JPH0470016B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: A stapler having a central portion and end portions protruding from each end of the central portion, the entire staple being bent into a loop shape by bending at least a portion of the central portion. a housing having a passageway with an exit opening; and an anvil having a contact surface adapted to engage the central portion of the staple, the anvil projecting across the passageway at the exit opening. an anvil secured to an anvil support bracket attached to the housing for moving the anvil between an engaged position and a retracted position out of the passage; and a central portion of a staple adjacent the contact surface;
a mechanism on the housing for positioning one of the staples on the anvil with an end of the staple in contact with a side surface of the anvil; a mechanism mounted on the housing for positioning one of the staples with a ram; a ram that moves between a loading position in which the ram is positioned along the passageway between the anvil and a forming position in which the ram is proximate the anvil and bends the staples to close around the anvil; a drive mechanism for moving the ram between the loading position and the forming position, the drive mechanism and the anvil support bracket moving the anvil between the engaged position and the retracted position; a drive mechanism including an interactive cam member, the drive mechanism 30, 32, 30a, 32a, 2
06, 228 and said anvil support bracket 92, 92a, 202 move said anvil 29, 29a, 202 to said engaged position prior to movement of said ram 26, 26a, 224 to said forming position and The front anvil 29, 29a, 224 is maintained in the engaged position during the movement of the ram 26, 26a, 224 completely from the forming position to the loading position. , 26a, 224, interacting cam members 95, 94, which move said anvils 29, 29a, 202 to said retracted position during movement of said anvils 29, 29a, 202;
A stapler comprising: 102, 94a, 248, 246.

2 the anvil 29, 29a, 202 is fixed adjacent to one end of the anvil support bracket 92, 92a, 242, and the anvil support bracket 92, 92a, 242 is fixed to the housing 1;
2, 12a, 206 to connect said anvil 29, 29a, 202 to said passageway 14, 14.
2. The stapler of claim 1, wherein the stapler is pivotable to move between the engaged and retracted positions about an axis generally aligned with the stapler.

TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to the medical field of joining separated tissues by closing the staple around an anvil so that the end of the staple can enter and join adjacent tissues. This article relates to a type of stapler used in various fields.

Technical background The technology in this field involves
The staple is closed around the anvil by bending two or more sections, and the protruding end of the open staple enters tissue adjacent to the anvil (such as a separated section of skin); A stapler that allows these tissues to be joined by curving the staples into a closed loop (which can be roughly rectangular or D-shaped) so that the closed staples can hold the tissues together. There are many. Illustrative examples of patents disclosing such staplers are U.S. Pat.
Includes Nos. 4109844, 4202480 and 4321002.

Typically, the anvil in such staplers is cantilever-shaped and has one or more anvils that project through the staple guide surface and allow the staple to abut and bend closed. having surfaces, such surfaces being opposite edge surfaces spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing between the spaced portions of the staple to be bent, and/or a central portion of the staple to be bent. including a contact surface that engages the portion. A mechanism is provided for positioning the open staple on the anvil so that the central portion of the staple is adjacent to the anvil and the end of the staple is positioned on the side of the edge of the anvil. From a loading position in which a ram is attached to the housing and positions the staple along the guide surface adjacent to the anvil, the staple is bent to close around the anvil so that the end of the staple is It is adapted to move into a shaping position that allows it to enter adjacently disposed tissue. After the staple is closed in this manner, the anvil must be pulled away from the closed staple by manually moving the staple housing;
This is troublesome for the user. Additionally, if this is not done correctly the first time, moving the stapler housing away from the tissue engaged by the staple may create a tensile force on the staple that may damage the engaged tissue. give.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a stapler of the type described above, which stapler has a device for separating the anvil from the stapler bent by the stapler for closure in tissue; There is no need for the user to make any special movements of the stapler housing before the stapler is separated from the closed tissue.

According to the invention, a central portion of the stapler is adapted to be closed in the general shape of a loop by bending at least a portion of the central portion, and ends projecting from each end of this central portion. Thus, there is provided a stapler suitable for bending staples, such as a stapler having a stapler. The stapler includes a housing having a passageway and an anvil. An anvil support bracket mounts the anvil on the housing and is movable between an engaged position in which the anvil extends across the exit opening of the passageway and a retracted position out of the passageway. The anvil has a contact surface disposed generally perpendicular to the staple guide surface partially bounding the passageway when the anvil is in the engaged position, the contact surface being engaged by the central portion of the staple. It's becoming like that. A mechanism is provided for positioning the staple on the anvil so that the central portion of the staple is adjacent the contact surface and the ends of the staple are located on the sides of the anvil. a loading position in which the ram is mounted on the housing and positions the staple along the path between the ram and the anvil when the anvil is in the engaged position; It is adapted to move between a forming position and a forming position that closes around the anvil. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the ram between its loading and forming positions, the drive mechanism and anvil support bracket mounting the anvil, moving the anvil to an engaged position prior to movement of the ram to the forming position, and The ram includes a cam member that interacts to move the anvil to a disengaged position while the ram moves from a forming position to a loading position to disengage the anvil from the closed staple.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to various drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts, in which FIG. 1 shows a retractable anvil according to the invention; FIG. FIG. 2 shows a vertical cross-section of the stapler of FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical cross-sectional view of the stapler of FIG. 1 showing the ram in the loading position and the anvil in the retracted position; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the ram in the forming position and the anvil in the engaged position. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken generally along line 5--5 of FIG. 6 and 7 are schematic partial cross-sectional views taken along lines 6--6 in FIG. 3 and 7-7 in FIG. 4, respectively. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a stapler with a retractable anvil according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9--9 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view of a third embodiment of a stapler with a retractable anvil according to the present invention. 11 is an enlarged side view of the stapler of FIG. 10 showing the ram in the loading position and the anvil in the retracted position; FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11, showing the ram in the molding position and the anvil in the engaged position. 13 is an enlarged partial front cross-sectional view of the stapler of FIG. 10; FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a stapler, designated generally by the numeral 10.
includes a retractable anvil 29 according to the invention.

The addition of a retractable anvil 29 and some other structural feature changes not critical to the invention (1) the use of a staple magazine of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 147,480; (2) an etched end ram 26 as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 183,221;
234,999, the stapler 10 includes a latching device that is partially actuated to retain the staples 24 such that the ends of the staples 24 project outwardly from the stapler 10; The stapler 10 of the present invention has substantially the same construction as the stapler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,480, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. is referenced. Portions of the stapler 10 described herein are given the same reference numerals as the same portions of the stapler disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,202,480 for convenient cross-reference therebetween.

Similar to the stapler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,480, the stapler 10 of the present invention has staples 24 bent and closed around anvil 29 into a loop-like configuration such that the ends of staples 24 by entering and tightening the skin adjacent to the anvil 29 and then pulling the anvil 29 away from the looped staple 24.
It is particularly adapted for surgeons to join separated skin sections. In this stapler 10, an anvil 29 is included within the anvil assembly that houses the stapler 10 for purposes such as those required when using the stapler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,480. The anvil 29 is automatically pulled away from the closed staple 24 without the need to move the stapler 12.

Briefly, the stapler 10 includes a housing member or housing 12 adapted to guide staples from an inlet aperture at the outlet of a staple magazine 22 to an outlet aperture at an end 20 of the housing 12. It has an elongated passageway 14 (FIG. 5). An anvil support bracket 92 is provided for mounting the anvil 29 and extends through one side bounding a portion of the passageway 14 to an engaged position (an engagement position) across the center of the passageway 14 at the outlet opening. 4) and the retracted position away from the passage 14 (Figs. 2 and 3).
(Figure). The anvil 29 has a peripheral contact surface disposed generally perpendicular to said side along the passageway 14 when the anvil 29 is in the engaged position, the peripheral contact surface engaging the central portion of the staple 24. It's becoming like that.
The stapler 10 is configured such that when the anvil 29 is in the engaged position, the stapler 24 is positioned on the anvil 29 such that the center portion of the stapler 24 is adjacent to the contact surface, and the end portion of the stapler 24 is positioned on the anvil 29.
It has a mechanism that allows it to be positioned on the side of 9. This positioning mechanism may be in the form of a lug that retains a staple on the anvil, such as that described in U.S. Patent Application No. 299,068, hereby referenced. However, in Hotchkiss 10,
This mechanism includes (1) the passageway 14 for guiding the staple 24 from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the passageway 14;
(3) mounted on the housing 12 and including a device in the form of a spring 54 and a follower 60 for forcing the stack of staples 24 along a track and into the entrance opening of the passageway 14; When the anvil 29 is in the engaged position, the ram 2
6 is spaced from the inlet opening 16 to guide one of the staples 24 into the passageway 14, and along the passageway 14 the ram 26 guides the stapler 24 into the anvil 29.
The ram 26 closes the staple 24 about the anvil 29 from the loading position (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6) in which it is pushed adjacent to and into engagement with the anvil 29. and the ram 26 for sliding movement relative to the forming position. A drive mechanism is provided for moving ram 26 between a loading position and a forming position, and cam members 94 and 95 are provided on the drive mechanism and anvil support bracket 92 to move ram 26 to the forming position. moving the anvil 29 to the engaged position;
The anvil 29 is adapted to be moved to the retracted position while the ram 26 is moved from the forming position to the loading position.

This drive mechanism includes handle members 30 on opposite sides.
are pressed together to drive member 32 (pivoted to the adjacent end of handle member 30 at pin 34).
along path 14 (Figs. 2 and 3).
5 and 6) to the extended position (Figs. 4 and 7) and correspondingly propels the ram 26 into the loading position (Figs. 3 and 6).
It is manually actuated to move it from the molding position (FIGS. 4 and 7). These handle members 30 are elastically deflectable and tend to return to their initial shape when the pressure on the handle members 30 is released, and a return spring 35 is coupled between the housing 12 and the drive member 32 to 32
is now pressed to the initial position. The drive member 32 contacts the ram 26 and moves the ram 26 from the loading position (FIGS. 3 and 6) to the forming position (the fourth
(Fig. and Fig. 7), but the ram 2
If the drive is deactivated by releasing the pressing force from the handle member 30 before the ram 6 is fully pushed into the forming position, the ram 26 will not be returned to the loading position and will not be returned to the position already in the passage 14. The ram 26 is closed while the staple 24 is closed and not ejected.
prevents the second staple 24 from entering the passageway 14. A drive member 32 is coupled to the ram 26 when the handle members 30 are pressed together enough to move the ram 26 fully into the forming position, but when the pressing force on the handle member 30 is released, the spring 35 and the handle member A device is provided which allows the ram 26 to be returned to the loading position under the influence of the pressing force provided by the elasticity of the ram 26.

A device for connecting the drive member 32 and the ram 26 when the drive mechanism positions the ram in the forming position (FIG. 7) is supported on the drive member 32 and a first lug 76 projecting from one side of the ram 26. Movement across passageway 14 is provided by a flexible resilient blade 80 that includes a second lug 78 and has an end opposite second lug 78 that is secured to drive member 32 . Also included is an elongated cam 82 that is part of the molded portion 62 of the housing 12 and projects into the center of the passageway 14 to (1) move the ram 26 from the loading position to the molding position; (2) holding the second lug 78 in a spaced position out of engagement with the first lug 76 on the ram 26 during movement of the drive member 32 to cause the drive member to move; 32 fully urges the ram 26 into the forming position, moves the second lug 78 to the engaged position where the lugs 76 and 78 engage each other, and (3) then moves the drive member to the loading position of the ram 26. 32
and second lug 78 during the return movement of ram 26.
A device is provided for holding the holder in the engaged position.

Furthermore, a second lug 78, this second lug 78
A flexible blade 80 to which the blade 80 is attached, a drive member 32 to which the blade 80 is attached, and a notch 1
1 is included in the latching device, which latches at a predetermined intermediate position of the ram 26 between the loading and forming positions only during movement of the ram 26 from the loading position to the forming position. Anvil 2 in position
The movement of the ram 26 away from the stapler 2 in the passageway 14 is stopped in this intermediate position.
4 against the anvil 29 so that the parallel ends of the staples 24 protrude from the stapler exit openings 18 on opposite sides of the anvil 29 (not shown, but see U.S. Pat. No. 2,349,999). ).

The second lug 78 is the molded portion 6 of the housing 12.
has an end projecting from the end of the blade 80 away from 2, which end can pass along the opening in the housing 12 between the ram 26 and the molded portion 62 of the housing 12 with the blade 80; Engaged with first lug 76 . The second lug 78 also has a portion that projects toward the molded portion 62 of the housing 12 to a position where it engages the surface of the cam 82. When the stapler 10 is operated manually,
The second lug 78 is positioned by the blade 80 such that the second lug 78 engages an adjacent first end surface of the cam 82 as the drive member 32 pushes the ram 26 toward the forming position; The first end surface abuts the first side 84 of the cam 82 to cause the ram 26 to move out of engagement with the first lug 76 on the ram 26, thereby causing the ram 26 to move from the intermediate position. Removal of the pressure on handle member 30 before it is pushed into position causes separation of drive member 32 and ram 26. Subsequently, when the drive member 32 presses the ram 26 into the intermediate position, the second lug 78 is moved into the recess 11 of the cam 82 by the pressing action of the blade 80. This notch 1
1 is generally C-shaped such that if the force tending to move the drive member 32 at this time is released, the lug 78 is moved away from the end 20 of the stapler and the drive member 32 and thus the ram The lug 78 is aligned such that it cannot move away from the notch 11 as a result of forces that would tend to lock the lug 26 in an intermediate position. However, the shape of the notch 11 allows movement of the second lug 78 out of the notch 11 upon further actuation of the drive member 32 to move the ram 26 towards the forming position. Such operation causes second lug 78 to engage cam 8 just before drive member 32 fully pushes ram 26 into the forming position.
The blade 80 moves away from the end of the blade 80.
The resiliency of positions the second lug 78 adjacent the second end surface of the cam 82 (FIG. 7). Upon subsequent return movement of the drive member 32 to its initial position when the manual pressure force on the handle member 30 is released, the second lug 78 engages the second end surface of the cam 82 and this The second end surface has the second lug 78 in contact with the second side surface 86 of the cam 82,
Second lug 78 is engaged with first lug 76 .
Subsequently, the engagement of lugs 78 and 76 draws ram 26 back to the loading position as drive member 32 is returned to the starting position by the biasing action of spring 35 and resilient handle member 30.

Anvil support bracket 92 and anvil 2
Cam members 94 and 95 that interact to retract stapler 9 from the closed staple 24 are best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The anvil 29 is formed as part of a metal anvil support bracket 92 and is positioned over a portion of the top cover 64 of the housing 12 by a pair of coaxial pins 93 at the distal end forming the anvil 29. It has an opposite end attached to housing 12 for pivoting anvil 29 between an engaged position and a retracted position. Cam members or portions 94 and 95 are part of anvil support bracket 92 and drive member 32, respectively, and are adapted for sliding engagement with each other. Spring 9 with one end fixed to housing 12
6 connects the anvil support bracket 92 to the anvil 29
has an opposite end that presses toward a position such that it is in an engaged position. The cam members 94 and 95 are shaped to abut each other to position the anvil 29 in the retracted position when the drive member 32 is in the initial position (FIG. 3), but when the cam members 94 and 95 are disengaged from each other. spring 96 is moved to the anvil 2 when the drive member 32 is moved to the extended position.
9 into the engaged position, which moves the ram 26 into the forming position (FIG. 4) to close the staple 24, and then back into the engaged state, returning the drive member 32 to its initial position. the anvil 29 is moved from the engaged position to the retracted position, thereby causing the lug 76 to move from the engaged position to the retracted position.
and 78 return the ram 26 to the loading position. Such movement of anvil 29 to the retracted position causes anvil 29 to be pulled away from closed staple 24. A closed staple 24 has no tendency to move with anvil 29. This is because, as the anvil 29 is retracted, it moves toward the center of the closed staple 24, the sides of which are adjacent to the sides of the top cover 64 that define a portion of the passageway 14. This is because it is being pressed against.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, anvil support bracket 92 is attached to housing 1.
It is extended by about three-quarters of 2, and the anvil 29
and the pin 93 forming the pivot axis of the anvil support bracket 92 is quite long (for example, about 3
-5/8in or approximately 9.1cm), this length allows the anvil 2 to fit between the engaged and retracted positions.
9 is moved approximately at right angles to the passage 14. Also, the pin 93 forming the pivot axis of the anvil support bracket 92 is generally aligned with the passageway 14;
The force applied by ram 26 to close staple 24 about anvil 29 has little tendency to move anvil 29 toward its remote position.

