Surgical fastener instruments
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsCharles J. Scheib, Jeevan M. Shankarsetty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Surgical instruments and cartridges for cutting and fastening tissues and organs such as vessels are disclosed. In various non-limiting forms, the surgical instrument includes a first jaw that operably supports a substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly therein. A second jaw is movably supported relative to the first jaw and is selectively movable between open and closed positions in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto. A closure retraction assembly is configured to selectively apply cinching motions to the substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly.
Claims18
A surgical fastening instrument, comprising:
- a first jaw operably supporting a substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly therein;
- a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw and being selectively movable between open and closed positions in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto;
- and
- a closure retraction assembly configured to selectively apply cinching motions to said substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly.
A fastener cartridge for cutting and occluding a vessel, comprising:
- a body portion having a deck face and a centrally disposed slot therein for receiving a cutting member of a surgical instrument therethrough, said deck face configured to operably support a pair of substantially flexible elongated closure members wherein one member is supported on a first side of said centrally disposed slot and the other member is disposed on a second side of said slot;
- and
- a closure retraction assembly at least partially operably supported in said body portion and configured to selectively apply cinching motions to each of said substantially flexible elongated closure members.
A closure assembly for use with a surgical fastener cartridge having a closure retraction assembly therein, said closure assembly comprising:
- a first absorbable closure member having a first lower elongated portion supportable on a portion of the fastener cartridge and having a first locking end defining a first locking aperture, said first absorbable closure member having a first upper elongated portion integrally formed with said first lower elongated portion and having a first hook-shaped end supported in spaced relation to said first locking end;
- a second absorbable closure member having a second lower elongated portion supportable on another portion of the fastener cartridge and having a second locking end defining a second locking aperture, said second absorbable closure member having a second upper elongated portion integrally formed with said second lower elongated portion and having a second hook-shaped end supported in spaced relation to said first locking end;
- and
- a bridge member coupling said first absorbable closure member and said second absorbable closure member in spaced relation to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.