Patent US3716406A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4256251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4256251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical staplers and staple
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-03
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Granted: 1981-03-17
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Expires: 1999-04-03
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a forming die or ram movable along a guideway or track by a pair of toggle-joint linkages to move from a column of staples a staple having a downwardly bowed central portion into engagement with an anvil, then bend outer portions down over the anvil to drive pointed legs into the flesh and bring the legs into alignment with each other. The column of staples is pressed by a spring arm and a follower toward the track and is laterally supported in a staple magazine. Each toggle-joint linkage is a one-piece member with two rigid arms connected by an undulating spring portion. The magazine is detachably connected to the track by spring latches or clips. Another stapler has a hook-like anvil, and the bowed central portion of the staple as it is pressed against the anvil by a forming die or ram, is first straightened and then bent legs are bent from the central portion, thus giving a "soft" initial feel to the stapling.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome F. Moshofsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B17/0684
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In a surgical stapler, a channel-like base, a corner having a staple opening therethrough, the cover and the base having a ram guiding portion and a staple guiding portion and also being provided with an anvil, magazine means secured to the base and the cover in alignment with the opening for urging a stack of staples through the opening to position an end staple in the staple guiding portion, the magazine means being snap-fastened and interlocked to the base with the cover secured therebetween, a ram slidable along the ram guiding portion and the staple guiding portion to move the end staple to the anvil and bend the staple around the anvil, and means for driving the ram in response to a squeezing motion applied laterally in the plane of movement of the ram.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a surgical stapler, a channel-like base, a corner having a staple opening therethrough, the cover and the base having a ram guiding portion and a staple guiding portion and also being provided with an anvil, magazine means secured to the base and the cover in alignment with the opening for urging a stack of staples through the opening to position an end staple in the staple guiding portion, the magazine means being snap-fastened and interlocked to the base with the cover secured therebetween, a ram slidable along the ram guiding portion and the staple guiding portion to move the end staple to the anvil and bend the staple around the anvil, and means for driving the ram in response to a squeezing motion applied laterally in the plane of movement of the ram.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical stapler of claim 1 wherein the base and the magazine means have interlocking spring clip means securing the magazine means to the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The surgical stapler of claim 2 wherein the magazine means traps the cover between the magazine means and the base and the spring clip means comprises clips provided on the base and extending past the sides of the cover to snap-fasten with lugs on the magazine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The surgical stapler of claim 1 wherein the base has a hook portion at its rearward end and the rearward end of the cover extends under the hook portion thereby trapping the rearward end of the driving means between the base and the cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surgical stapler of claim 1 wherein the cover has a second opening therein and the magazine means has a locating tab extending into the second opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a surgical stapler, a ram, elongated body means having a base and a cover forming a guideway for the ram to travel longitudinally therein, the cover having an opening for inserting staples into the guideway, an anvil disposed at a forward end of the body means in line with the guideway, manually operable drive means carried by the body means for driving the ram along the guideway toward the anvil, the drive means comprising at least one toggle-joint linkage mechanism, a magazine attached to the body means and having a staple chute adapted to hold a stack of staples and guide the staples through the opening into the guideway into the path of the ram, spring means adapted to press the stack of staples along the magazine toward the opening, and spring clip means disposed on cooperating portions of the base and the magazine to snap-fasten and interlock the magazine to the base with the cover secured therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a surgical stapler, a ram, elongated body means having a base and a cover forming a guideway for the ram to travel longitudinally therein, the cover having an opening for inserting staples into the guideway, an anvil disposed at a forward end of the body means in line with the guideway, manually operable drive means carried by the body means for driving the ram along the guideway toward the anvil, the drive means comprising at least one toggle-joint linkage mechanism, a magazine attached to the body means and having a staple chute adapted to hold a stack of staples and guide the staples through the opening into the guideway into the path of the ram, spring means adapted to press the stack of staples along the magazine toward the opening, and spring clip means disposed on cooperating portions of the base and the magazine to snap-fasten and interlock the magazine to the base with the cover secured therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The surgical stapler of claim 6 wherein the toggle-joint linkage mechanism includes a first arm pivotally secured to the body means and a second arm pivotally connected to the ram at one end and hingedly connected at its other end to the first arm and including spring means urging the arms toward a folded condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The surgical stapler of claim 7 wherein the spring means comprises a leaf spring that hingedly connects the arms together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical stapler of claim 8 wherein the arms and the spring are integral.