Operation To operate the stapler 10 of the present invention, a user (such as a surgeon) grasps the handle members 30 of the stapler 10 and presses the handle members 30 together to move the drive member 32 to the initial position (third position). ram 26 from its loading position (Figs. 3 and 6) toward its ejection position (Figs. 4 and 7). push. As the drive member 32 moves into engagement with the ram 26, the second lug 78, which is supported by the flexible blade 80, engages the first end surface of the cam 82, causing the second lug 78 to move into the cam. 82 first aspect 8
4 abutting the ram 26 out of alignment with the first lug 76 , the drive member 32 moves the ram 26 along the passageway 14 into engagement with one staple 24 at the entrance opening of the passageway 14 . to move it along the path 14. Additionally, cam member 95 on drive member 32 moves out of engagement with cam member 94 on anvil support bracket 92 , thereby causing spring 96 to engage anvil support bracket 92 .
to enable the anvil 29 to be positioned in an engaged position across the passageway 14. In this way, the ram 26 moves the staple 24 and the anvil 2
9 and the second lug 78 falls into the notch 11 when the parallel end of the staple 24 projects from the outlet opening 18 . If the user releases the pressure applied to the handle member 30, the drive member 32 and ram 26 remain in this intermediate position in which the user can attach the ends of the staples to the edges of the tissue, such as in a stapled connection. ram 26 is driven into the forming position (FIGS. 4 and 7) to finalize handle member 30 so that staple 24 is closed into tissue in this position. These drive members 32 and rams 26 can be brought closer together before constriction. This allows the user to use the handle member if it is desired to hold the closed staple 24 against the anvil 29 at the end of the stapler 10 to hold or move the stapled tissue as desired. 30
can be held together. However, if the user allows the handle member 30 to return to its normal position by the action of the spring 35 and the resilient handle member 30, the cam member 95 on the drive member 32 will again move to the anvil support bracket. 92 to engage the cam member 94 on the cam member 94 .
against spring 96 to remove anvil 2 without having to move housing 12 of stapler 10.
9 is moved away from the closed staple 24. The second lug 78 also moves along the second end surface and second side surface 86 of the cam 82 and moves along the second end surface and the second side surface 86 of the cam 82 to
26 is pulled into the loading position via the engaged lugs 76 and 78 when the drive member 32 is returned to its initial position.

Second Embodiment Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment of a stapler 100 including a retractable anvil 29a according to the present invention is shown.

This stapler 100 is identical to stapler 10, and corresponding parts have been given corresponding numbers except for the addition of the suffix "a". The stapler 100 has a cam member 102 attached to the drive member 32a that interacts with the cam member 94a on the anvil support bracket 92a to first cause movement of the anvil 29a.
It differs from the stapler 10 in that it is attached to a.

Like stapler 10, stapler 100 has a housing 12a with a passageway 14a that guides staples 24a from an inlet opening at the outlet of staple magazine 22a to an outlet at end 20a of housing 12a. The staple magazine 22a extends to the opening and includes a spring and follower (not shown) that urges the staple 24a into the entrance opening of the passageway 14a;
Ram 26a extends along passageway 14a to handle member 3.
0a and drive member 32a against the pressing force of the return coil spring 354a to close the staple 24a against the anvil 29a on the follower 60a, and the ram 26a A blade 80a supported by upper lugs 76a and 78a and follower 60a moves between molded portion 62a of housing 12a and top cover 64a, respectively, and interacts with a cam 82a on housing 12a to drive ram 26a and drive member. 32a, all operations similar to those described with respect to stapler 10 above.

It also includes a metal anvil support bracket 92a disposed over the top cover 64a portion of the housing 12a.
2a has a distal end in which an anvil 29a is formed and an opposite end attached to housing 12a by a pair of coaxial pins (not shown) for pivoting anvil 29a between an engaged position and a retracted position. It's getting you to exercise. Camming member or portion 102 of anvil support bracket 92a
and 94a and ram 26a are each adapted for sliding engagement with each other, with a spring 96a fixed at one end to housing 12a urging anvil support bracket 92a toward a position such that anvil 29a is disposed in the engaged position. It has an opposite end that presses. Cam members 94a and 102 are shaped to abut each other to position anvil 29a in the retracted position when ram 26a is in the loading position, such that ram 26a is in contact with drive member 32a.
When moved to the forming position via the spring 96a moves the anvil 29a to the engaged position,
The engagement of lugs 76a and 78a between ram 2a and ram 26a causes anvil 29a to be brought back into engagement to move anvil 29a from the engaged position to the retracted position as ram 26a is returned to the loading position.

Third Embodiment Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 13 of the drawings, there is shown a third embodiment of a stapler, generally designated by the reference numeral 200.
0 is also a retractable anvil 2 according to the invention
Contains 02.

With the exception of the addition of a retractable anvil 202, the stapler 10 is of substantially the same construction as the stapler sold by Davis & Geck Division of American Cyanamid, Danbury, Conn., under the trademark "Apose". This stapler is described in European Patent Application No. 40683 (herein referenced).

Similar to stapler 10, stapler 2 according to the invention
00, the surgeon bends the staple 204 into a loop-like structure to close it around the anvil 202 so that the end of the staple 204 closes around the anvil 202.
Used to join separated skin sections by entering a section of skin adjacent to 02, tightening, and then allowing the anvil 202 to be pulled away from the looped staple 204. suitable for being In the stapler 200, the anvil 2 can be removed without having to move the housing 206 of the stapler 200 for purposes that is required when using staplers currently commercially available from Davis & Gecko.
02 is automatically retracted.

Briefly, the stapler 200 includes a housing member 206 that is elongate and has a passageway 208 at one end, the passageway 20
8 extends from an inlet opening at the outlet of the staple magazine 218 to an outlet opening at the end 216 of the housing 206 for guiding the staples (the first
0 and 11). An anvil support bracket 242 is provided for mounting the anvil 202 and extends across the center of the passageway 20 at the outlet opening and partially through the sides bounding the passageway 208 in an engagement position (FIG. 12) and Retracted position away from passage 208 (11th
(Figure). The anvil 202 has a peripheral contact surface disposed generally perpendicular to the side surface along the passageway 208 when the anvil 202 is in the engaged position, the peripheral contact surface engaging the central portion of the staple 204. It's starting to match. Staple 200 is anvil 20
2 is in the engaged position, the staple 204 is positioned on the anvil 202 such that the central portion of the staple 204 is adjacent the contact surface and the end of the staple 204 is located on the side of the anvil 202. The mechanism includes a mechanism for guiding the staples 204 from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the passageway 208 and for forcing the stack of staples 204 along a track to sequentially move the staples 204 through the passageway 208.
magazine 2 including a device in the form of a spring 220 and a follower 222 for pushing into the inlet opening of 8;
14 and when the anvil 202 is in the engaged position,
Ram 224 guides one of the staples 204 through passage 20.
a loading position (11th
2, the housing 206 includes a ram 224 mounted to the housing 206 for sliding movement around the anvil 202 to a forming position that closes the staple 204.

A drive mechanism is provided for moving ram 224 between a loading position and a forming position, and includes a cam member 246.
and 248 are provided on the drive mechanism and anvil support bracket 242 to move the anvil 202 to the engaged position before the ram 224 moves to the forming position and to retract the anvil 202 while the ram 224 moves from the forming position to the loading position. It is designed to move into position.

The driving mechanism of the stapler 200 includes an actuating member 22 that is pivotally supported on the housing member 206 by a pin 230.
8 and the handle end 232 pivoted to the housing member 206 on opposite sides of the passageway 208 to constrict together the housing and the actuating member 206 . and 228 are plier-like members that act like pliers, and the member 22 is opposite the end 226 of the handle.
8 end 234 is operatively connected to ram 224 to move ram 224 from a loading position (FIG. 11) to a forming position (FIG. 12) against the force of a coil spring 236 that urges ram 224 to the loading position. ).

The stapler 200 is also already in the passage 208 if the drive is deactivated by releasing the push force from the handle ends 226 and 232 before the ram 224 is fully pushed into the forming position. A device is included to prevent second staple 204 from entering passageway 208 before staple 204 is formed and ejected. The ram 224 is such that a portion of the ram 224 is always adjacent to the entrance opening of the passage 208 during movement of the ram 224 from the loading position to the forming position until the staples 204 already in the passage 208 are closed and ejected. and has an appropriate length to prevent adjacent staples 204 within magazine 214 from moving through the entry opening and into passageway 208 . flexible blade 23
8 is provided in a cantilevered manner from the handle member 228,
The handle has at its opposite end 226 a resiliently compressible, generally V-shaped head 240, while the head 240 is compressed to allow movement in only one direction. The member 206 moves along a track 241 in the handle end 232 to prevent the handle ends 226 and 232 from separating during movement of the ram 224 from the loading position to the forming position, thereby preventing the ram from moving apart. 224 prevents movement away from anvil 202. When ram 224 reaches the forming position, head 240 moves off the end of track 241, and since track 241 is positioned to cause curvature of blade 238, head 240 causes blade 238 to return to its normal shape. and upon return to the position where the head 240 is separated from the track 241 and is allowed to move freely within the housing member 206 so that the handle ends 226 and 232 can be separated by the action of the spring 236. It is carried by blade 238.

