The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1993
David T Green, Westport, CT (US);
Henry Bolanos, East Norwalk, CT (US);
Keith Ratcliff, Sandy Hook, CT (US);
Jeffrey J Blewett, Plantsville, CT (US);
Randolph F Lehn, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Charles R Sherts, Southport, CT (US);
Graham W Bryan, Norwalk, CT (US);
Salvatore Castro, Waterbury, CT (US);
Gary S Kappel, Stamford, CT (US);
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil member and a surgical fastener cartridge member mounted to the distal end of an elongated endoscopic portion. A tubular collar of the endoscopic portion moves distally to engage the anvil member and bias the anvil member and the cartridge member into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and the cartridge member. A self contained pneumatic system is disposed in the surgical apparatus and is actuable to eject and/or form the surgical fasteners in the clamped body tissue. The apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism for preventing firing of the instrument after it has been fired a predetermined number of times. A counter for displaying the number of times the apparatus has been fired may be provided. A firing interlock is also shown which prevents accidental actuation of the firing trigger. A clamping interlock is shown which prevents approximation of the jaws when the jaws are either misaligned or improperly inserted into the instrument.