Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A medical suturing device comprising: a base, a head removably attached to said base, said base having a portion opposite said head, said head including a body member, a rocker plate, a rocker arm rotatably attached to said rocker plate and a wedge, said rocker plate being attached to said body member, said body member including a first means for receiving staples and a second means for receiving said wedge such that said wedge is slidably located in said second means, said wedge having a portion which abuts the rocker arm, said head also including a third means for attaching to a power mechanism, said third means including a member which abuts said rocker arm and has an in and an extended position, and, a staple driver which extends between said wedge and said staples, wherein when said power mechanism is activated, said member moves from the in to the extended position, rotating said rocker arm which in turn slides said wedge within said first means and drives said staples through a workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A medical suturing device comprising: a base, a head removably attached to said base, said base having a portion opposite said head, said head including a body member, a rocker plate, a rocker arm rotatably attached to said rocker plate and a wedge, said rocker plate being attached to said body member, said body member including a first means for receiving staples and a second means for receiving said wedge such that said wedge is slidably located in said second means, said wedge having a portion which abuts the rocker arm, said head also including a third means for attaching to a power mechanism, said third means including a member which abuts said rocker arm and has an in and an extended position, and, a staple driver which extends between said wedge and said staples, wherein when said power mechanism is activated, said member moves from the in to the extended position, rotating said rocker arm which in turn slides said wedge within said first means and drives said staples through a workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 1 further comprising: a bridge which extends between and is attached to said head and said base, wherein said base has an anvil attached thereto which opposes said staples when said device is assembled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 2 wherein: said power mechanism is a pneumatic cylinder, said third means includes a pneumatic bolt, and wherein said member is a pneumatic rod which extends inwardly from said pneumatic bolt and slides from said in to said extended position whenever said pneumatic cylinder is activated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 3 wherein: said body member is H-shaped having two vertical members and a cross bar, said first means comprises the bottom portion of said body member and said second means comprises the top portion of said body member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 4 wherein: said wedge is a rod shaped member having a knob extending therefrom towards the rocker arm, said rocker arm abutting said knob.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 5 wherein: said staple driver extends through holes in said cross bar of said body member and has an up and a down position, said wedge having slots therein, said slots engaging said staple driver and driving said staple driver from the up to the down position when said wedge is slid within said second means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 6 wherein said slots are wedge-shaped, and wherein said staple driver has a wedge-shaped portion which fits in said slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 7 wherein said staples and said staple driver are partially embedded in a cartridge which is designed to snap into said first means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 8 wherein said base is a flat plate having means for attaching to said bridge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 9 wherein said bridge is an elongated member which attaches at one end to said base and at the other end to said head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 10 further comprising means for latching said bridge to said head and said base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A medical suturing device according to claim 11 wherein said staple driver is a flat plate bent into a U-shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
A medical suturing device comprising: a base including a staple anvil, a head including a rocker plate, a rocker arm, a wedge, a first means for receiving a staple cartridge and said wedge, a second means for engaging a pneumatic cylinder, said head being connected to said base such that said staple cartridge is opposite said anvil, said head further including third means for driving staples into a workpiece and a pneumatic rod which is powered by said pneumatic cylinder and has in and extended positions, said pneumatic rod engaging said rocker arm such that when said rod goes from the in to the extended position, said rocker arm rotates, said rocker arm engaging said wedge such that when said rocker arm is rotated by said pneumatic rod, said wedge is driven into engagement with said third means and said third means drives staples into a workpiece.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
147 words
A medical suturing device comprising: a base including a staple anvil, a head including a rocker plate, a rocker arm, a wedge, a first means for receiving a staple cartridge and said wedge, a second means for engaging a pneumatic cylinder, said head being connected to said base such that said staple cartridge is opposite said anvil, said head further including third means for driving staples into a workpiece and a pneumatic rod which is powered by said pneumatic cylinder and has in and extended positions, said pneumatic rod engaging said rocker arm such that when said rod goes from the in to the extended position, said rocker arm rotates, said rocker arm engaging said wedge such that when said rocker arm is rotated by said pneumatic rod, said wedge is driven into engagement with said third means and said third means drives staples into a workpiece.