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Patent US6722552B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6722552B2
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Surgical stapler and method of applying plastic staples to body tissue
Assignee: AXYA HOLDINGS Inc
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Filing: 2002-07-25
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Granted: 2004-04-20
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Expires: 2022-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A stapler for ejecting at least one staple of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for engaging body tissue. The stapler includes a pair of jaws movable between open and closed positions, a handle and trigger assembly for controlling operation of the jaws, an elongated tubular structure connecting the handle and trigger assembly to the jaws, an ejector for ejecting at least one staple from one of the jaws against the other of the jaws, and posts for holding normally overlapping distal portions of legs of the staple generally parallel until after the staple is ejected from the stapler.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul V. Fenton, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/07207; A61B2017/00004; A61B17/00491; A61B2017/00504; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/07278; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S227/00; Y10S227/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A stapler for ejecting at least one staple of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for engaging body tissue, the stapler comprising: a pair of jaws movable between open and closed positions; a handle and trigger assembly for controlling operation of the jaws; an elongated tubular structure connecting the handle and trigger assembly to the jaws; means for ejecting at least a staple from one of the jaws against the other of the jaws; and posts for holding normally overlapping distal portions of legs of the staple generally parallel until after the staple is ejected from the stapler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A stapler for ejecting at least one staple of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for engaging body tissue, the stapler comprising: a pair of jaws movable between open and closed positions; a handle and trigger assembly for controlling operation of the jaws; an elongated tubular structure connecting the handle and trigger assembly to the jaws; means for ejecting at least a staple from one of the jaws against the other of the jaws; and posts for holding normally overlapping distal portions of legs of the staple generally parallel until after the staple is ejected from the stapler.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A stapler according to claim 1 , wherein the posts comprise first portions extending at angles relative to the parallel legs of the staple for allowing a base member of the staple to pass over the posts during ejection of the staple, and second portions extending from the first portions for maintaining the distal portions of the legs of the staple in parallel positions prior to ejection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 1 , further including at least one staple comprising a single piece of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for engaging body tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 3 , wherein the staple is bio-absorbable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 1 , wherein the stapler comprises a linear surgical stapler and the jaws are elongated and provide parallel rows of multiple staples.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 1 , wherein the means for ejecting comprises: a platform for ejecting the staple upon being moved towards the other of the jaws; a cam for moving the platform towards the other of the jaws upon being rotated; and a bar for rotating the cam upon being linearly moved.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of stapling body tissue comprising: providing at least one staple comprising a single piece of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends, and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for securing the staple to body tissue; clamping body tissue between a pair of jaws; securing the base member of the staple in one of the jaws; supporting the distal portions of the staple so that the distal portions are parallel and the sharp ends of the staple are directed towards the other of the jaws; ejecting the staple from the jaw so that the ends of the staple pass through the clamped tissue towards the other of the jaws; allowing the distal portions of the ejected staple to overlap; and releasing the base member of the ejected staple.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of stapling body tissue comprising: providing at least one staple comprising a single piece of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends, and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for securing the staple to body tissue; clamping body tissue between a pair of jaws; securing the base member of the staple in one of the jaws; supporting the distal portions of the staple so that the distal portions are parallel and the sharp ends of the staple are directed towards the other of the jaws; ejecting the staple from the jaw so that the ends of the staple pass through the clamped tissue towards the other of the jaws; allowing the distal portions of the ejected staple to overlap; and releasing the base member of the ejected staple.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of stapling according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one staple comprises a plurality of staples ejected in two pairs of linear, parallel, staggered rows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of stapling according to claim 8 , further comprising cutting the body tissue between the two pairs of linear, parallel, staggered rows of staples.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-20 | 2007-10-20 | 2008-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-20 | 2011-10-20 | 2012-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-20 | 2015-10-20 | 2016-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |