US4887601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable surgical staple and method of using the same
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1987-11-06
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Granted: 1989-12-19
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Expires: 2007-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable surgical staple for use in joining together two pieces of human or animal tissue. The staple has a spine and two legs, with the spine being slotted along its length so as to divide the spine into two separate cross members. Bending the cross members towards or away from one another alters the distance between the leg portions of the staple, thereby allowing precise adjustment of the tension of the joinder between the tissues being joined.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Richards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/064; A61B17/0644; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
An adjustable surgical staple comprising a spine and two curved legs formed integral with opposite ends of said spine, and a slot extending along the length of the spine, said slot extending fully through said spine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
An adjustable surgical staple comprising a spine and two curved legs formed integral with opposite ends of said spine, and a slot extending along the length of the spine, said slot extending fully through said spine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 1 wherein said slot also extends along a portion of each leg, said slot also extending fully through said legs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
An adjustable staple comprising a substantially straight spine means and a pair of arched legs formed integral with the opposite ends of said spine means, and a slot in said spine means extending lengthwise thereof and subdividing said spine means into two mutually space spine sections, said spine sections being deformable when forced toward or away from one another and capable of retaining their deformed shape when the deforming force is removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An adjustable staple comprising a substantially straight spine means and a pair of arched legs formed integral with the opposite ends of said spine means, and a slot in said spine means extending lengthwise thereof and subdividing said spine means into two mutually space spine sections, said spine sections being deformable when forced toward or away from one another and capable of retaining their deformed shape when the deforming force is removed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
An adjustable staple according to claim 3 wherein said slot also extends along a portion of each leg so that each leg has a pair of mutually spaced leg sections that are deformable when forced toward or away from one another and are capable of retaining their deformed shape when the deforming force is removed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An adjustable surgical staple comprising: (a) a spine having first and second opposite ends; (b) first and second legs, said first leg being attached to said first end of said spine, and said second leg being attached to said second end of said spine; and (c) adjustment means for adjusting the spacing between said first and second legs, said adjustment means being disposed between said first and second ends of said spine and comprising two separate, movable cross members separated by a slot, said cross members being formed so as to be readily movable toward and away from one another, whereby manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another will result in changes in the spacing between said first and second legs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
An adjustable surgical staple comprising: (a) a spine having first and second opposite ends; (b) first and second legs, said first leg being attached to said first end of said spine, and said second leg being attached to said second end of said spine; and (c) adjustment means for adjusting the spacing between said first and second legs, said adjustment means being disposed between said first and second ends of said spine and comprising two separate, movable cross members separated by a slot, said cross members being formed so as to be readily movable toward and away from one another, whereby manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another will result in changes in the spacing between said first and second legs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
An adjustable surgical staple comprising: adjustable spine means having first and second opposite ends, and first and second legs, said first leg being attached to said first end of said spine means, and said second leg being attached to said second end of said spine means, said legs being formed so that when said adjustable surgical staple is driven into tissue, at least a portion of each leg extends toward a corresponding portion of the other leg, said adjustable spine means comprising two separate cross members separated by a slot, said slot extending completely through said adjustable spine means, and said cross members being formed so as to be readily movable toward and away from on another, whereby manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another will result in changes in the spacing between said legs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
An adjustable surgical staple comprising: adjustable spine means having first and second opposite ends, and first and second legs, said first leg being attached to said first end of said spine means, and said second leg being attached to said second end of said spine means, said legs being formed so that when said adjustable surgical staple is driven into tissue, at least a portion of each leg extends toward a corresponding portion of the other leg, said adjustable spine means comprising two separate cross members separated by a slot, said slot extending completely through said adjustable spine means, and said cross members being formed so as to be readily movable toward and away from on another, whereby manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another will result in changes in the spacing between said legs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 6 wherein each of said legs includes a plurality of tiny barbs thereon, said barbs being large enough that they will enhance the holding power of the staple in tissue and small enough that they will allow a deployed staple to be removed without causing excessive trauma to the joined tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 6 wherein said slot also extends along a portion of each of said legs, said slot extending completely through said legs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 6 wherein said cross members extend parallel to one another prior to manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 6 wherein said cross members do not extend parallel to one another prior to manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 5 wherein said legs are formed so that when said adjustable surgical staple is driven into tissue, at least a portion of each leg extends substantially parallel to said adjustable spine means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An adjustable surgical staple according to claim 10 wherein said cross members initially bow outward, away from one another, prior to manipulation of said cross members toward and away from one another.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for attaching together two portions of tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (1) providing an adjustable surgical staple, said adjustable surgical staple comprising: spine means having first and second opposite ends, and first and second legs, said first leg being attached to said first end of said spine, and said second leg being attached to said second end of said spine, said spine means being slotted along its length so as to comprise two separate cross members that may be manipulated toward or away from one another so as to change the spacing between said first and second legs, (2) deploying said adjustable surgical staple in the two portions of tissues to be joined so that said first leg is disposed in one tissue portion and said second leg is disposed in said second tissue portion; and (3) manipulating said cross members toward or away from one another so as to precisely adjust the tension of the joinder formed by said staple between said two tissue portions.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for attaching together two portions of tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (1) providing an adjustable surgical staple, said adjustable surgical staple comprising: spine means having first and second opposite ends, and first and second legs, said first leg being attached to said first end of said spine, and said second leg being attached to said second end of said spine, said spine means being slotted along its length so as to comprise two separate cross members that may be manipulated toward or away from one another so as to change the spacing between said first and second legs, (2) deploying said adjustable surgical staple in the two portions of tissues to be joined so that said first leg is disposed in one tissue portion and said second leg is disposed in said second tissue portion; and (3) manipulating said cross members toward or away from one another so as to precisely adjust the tension of the joinder formed by said staple between said two tissue portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein each of said legs includes a plurality of tiny barbs thereon, said barbs being large enough that they will enhance the holding power of the staple in tissue and small enough that they will allow a deployed staple to be removed without causing excessive trauma to the joined tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein a portion of each of said legs is also slotted, said legs being slotted against said spine means so that each leg comprises a pair of opposed mutually spaced sections, and further wherein step (3) is conducted so that the opposed sections of each leg are manipulated with said cross members toward or away from one another to adjacent the tension of the joinder between said two tissue portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said cross members extend parallel to one another when said staple is deployed in said two tissue portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said cross members do not extend parallel to one another when said staple is deployed in said two tissue portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein said cross members initially bow outward, away from one another, prior to manipulation of said cross members toward or away from one another.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said adjustable surgical staple is deployed in the two portions of tissue so that at least a portion of each leg extends toward a corresponding portion of the other leg.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said adjustable surgical staple is deployed in the two portions of tissue so that at least a portion of each leg extends substantially parallel to said spine means.
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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) | 1992-12-18 | 1993-06-19 | 1993-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-06-19 | 1997-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-18 | 2001-06-19 | 2001-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |