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. 30, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1994
William P Klinzing, St. Paul, MN (US);
Barry W Robole, Woodville, WI (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A cartridge for use in a stapler for driving staples during orthopedic surgery is described. The cartridge has a case comprising a first wall and side walls projecting from this first wall. The cartridge has inner guide surfaces intended to guide the movement of staples when they are ejected by the stapler, and these preferably include the top of extended projections from a spacer element which is snap fit to the case. Within the case are a stack of staples supported on a follower which pushes on the side of the stack of staples so as to sequentially present each one in turn in a position to be ejected by the stapler. The follower is centered and slidably mounted on a guidepost which helps the follower resist any tendency for misalignment of the follower within the case.