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surgical stapler of claim 9 wherein the spring is undulating in shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical stapler of claim 10 wherein the arms and the spring are of plastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a surgical stapler, a ram, elongated body means having a base and a cover forming a guideway for the ram to travel longitudinally therein, the cover having an opening for inserting staples into the guideway, an anvil disposed at a forward end of the body means in line with the guideway, manually operable drive means carried by the body means for driving the ram along the guideway toward the anvil, a magazine attached to the body means and having a staple chute adapted to hold a stack of staples and guide the staples through the opening into the guideway into the path of the ram, spring means adapted to press the stack of staples along the magazine toward the opening, spring clip means disposed on cooperating portions of the base and the magazine to snap-fasten and interlock the magazine to the base with the cover secured therebetween, and retaining means extending longitudinally along the guideway for frictionally holding each staple that is moved by the ram out of alignment with the stack until the staple arrives at the anvil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a surgical stapler, a ram, elongated body means having a base and a cover forming a guideway for the ram to travel longitudinally therein, the cover having an opening for inserting staples into the guideway, an anvil disposed at a forward end of the body means in line with the guideway, manually operable drive means carried by the body means for driving the ram along the guideway toward the anvil, a magazine attached to the body means and having a staple chute adapted to hold a stack of staples and guide the staples through the opening into the guideway into the path of the ram, spring means adapted to press the stack of staples along the magazine toward the opening, spring clip means disposed on cooperating portions of the base and the magazine to snap-fasten and interlock the magazine to the base with the cover secured therebetween, and retaining means extending longitudinally along the guideway for frictionally holding each staple that is moved by the ram out of alignment with the stack until the staple arrives at the anvil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical stapler of claim 12 wherein the retaining means comprises a staple-supporting rib provided on the base along the center of the guideway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surgical stapler of claim 12 wherein the spring means includes a follower slidable along the chute and a leaf spring having one end engaging the follower.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The surgical stapler of claim 12 wherein the chute includes guide means adapted to engage portions of the staples proximate to their corners so that their pointed ends remain out of contact with the chute surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surgical stapler of claim 12 wherein the base has socket means at one end and the cover has an end portion fitting into the socket means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a surgical stapler, elongated body means comprising a base and a cover and forming a guideway therebetween, staple-holding means attached to the body means near a forward end of the guideway for urging staples into the guideway, the staple-holding means being fastened and interlocked to the base with the cover secured therebetween, a ram slidable along the guideway, an anvil affixed at a forward end of the body means in front of the staple-holding means in the path of the ram, whereby a staple is formed around the anvil by the forward movement of the ram, and a pair of toggle-joint linkages, each pivotally secured at a rearward end of the body means and at a forward end to the ram, whereby the toggle-joint linkages move the ram forwardly along the guideway in response to a lateral squeezing motion applied to longitudinally extend the toggle-joint linkages.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a surgical stapler, elongated body means comprising a base and a cover and forming a guideway therebetween, staple-holding means attached to the body means near a forward end of the guideway for urging staples into the guideway, the staple-holding means being fastened and interlocked to the base with the cover secured therebetween, a ram slidable along the guideway, an anvil affixed at a forward end of the body means in front of the staple-holding means in the path of the ram, whereby a staple is formed around the anvil by the forward movement of the ram, and a pair of toggle-joint linkages, each pivotally secured at a rearward end of the body means and at a forward end to the ram, whereby the toggle-joint linkages move the ram forwardly along the guideway in response to a lateral squeezing motion applied to longitudinally extend the toggle-joint linkages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The stapler of claim 17 wherein the base and cover together form longitudinal side slots through which portions of the toggle-joint linkages extend to permit the forward ends thereof to move longitudinally within the side slots during actuation of the toggle-joint linkages.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The stapler of claim 17 wherein each toggle-joint linkage includes front and rear arms joined by a flexible leaf-spring portion which is biased to return the linkage to a retracted position wherein the ram is rearward from the staples in the staple-holding means, the leaf-spring portions forming the joints of the respective toggle-joint linkages.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |