Surgical stapling instrument

Claim 2

A stapling cartridge (38) comprising: a housing (39) having four parallel rows (44) of apertures on a distal side disposed in a staggered arrangement and an opening on a proximal side; a plurality of surgical staples (45) disposed within said housing in alignment with said apertures; and means (46) within said housing for moving said staples simultaneously from within said housing through said apertures under a pushing force applied through said opening on said proximal side.

Claim 3

A surgical stapling instrument (10) comprising: a frame (11) having an anvil (16) disposed at a distal end; and characterised by: a first actuator means (24) connected at a proximal end to said frame for movement between a closed position coaxial with said frame and an open position away from said frame to permit cleaning of said frame and said actuator means, said actuator means being reciprocally mounted within said frame when in said closed position; a stapling cartridge holder (29) integrally mounted on a distal end of said actuator means; and a second actuator means (25) connected to said frame and said first actuator means for movement between an open position away from said frame and a closed position within said frame for reciprocating said first actuator means within said frame when in said closed position thereof.

Claim 4

A surgical stapling instrument (10) comprising: a frame (11) having an anvil (16) disposed at a distal end; and characterised by: a first actuator means (24) connected at a proximal end to said frame for movement between a closed position coaxial with said frame and an open position away from said frame to permit cleaning of said frame and said actuator means, said actuator means being reciprocally mounted within said frame when in said closed position; a stapling cartridge holder (29) integrally mounted on a distal end of said actuator means; and a second actuator means (25) connected to said frame and said first actuator means for movement between an open position away from said frame and a closed position within said frame for reciprocating said first actuator means within said frame when in said closed position thereof.

Claim 5

A surgical stapling instrument as claimed in claim 2 further comprising retaining means (18) for retaining said first acutator means in said frame in said closed position there to prevent movement of said first actuator means to said open position thereof.

Claim 6

A surgical stapling instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein said retaining means includes a pin (20) on said first acutator means adjacent said cartridge holder and a recess (17) in said frame receiving said pin therein.

Claim 7

A surgical stapling instrument as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 which further comprises: a plunger rod (30) reciprocally mounted in said first actuator means for expelling staples (45) from a cartridge (38) mounted in said holder and being aligned with said second actuator means; a handle (26 pivotally mounted in said frame for moving said second actuator means against said plunger rod to expel staples from a cartridge in said holder against said anvil.

Claim 8

Stapling apparatus comprising: a surgical stapling instrument (10) including a frame (11) having an anvil (16) disposed at a distal end, a first actuator means (24) reciprocally mounted in said frame and having a stapling cartridge holder (29) at a distal end opposite said anvil, and a means mounted in said frame for moving said first acutator means towards said anvil; and a stapling cartridge (38) removably mounted in said holder, said cartridge including a housing (39) having four parallel rows of apertures on a distal side in facing alignment with said anvil, said rows being arranged in closely spaced staggered relation to each other, a plurality of staples in said housing and means within said housing for moving said staples simultaneously from said housing through said apertures and against said anvil.

Claim 9

Stapling apparatus comprising: a surgical stapling instrument (10) including a frame (11) having an anvil (16) disposed at a distal end, a first actuator means (24) reciprocally mounted in said frame and having a stapling cartridge holder (29) at a distal end opposite said anvil, and a means mounted in said frame for moving said first acutator means towards said anvil; and a stapling cartridge (38) removably mounted in said holder, said cartridge including a housing (39) having four parallel rows of apertures on a distal side in facing alignment with said anvil, said rows being arranged in closely spaced staggered relation to each other, a plurality of staples in said housing and means within said housing for moving said staples simultaneously from said housing through said apertures and against said anvil.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first actuator is connected at a proximal end to said frame for movement between a closed position coaxial with said frame and an open position away from said frame to permit cleaning of said frame and said actuator means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein said instrument includes a plunger rod slidably mounted in said first actuatormeans and aligned with an opening in said housing of said cartridge and a handle pivotally mounted in said frame for pushing said rod into said housing to expel said staples therefrom.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 which further includes a pin on said first actuator means adjacent said cartridge holder and a recess in said frame receiving said pin therein to prevent movement of said first actuator means to said open position thereof.

Claim 13

A stapling cartridge as claimed in claim 1, or stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the rows of apertures are disposed on a centerline-to-centerline spacing of 2mm (0.08 inches).