Cam members 246 and 248 that interact to pull anvil support bracket 242 and anvil 202 away from closed staple 204
is best shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. Anvil 202 is part of a metal anvil support bracket 242 and rests on a plate 243 contained in housing member 206 that bounds one side of passageway 208. The support bracket 242 has an anvil 202 formed at one end and a hook 244 at the opposite end that projects through a groove in both plate 243 and ram 224 to attach plate 202 to plate 242.
43 to impart pivoting motion to the support bracket 242 to move the anvil 202 between the engaged and retracted positions. Cam members or portions 246 and 248 are part of anvil support bracket 242 and ram 224, respectively, and are adapted for sliding movement relative to each other. Support bracket 242 and bar 25 with leaf spring 250 contained within housing 206
It is held between 2. This spring 250 connects the hook 244 with which it is engaged to the plate 243.
anvil support bracket 242 and an opposite end that urges anvil support bracket 242 toward a position such that anvil 202 is in an engaged position. The cam members 246 and 248 are shaped to abut each other and the ram 2
24 is in the loading position (FIG. 11), the anvil 202 is moved out of engagement with the anvil 202 in the retracted position, and the spring 250 moves the cam member 248 into the opening in the ram 224. As the ram 224 moves from the loading position to the forming position (FIG. 12) to close the staple 204, the anvil 20
2 into the engaged position and then moves the anvil 202 from the engaged position to the retracted position as the ram 224 is returned from the forming position to the loading position. Such movement of anvil 202 to the retracted position causes anvil 202 to be pulled away from closed staple 204. Closed staple needles 204 have no tendency to move with anvil 202. Because the central side of the closed staple 204 that is oriented when the anvil 202 is retracted, the plate 243 partially bounds the passageway 208.
This is because it is in contact with the side of the

As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, anvil support bracket 242 extends at least a moderate distance along the length of plate 243 to provide a pivot point for anvil 202 and anvil support bracket 242. Hook 244
(eg, about 3/4 inch) allows anvil 202 to move generally perpendicular to passageway 208 between the engaged and retracted positions. Also, the hook 244 that provides the pivot point for the anvil support bracket 242 is generally aligned with the passageway 208 and the force provided by the ram 224 to close the staple 204 about the anvil 202 moves the anvil 202 to the retracted position. There are few trends.

Actuation To actuate stapler 200, a user (such as a surgeon) grasps handle ends 226 and 232 of the housing of stapler 200 and around actuation members 206 and 228 and presses them together. , pushing the ram 224 from the loading position (FIG. 11) to the ejecting position (FIG. 12) to position the staple magazine 2 at the entrance opening of the passageway.
One staple 2 positioned by 14
04 and moves the staple 204 along the passageway 208. This causes the cam member 248 on the ram 224 to move toward the anvil support bracket 2.
42, which causes spring 250 to move anvil support bracket 242 to move anvil 202 out of engagement with cam member 246 on channel 20.
8 so as to be positioned at an engagement position that crosses 8.
This constriction of the handle ends 226 and 232 drives the ram 224 to the forming position (FIG. 12) where the staple 204 is attached to the anvil 2.
It is closed around 02. The user then selects handle ends 226 and 232 if desired.
The staples 204 are held together and closed against the anvil 202 at the end of the stapler 200 to hold or move the stapled tissue as desired. However, when the user allows the handle ends 226 and 232 to return to their normal positions under the action of the spring 236, the cam member 248 on the ram 224 re-engages the cam member 246 on the anvil support bracket 242.
anvil support bracket 242 moves against spring 250 to engage anvil 2.
02 is the housing member 206 of the stapler 200
It moves away from the closed staple 204 without the need for manual movement.