US5573169A — Apparatus for applying two-part surgical fastener…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners, each two-part surgical fastener including a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) a handle assembly; b) an endoscopic portion extending distally from said handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) first and second support means for respectively supporting a plurality of fastener portions and retainer portions in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; d) means for simultaneously advancing such fastener portions and retainer portions in a distal direction along said longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed positions thereof; e) fastener applying means for individually moving such fastener portions toward such retainer portions in a direction which is generally transverse to the direction of simultaneous advancement and into engagement with one another for application to body tissue; and f) means for sealing the apparatus to obstruct the passage of gaseous media.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 143 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners, each two-part surgical fastener including a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) a handle assembly; b) an endoscopic portion extending distally from said handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) first and second support means for respectively supporting a plurality of fastener portions and retainer portions in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; d) means for simultaneously advancing such fastener portions and retainer portions in a distal direction along said longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed positions thereof; e) fastener applying means for individually moving such fastener portions toward such retainer portions in a direction which is generally transverse to the direction of simultaneous advancement and into engagement with one another for application to body tissue; and f) means for sealing the apparatus to obstruct the passage of gaseous media.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for sealing the apparatus is disposed in the endoscopic portion for inhibiting the egress of insufflation gas therethrough.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising approximating means for moving the retainer portion support means and the fastener portion support means into close cooperative alignment.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the support means for respectively supporting the plurality of fastener portions and retainer portions of the two-part surgical fasteners comprises first and second arms adapted for maintaining the retainer and the fastener portions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the first support means includes a first channel and the second support means includes a second channel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the means for individually moving one of such fastener and retainer portions into engagement with the other includes a linkage assembly operatively connected to the handle assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the linkage assembly includes a camming link and a pivoting link operatively associated with the camming link, wherein the camming link comprises at least one cam member having an elongated body portion and a head portion depending angularly from the body portion, the head portion having an elongated cam slot defined therein.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 84 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the pivoting link includes at least one elongated rocker member having opposed proximal and distal ends, the rocker member being pivotably connected to the second arm intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the rocker member, the rocker member including lifting means for moving a fastener portion disposed at the distal end thereof and a cam follower connected to the proximal end thereof and adapted for translation relative to the cam slot defined in the cam member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 89 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the lifting means includes a lift member having a shelf defined therein for accommodating a fastener portion of one of the two-part surgical fasteners and the approximating means is operatively connected to the handle assembly and includes at least one elongated draw bar operatively connected to the first arm, the approximating means further including an elongated cam groove formed in a portion of the second arm and a camming pin connecting the draw bar to the first arm through the cam groove.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the supporting means includes means for movably supporting the lifting means, the lifting means including a pair of rail members extending generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic portion, and at least two apertures for reception of the rail members to movably support the lifting means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 142 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners each such fastener having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) an elongated endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis; b) a plurality of fastener portions and a plurality of retainer portions supported in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; c) a fastener applying assembly including a mechanism for simultaneously advancing the fastener portions and retainer portions distally along the longitudinal axis defined by the endoscopic portion while maintaining the opposed positions thereof to position a distalmost fastener portion and a distalmost retainer portion for application to body tissue, and a mechanism for individually moving the fastener portions into engagement with the retainer portions in a direction transverse to their direction of simultaneous advancement; and d) a gaseous seal disposed within the endoscopic portion to inhibit the egress of gas therethrough.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 142 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners each such fastener having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) an elongated endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis; b) a plurality of fastener portions and a plurality of retainer portions supported in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; c) a fastener applying assembly including a mechanism for simultaneously advancing the fastener portions and retainer portions distally along the longitudinal axis defined by the endoscopic portion while maintaining the opposed positions thereof to position a distalmost fastener portion and a distalmost retainer portion for application to body tissue, and a mechanism for individually moving the fastener portions into engagement with the retainer portions in a direction transverse to their direction of simultaneous advancement; and d) a gaseous seal disposed within the endoscopic portion to inhibit the egress of gas therethrough.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising an actuating member associated with a proximal end portion of the endoscopic portion for actuating the fastener applier.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the plurality of fastener portions are aligned relative to the plurality of retainer portions such that a distalmost fastener portion is opposite a distalmost retainer portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 13 further comprising a fastener supporting portion and a retainer supporting portion pivotably mounted with respect to each other to be approximated into close cooperative alignment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the fastener supporting portion and the retainer supporting portion are pivotable into close cooperative alignment from a location spaced proximal of the location of application of the fastener to body tissue.