Instrument for placing lateral gastrointestinal anastomoses

Claim 1

AN INSTRUMENT FOR SUTURING THE GASTRIC AND INTESTINAL WALLS WITH SPACED PARALLEL ROWS OF METAL STAPLES, SAID INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED POINTED STAPLE INSERTING JAW, A SECOND BODY MEMBER PIVOTALLY AND DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST BODY MEMBER AND HAVING AN ELONGATED POINTED STAPLE CLINCHING JAW DISPOSED IN THE PLANE OF SAID STAPLE INSERTING JAW, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND BODY MEMBER AND ENGAGING A PART ON SAID FIRST BODY MEMBER TO RELEASABLY LOCK SAID JAWS IN TISSUE CLAMPING STAPLE INSERTING POSITION, A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE IN SAID STAPLE INSERTING JAW OPENING TOWARD SAID STAPLE CLINCHING JAW, A SECOND LONGITUDINAL GROOVE IN SAID STAPLE CLINCHING JAW OPPOSING AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST GROOVE, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPPOSED STAPLE RECEIVING RECESSES IN THE SIDEWALLS OF SAID FIRST GROOVE, A STAPLE DRIVER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN EACH RECESS AND HAVING A LUG PROJECTING INTO SAID FIRST GROOVE AND STAPLE DRIVER ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BAR SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST BODY MEMBER AND RECEIVED IN SAID GROOVE, A WEDGE ON THE END OF SAID BAR DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST GROOVE FOR PROGRESSIVELY ENGAGING SAID LUGS, A FINGER ENGAGING EAR ON SAID BAR, RELEASABLE MEANS ON SAID FIRST BODY MEMBER ENGAGING SAID BAR TO PREVENT INADVERTENT OPERATION THEREOF AND A KNIFE ON SAID BAR REARWARDLY OF SAID WEDGE, SAID KNIFE MOVING IN SAID SECOND GROOVE AND OPERATING TO SEVER TISSUE BETWEEN ROWS OF STAPLES INSERTED AND CLINCHED IN SUCH TISSUE.