Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
In a suture stapler, holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; and a drive mechanism including a handle pivotally connected to the holding means and a thrust lever folded back on the handle and pivotally connected to the handle and the ram means so that, when the handle and the thrust lever are squeezed together, the ram means is moved through the holding means, the handle and the thrust lever being integral and including a spring hinge portion connecting them together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a suture stapler, holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; and a drive mechanism including a handle pivotally connected to the holding means and a thrust lever folded back on the handle and pivotally connected to the handle and the ram means so that, when the handle and the thrust lever are squeezed together, the ram means is moved through the holding means, the handle and the thrust lever being integral and including a spring hinge portion connecting them together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stapler of claim 1 including a thrust member connected to the ram means, the thrust member and the thrust lever being integral and including a spring hinge portion connecting them together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stapler of claim 1 wherein the handle and the holding means are integral and include a spring hinge portion connecting them together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a suture stapler, holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; and a drive mechanism including a handle pivotally connected to the holding means and a thrust lever folded back on the handle and pivotally connected to the handle and the ram means so that, when the handle and the thrust lever are squeezed together, the ram means is moved through the holding means, the holding means, the handle and the lever being integral, of molded plastic material, and including a first spring hinge portion connecting the handle to the holding means and a second spring hinge portion connecting the lever to the handle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a suture stapler, holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; and a drive mechanism including a handle pivotally connected to the holding means and a thrust lever folded back on the handle and pivotally connected to the handle and the ram means so that, when the handle and the thrust lever are squeezed together, the ram means is moved through the holding means, the holding means, the handle and the lever being integral, of molded plastic material, and including a first spring hinge portion connecting the handle to the holding means and a second spring hinge portion connecting the lever to the handle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The stapler of claim 4 wherein the handle comprises a strip having a folded back portion at its free end and a stiffening rib integral with the strip, the first spring portion being the end portion of the strip connected to the holding means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a suture stapler, elongated holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite ends of the holding means; and a pair of levers connected pivotally to the handles and the ram means and being in positions folded back relative to the handles, each handle being integral with one of the levers, the handles and the levers including spring hinge portions connecting them together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a suture stapler, elongated holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite ends of the holding means; and a pair of levers connected pivotally to the handles and the ram means and being in positions folded back relative to the handles, each handle being integral with one of the levers, the handles and the levers including spring hinge portions connecting them together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stapler of claim 6 including spring hinge means interconnecting the levers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture stapler of claim 7 wherein the holding means, the handles and the levers are integral.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a suture stapler, elongated holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite ends of the holding means; and a pair of levers connected pivotally to the handles and the ram means and being in positions folded back relative to the handles, the holding means comprising a magazine for holding a multitude of staples, the ram means including a multitude of pushers extending into the magazine for pushing the staples out.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a suture stapler, elongated holding means for holding a staple; ram means for pushing the staple out of the holding means; a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite ends of the holding means; and a pair of levers connected pivotally to the handles and the ram means and being in positions folded back relative to the handles, the holding means comprising a magazine for holding a multitude of staples, the ram means including a multitude of pushers extending into the magazine for pushing the staples out.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The stapler of claim 9 including anvil means hinged to the magazine, latch means for holding the anvil means in a clamping position relative to the magazine, and means for releasing the latch means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The stapler of claim 10 wherein the latch means includes a rod on the magazine and a leaf spring catch on the anvil means, the latch means being of the ratchet type adapted to latch when the anvil means is closed on the magazine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stapler of claim 10 or 11 including a thumb grip for pushing the magazine toward the anvil means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stapler of claim 12 wherein the thumb grip is mounted on one of the handles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stapler of claim 11 including a thumb grip mounted on the rod for pushing the rod and the magazine toward the anvil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stapler of claim 11 wherein the rod is rotatable relative to the magazine between a latching position and a releasing position, the rod having latch members on opposite sides only and the catch having a pair of arms having catch portions engagable by the latch members only when the rod is in its latching position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The stapler of claim 10 wherein the anvil means includes an arm pivotal to the magazine and having a dovetail portion, the anvil means also including an anvil plate having clinching portions and being of dovetail shape and fitted interlockably on the arm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a multiple suture stapler, a magazine for holding staples; an anvil hinged to the magazine for movement between a clamping position and a releasing position; ram means; drive means for moving the ram means to move the staples out of the magazine and clinchingly against the anvil; a rod carried by the magazine and having a latching barb; a leaf spring catch carried by the anvil and adapted to be engaged by the barb when the anvil is moved to its clamping position, said leaf spring catch comprising a pair of generally parallel spring arms adapted to be engaged by opposite sides of the barb; and release means for disengaging the barb and the catch, said release means comprising means for spreading said pair of spring arms apart.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a multiple suture stapler, a magazine for holding staples; an anvil hinged to the magazine for movement between a clamping position and a releasing position; ram means; drive means for moving the ram means to move the staples out of the magazine and clinchingly against the anvil; a rod carried by the magazine and having a latching barb; a leaf spring catch carried by the anvil and adapted to be engaged by the barb when the anvil is moved to its clamping position, said leaf spring catch comprising a pair of generally parallel spring arms adapted to be engaged by opposite sides of the barb; and release means for disengaging the barb and the catch, said release means comprising means for spreading said pair of spring arms apart.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a multiple suture stapler, a magazine for holding staples; an anvil hinged to the magazine for movement between a clamping position and a releasing position; ram means; drive means for moving the ram means to move the staples out of the magazine and clinchingly against the anvil; a rod carried by the magazine and having a latching barb; a leaf spring catch carried by the anvil and adapted to be engaged by the barb when the anvil is moved to its clamping position; and release means for disengaging the barb and the catch, the release means including means for rotating the rod to rotate the barb away from the catch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a multiple suture stapler, a magazine for holding staples; an anvil hinged to the magazine for movement between a clamping position and a releasing position; ram means; drive means for moving the ram means to move the staples out of the magazine and clinchingly against the anvil; a rod carried by the magazine and having a latching barb; a leaf spring catch carried by the anvil and adapted to be engaged by the barb when the anvil is moved to its clamping position; and release means for disengaging the barb and the catch, the release means including means for rotating the rod to rotate the barb away from the catch.