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 225 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners, each of such two-part surgical fasteners having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) a handle assembly; b) an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) fastener portion supporting means associated with a distal end portion of the endoscopic portion for supporting a plurality of the fastener portions of such two-part surgical fasteners; d) retainer portion supporting means for supporting a plurality of such retainer portions of the two-part surgical fasteners in opposed positions relative to the fastener portions to facilitate the cooperative registration thereof; e) approximating means operatively connected to the handle assembly for moving the retainer portion supporting means and the fastener portion supporting means into close cooperative alignment wherein an outer dimension of the retainer portion supporting means and the fastener portion supporting means is approximately equal to an outer dimension of the endoscopic portion; and f) driving means operatively connected to the handle assembly for simultaneously advancing the fastener portions and retainer portions distally within the respective fastener supporting means and retainer supporting means along the longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed positions thereof and for individually moving at least one of such fastener portions and retainer portions into engagement with the other in a direction transverse to their direction of simultaneous advancement.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 225 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners, each of such two-part surgical fasteners having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) a handle assembly; b) an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) fastener portion supporting means associated with a distal end portion of the endoscopic portion for supporting a plurality of the fastener portions of such two-part surgical fasteners; d) retainer portion supporting means for supporting a plurality of such retainer portions of the two-part surgical fasteners in opposed positions relative to the fastener portions to facilitate the cooperative registration thereof; e) approximating means operatively connected to the handle assembly for moving the retainer portion supporting means and the fastener portion supporting means into close cooperative alignment wherein an outer dimension of the retainer portion supporting means and the fastener portion supporting means is approximately equal to an outer dimension of the endoscopic portion; and f) driving means operatively connected to the handle assembly for simultaneously advancing the fastener portions and retainer portions distally within the respective fastener supporting means and retainer supporting means along the longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed positions thereof and for individually moving at least one of such fastener portions and retainer portions into engagement with the other in a direction transverse to their direction of simultaneous advancement.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the fastener portion supporting means supports a plurality of such fastener portions formed of a bioabsorbable material and the retainer portion supporting means supports a plurality of such retainer portions formed of a bioabsorbable material.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the bioabsorbable material is selected from a group consisting of polymers of lactide, glycolide, p-dioxanone, polyester and polyamino acid.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 155 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners, each two-part surgical fastener including a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) a handle assembly; b) an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) means for supporting a plurality of fastener portions and retainer portions in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; d) means for simultaneously advancing such fastener portions and retainer portions distally along the longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed positions thereof prior to application of each of the surgical fasteners to body tissue; e) fastener applying means for individually moving only the distalmost of the fastener portions toward the distalmost of the retainer portions in a direction transverse to the direction of simultaneous advancement and into engagement for application to body tissue in a single surgical fastener firing sequence; and f) means for sealing the apparatus to obstruct the passage of gaseous media.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 155 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners, each two-part surgical fastener including a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) a handle assembly; b) an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) means for supporting a plurality of fastener portions and retainer portions in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; d) means for simultaneously advancing such fastener portions and retainer portions distally along the longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed positions thereof prior to application of each of the surgical fasteners to body tissue; e) fastener applying means for individually moving only the distalmost of the fastener portions toward the distalmost of the retainer portions in a direction transverse to the direction of simultaneous advancement and into engagement for application to body tissue in a single surgical fastener firing sequence; and f) means for sealing the apparatus to obstruct the passage of gaseous media.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 161 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners each having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) an elongated endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis; b) a plurality of fastener portions and a plurality of retainer portions supported in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; c) a fastener applying assembly including a mechanism for simultaneously advancing the fastener portions and the retainer portions distally along the longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed position thereof to position a distalmost fastener portion and a distalmost retainer portion for application to body tissue prior to application of the surgical fasteners to body tissue, and a mechanism for individually moving only the distalmost of the fastener portions into engagement with the distalmost of the retainer portions in a direction transverse to the direction of their simultaneous advancement in a single surgical fastener firing sequence; and d) a gaseous seal disposed within the endoscopic portion for inhibiting the egress of gas therethrough.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 161 words

Apparatus for endoscopic application of two-part surgical fasteners each having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises: a) an elongated endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis; b) a plurality of fastener portions and a plurality of retainer portions supported in respective opposed positions along the longitudinal axis; c) a fastener applying assembly including a mechanism for simultaneously advancing the fastener portions and the retainer portions distally along the longitudinal axis while maintaining the opposed position thereof to position a distalmost fastener portion and a distalmost retainer portion for application to body tissue prior to application of the surgical fasteners to body tissue, and a mechanism for individually moving only the distalmost of the fastener portions into engagement with the distalmost of the retainer portions in a direction transverse to the direction of their simultaneous advancement in a single surgical fastener firing sequence; and d) a gaseous seal disposed within the endoscopic portion for inhibiting the egress of gas therethrough.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 20, further comprising an actuating member associated with a proximal end portion of the endoscopic portion for actuating the fastener applier.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of fastener portions are aligned relative to the plurality of retainer portions such that a distalmost fastener portion is opposite a distalmost retainer portion.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 22 further comprising a fastener supporting portion and a retainer supporting portion pivotably mounted with respect to each other to be approximated into close cooperative alignment.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein the fastener supporting portion and the retainer supporting portion are pivotable into close cooperative alignment from a location spaced proximally from the location of application of the fastener to body tissue.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-11-12	2000-05-13	2000-11-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-11-12	2004-05-13	2004-11-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-11-12	2008-05-13	2008-11-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners in laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures

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