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:
Aug. 25, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 13, 1997
Lisa W Heaton, Norwalk, CT (US);
Mitchell J Palmer, New Milford, CT (US);
Keith L Milliman, Bethel, CT (US);
Richard C McClure, Claremont, CA (US);
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue includes an elongated body extending from a handle assembly. A fastener cartridge housing pivotably connected to a distal portion of the elongated body receives a fastener cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners. A fastener driving mechanism actuatable from the handle assembly ejects fasteners from the fastener cartridge to form them against an anvil mounted adjacent the cartridge housing. The fastener cartridge is pivotably movable from a position in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the elongated body to a position out of alignment with the elongated body. Visual indication of the relative position of the fastener cartridge is provided by a control lever which is movable toward and away from the handle assembly to correspond with movement of the fastener cartridge. A clamp mechanism is also provided to move the anvil relative to the cartridge housing to clamp tissue therebetween.