Apparatus and method for subcuticular stapling of body tissue

Abstract

A surgical apparatus for attaching two portions of cutaneous body tissue includes a pair of opposed elongated jaws having members thereon at one end and which are movable toward each other to a closed position to engage two body tissue portions positioned within the members to move the bodily tissue portions into close approximation. Manually gripping systems of several alternative configurations are provided to actuate a mechanical transmission system to close the jaws. In a preferred embodiment, a fork is movable from a first position to a second position by manually operable devices to move the jaws toward each other. A pair of cam faces is located adjacent the opposite ends of the jaws. As the fork moves to its second position, the tines of the fork engage against the cam faces to move the opposed jaws to their closed position. A plurality of rod-like fasteners are carried in a stacked configuration proximally of the jaws such that when the jaws are in their closed position and the two body tissue portions are held in close approximation, each rod-like fastener is movable to a position of ingress to penetrate the body tissue portions to attach the two body tissue portions together. A method of attaching cutaneous body tissue portions is also disclosed.