US5222961A — Endoscopic stapling device and related staple

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A surgical staple assembly comprising: a staple including: a first leg provided with a first locking element; a second leg provided with a second locking element; and a hinge joining said first leg and said second leg to one another, said first locking element and said second locking element being adapted to cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration; and means in contact with said staple for maintaining the staple in a closed prefiring configuration wherein at least one of said first leg, said second leg, said first locking element and said second locking element is deformed to prevent cooperation of said first locking element and said second locking element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 116 words

A surgical staple assembly comprising: a staple including: a first leg provided with a first locking element; a second leg provided with a second locking element; and a hinge joining said first leg and said second leg to one another, said first locking element and said second locking element being adapted to cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration; and means in contact with said staple for maintaining the staple in a closed prefiring configuration wherein at least one of said first leg, said second leg, said first locking element and said second locking element is deformed to prevent cooperation of said first locking element and said second locking element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

The surgical staple assembly set in claim 1, further comprising means on said first leg and said second leg for enabling said first leg and said second leg to be pivoted away from one another and about said hinge during a staple opening operation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for enabling includes loop-shaped elements.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth claim 2 wherein said means for enabling includes knob-like projections.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical staple assembly set in claim 2 wherein said means for enabling includes knob-shaped recesses.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge is a rotary type hinge essentially free of internal stresses.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein said hinge includes a sleeve-type element on one of said first leg and said second leg and a pin type element on the other of said first leg and said second leg, said pin being inserted at least partially into said sleeve.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining includes a tubular member surrounding the staple.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said first locking element and said second locking element are disposed proximately to said hinge.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said first locking element and said second locking element are disposed at ends of said first leg and said second leg opposite said hinge.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 137 words

A surgical staple assembly comprising: a staple including: (i) a first leg provided with a first locking element; (ii) a second leg provided with a second locking element, said first locking element and said second locking element being adapted to cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration; and (iii) hinge means including cooperating elements on said first leg and said second leg for pivotably joining said first leg and said second leg to one another; and means for maintaining said staple in a closed prefiring configuration wherein said first leg and said second leg are staggered with respect to one another so that said first locking element and said second locking element are spaced from one another to prevent interlocking thereof and wherein said cooperating elements are spaced from one another.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 137 words

A surgical staple assembly comprising: a staple including: (i) a first leg provided with a first locking element; (ii) a second leg provided with a second locking element, said first locking element and said second locking element being adapted to cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration; and (iii) hinge means including cooperating elements on said first leg and said second leg for pivotably joining said first leg and said second leg to one another; and means for maintaining said staple in a closed prefiring configuration wherein said first leg and said second leg are staggered with respect to one another so that said first locking element and said second locking element are spaced from one another to prevent interlocking thereof and wherein said cooperating elements are spaced from one another.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein said staple is disposed in said means for maintaining.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for maintaining includes a tubular member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 11, further comprising means on said first leg and said second leg for enabling said first leg and said second leg to be moved away from one another during a staple opening operation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 54 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein said cooperating elements include a slotted sleeve-type element on one of said first leg and said second leg and a pin type element on the other of said first leg and said second leg, said pin being insertable at least partially into said sleeve.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein said first locking element and said second locking element are disposed proximately to said hinge means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein said first locking element and said second locking element are disposed at ends of said first leg and said second leg opposite said hinge means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 100 words

A surgical staple assembly comprising: a staple including: a first leg portion provided with a pair of spaced first locking elements; and a second leg portion provided with a pair of spaced second locking elements, said first locking elements and said second locking elements being adapted to cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration; and means for maintaining said staple in a prefiring configuration wherein said first leg portion and said second leg portion are spaced with respect to one another to prevent interlocking of said first locking elements and said second locking elements.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 100 words

A surgical staple assembly comprising: a staple including: a first leg portion provided with a pair of spaced first locking elements; and a second leg portion provided with a pair of spaced second locking elements, said first locking elements and said second locking elements being adapted to cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration; and means for maintaining said staple in a prefiring configuration wherein said first leg portion and said second leg portion are spaced with respect to one another to prevent interlocking of said first locking elements and said second locking elements.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 18 wherein said staple is disposed in said means for maintaining.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 19 wherein said means for maintaining includes a tubular member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 18, further comprising means on said first leg and said second leg for enabling said first leg and said second leg to be moved away from one another during a staple opening operation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 50 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 18 wherein said first locking elements are disposed proximately to each other and to one end of said first leg portion and wherein said second locking elements are disposed proximately to each other and to one end of said second leg portion.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

The surgical staple assembly set forth in claim 18 wherein said first locking elements are disposed at opposite ends of said first leg portions and wherein said second locking elements are disposed at opposite ends of said second leg portion.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 181 words

A surgical device utilizable with an endoscope or rigid tubular member for performing an endoscopic or laparoscopic stapling operation, comprising: a forceps member slidably disposable inside a biopsy channel of an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument; actuating means operatively connected to said forceps member for manipulating jaws of said forceps member between opened and closed positions; a staple having a pair of legs and a hinge joint for coupling said legs at one end to one another so that said legs swing substantially freely about said joint, said legs being provided with respective locking elements which cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration, said staple being disposed in a closed prefiring configuration between said jaws when said jaws are in a closed position inside the biopsy channel of the endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument; and locking means on said legs and said jaws for temporarily locking said legs to said jaws at least during an opening motion of said jaws, whereby said legs are pivoted about said hinge joint to open said staple from said prefiring configuration.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 181 words

A surgical device utilizable with an endoscope or rigid tubular member for performing an endoscopic or laparoscopic stapling operation, comprising: a forceps member slidably disposable inside a biopsy channel of an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument; actuating means operatively connected to said forceps member for manipulating jaws of said forceps member between opened and closed positions; a staple having a pair of legs and a hinge joint for coupling said legs at one end to one another so that said legs swing substantially freely about said joint, said legs being provided with respective locking elements which cooperate with one another to maintain the staple in a closed postfiring configuration, said staple being disposed in a closed prefiring configuration between said jaws when said jaws are in a closed position inside the biopsy channel of the endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument; and locking means on said legs and said jaws for temporarily locking said legs to said jaws at least during an opening motion of said jaws, whereby said legs are pivoted about said hinge joint to open said staple from said prefiring configuration.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical device set forth in claim 24 wherein said locking means includes longitudinally slidable rods.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The surgical device set forth in claim 25 wherein said locking means further includes aperture forming elements on said legs.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 18 words

The surgical staple set forth in claim 24 wherein said locking means includes snap-lock-type projections and cooperating recesses.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 35 words

The surgical device set forth in claim 24 wherein at least one of said legs and said locking elements is deformed in said prefiring configuration of said staple to prevent cooperation of said locking elements.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 32 words

The surgical device set forth in claim 24 wherein said legs are staggered with respect to one another in said prefiring configuration of said staple to prevent cooperation of said locking elements.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-06-28	1996-12-28	1997-06-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-06-28	2000-12-28	2001-06-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-06-28	2004-12-28	2005-06-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Endoscopic stapling device and related staple

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