driver (22) is to be restored to its unactuated position by said biasing means (32,40), a single staple from the front of the stack of staples (74) is urged and moves into position in front of said driver (22) so as to be formed about said anvil (61) upon actuation of said driver (22).

Claim 9

A surgical stapler having stored therein a plurality of staples and having a frame structure, with a nose section for directing the staples at a suture site and being adapted to be gripped by a hand, characterized in that said stapler further comprises a housing supporting an anvil (61), and having a single track (79) encompassing a driver (22) for deforming said staple about said anvil (61) and a staple follower (72) in juxtaposition to said driver (22) for continuously urging said staples (74) forwardly in said track (79) in cooperative association with a release member (76); manually operated actuatuing means for actuating said driver (22) in a substantially translatable direction by a toggle-like drive mechanism for forming a closed staple about said anvil (61); and biasing means (32,40) restoring said driver (22) to its unactuated position; with said staples (74) being stacked and nested end to end between said driver (22) and the upper portion (80) of said housing, whereby when said driver (22) is to be restored to its unactuated position by said biasing means (32,40), a single staple from the front of the stack of staples (74) is urged and moves into position in front of said driver (22) so as to be formed about said anvil (61) upon actuation of said driver (22).

Claim 10

A surgical stapler, adapted to be hand held, having a visible staple supply for suturing tissues with staples and having a frame structure, characterized in that said stapler comprises a housing structure having a single track (79) therein for a driver (22)-follower (72) unit, said follower (72) being secured to said driver (22) and being resiliently biased so as to continuously urge said plurality of staples (74) which are stacked end to end atop said driver (22) to a forwardly position; an anvil (61); a release member (76) disposed above the most forward staple for urging said staple into position in front of said driver (22), said driver (22) being manually actuated by actuating means for traveling between a forming position for closing said staple about the anvil (61) and a retracting position in said track (79) for reloading a next staple in front of said driver (22), and the driver (22) retracting so as to permit only a single staple to move independently of said actuating means into position in front of said driver (22) without a direct actuation of said stapler.

Claim 11

A surgical stapler, adapted to be hand held, having a visible staple supply for suturing tissues with staples and having a frame structure, characterized in that said stapler comprises a housing structure having a single track (79) therein for a driver (22)-follower (72) unit, said follower (72) being secured to said driver (22) and being resiliently biased so as to continuously urge said plurality of staples (74) which are stacked end to end atop said driver (22) to a forwardly position; an anvil (61); a release member (76) disposed above the most forward staple for urging said staple into position in front of said driver (22), said driver (22) being manually actuated by actuating means for traveling between a forming position for closing said staple about the anvil (61) and a retracting position in said track (79) for reloading a next staple in front of said driver (22), and the driver (22) retracting so as to permit only a single staple to move independently of said actuating means into position in front of said driver (22) without a direct actuation of said stapler.

Claim 12

The surgical stapler according to claim 8, further characterized in that said housing structure incorporates said anvil (61) and is encompassed within a frame structure (12) having a curved nose section and a depending handle portion with a translatable trigger element (18) connected to said actuating means, said stapler includes means (118',120) for precluding said trigger element (18) from releasing with substantially full retracted force in the event one's grip about said stapler slips or is accidentally jarred, and said release member (216) employs a three-point contact with each staple (204) for urging one staple (204) at a time in front of said driver (22) during each cycle of operation of said stapler.

Claim 13

A surgical staple adapted to join the severed skin or fascia of a body, characterized in that said staple comprises, prior to emplacement, a curved central portion (192), straight portions extending upwardly and outwardly from opposite ends of said curved central portion (192) at obtuse angles, and straight portions extending downwardly and outwardly from curved portions connecting said upwardly and outwardly straight extending portions with said downwardly and outwardly straight extending portions, with said straight portions being about equal in length to each other.

Claim 14

A surgical staple adapted to join the severed skin or fascia of a body, characterized in that said staple comprises, prior to emplacement, a curved central portion (192), straight portions extending upwardly and outwardly from opposite ends of said curved central portion (192) at obtuse angles, and straight portions extending downwardly and outwardly from curved portions connecting said upwardly and outwardly straight extending portions with said downwardly and outwardly straight extending portions, with said straight portions being about equal in length to each other.