Patent EP0537571B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0537571B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-02
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Granted: 1997-03-05
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Expires: 2012-10-02
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Green
- 👤 Henry Bolanos
- 👤 Keith Ratcliff
- 👤 Lisa W. Heaton
- 👤 Frank J. Viola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/0725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
Apparatus (10) for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, comprising: tissue gripping means (18) for positioning and gripping tissue to which said fasteners are to be applied; said gripping means including a first jaw member (22) having a plurality of fasteners positioned thereon, and a second jaw member (20); first advancing means (30, 38, 40) for urging said first jaw member a first distance towards said second jaw member; second advancing means (32) for incrementally urging said first jaw member a second distance towards said second jaw member subsequent to urging by said first advancing means to grip tissue therebetween, the said second distance being less than the first distance, the adjustable spacing between the jaw members serving to accommodate a particular thickness of tissue to be secured; means (62) for driving said fasteners into said tissue subsequent to positioning said jaw members in relation to each other by said advancing means; means (14) for actuating said driving means; and releasable means (44) for retaining said first and second advancing means to selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a pivotable clamp member (469) having a central bore (70) through which said first advancing means passes, an edge of said central bore engaging said advancing means to retain said first advancing means (38) and selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to either of the preceding claims, further comprising release means (34, 56) associated with said retaining means for disengaging said retaining means from said advancing means to return said advancing means to a rest position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising means (60) for coupling said driving means to said actuating means, said driving means driving said fasteners only when said first jaw member is approximated a predetermined distance towards said second jaw member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said coupling means comprises a bearing surface (68) on said driving means (62) for engaging an arm member (60) of said actuating means for driving said fasteners only when said first jaw member is approximated to said predetermined distance towards said second jaw member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, said bearing surface comprising a notch (68) for engaging said arm member, said notch extending from a sliding surface on said driving means upon which said arm member rides prior to engaging said notch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second advancing means are coupled to said driving means to advance said driving means into a firing position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first advancing means (30, 40) advances said first jaw member towards said second jaw member through a pivoting movement of a pawl (30).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second advancing means comprises a first ratchet and pawl mechanism (30,,40) and a second ratchet and pawl mechanism (32, 42) and said retaining means comprises said second ratchet and pawl mechanism (32, 42).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first advancing means is reciprocatingly pivotable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according claim 10 wherein said advancing means comprises a pivoting bar mechanism (28) extending from a housing of said apparatus and adapted to be reciprocatingly pivoted in a first direction in relation to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus to advance said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said bar mechanism being biased to return to a rest position in substantial alignment with said longitudinal axis, said reciprocating pivoting of said bar mechanism downwardly deflecting said bar mechanism from said longitudinal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pivoting bar mechanism comprises at least one ratchet (32, 42) and pawl (30, 40) mechanism for incrementally advancing said first jaw member towards said second jaw member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12 as dependent on claim 3 wherein said release means comprises a release rod (56), said release rod contacting said retaining means (44) to disengage said retaining means upon pivoting said pivoting bar mechanism in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said advancing means comprises a rod member (28, 132) extending distally from a housing of said apparatus and being thumb actuable by an operator to advance said first jaw member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said advancing means including linearly actuable advancing means (138) for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member a predetermined distance and rotatable advancing means (141) for urging said first jaw member towards second jaw member to grip said tissue therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said linearly actuable advancing means urges said first jaw member towards said second jaw member by said first predetermined distance, and said rotatable advancing means incrementally urges said first jaw member towards said second jaw member subsequent to urging by said linearly actuable advancing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 or 16 wherein said linearly actuable advancing means comprises a rod member (138) extending distally from a housing of said apparatus and being thumb-actuable by an operator to advance said first jaw member and said rotatable advancing means comprises screw threads (141) integral to said rod member, said screw threads engaging said retaining means for incrementally advancing said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4606344A
Cited
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