Surgical stapler

A surgical instrument for closing a puncture in a liquid-carrying vessel, comprising:

• a shaft;
• a locator slidably movable with respect to the shaft between a forward position in which the locator projects beyond a free end of the shaft to enter a puncture site in a liquid-carrying vessel, and a rearward position in which the locator is retracted relative to the shaft;
• and
• an actuator for driving a closure device toward the puncture site and for simultaneously retracting the locator such that the locator is withdrawn from the closure device to allow the closure device to close the puncture.

A method for closing a puncture in a liquid-carrying vessel, comprising:

• advancing a tube through a puncture in a liquid-carrying vessel;
• positioning a shaft slidably disposed around the tube adjacent the puncture in the liquid-carrying vessel;
• delivering a closure mechanism along the tube to the puncture in the liquid-carrying vessel;
• and
• activating an actuator mechanism effective to simultaneously separate the tube from the closure mechanism to allow the closure mechanism to close the puncture in the liquid-carrying vessel.

A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

• a hollow shaft;
• a member slidably receivable within the hollow shaft and movable between a forward position in which the member projects beyond a forward end of the hollow shaft to position the forward end of the hollow shaft over a puncture in a liquid-carrying vessel, and a rearward position in which the member is retracted relative to the hollow shaft;
• and
• an actuator for driving a staple through the hollow shaft to staple together the puncture and for simultaneously retracting the member as the staple is released.