Coated surgical staples and an illuminated staple cartridge for a surgical stapling instrument
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorsMichael Zemlok, Adam J. Ross, Peter Hathaway
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coated surgical fastener is provided for an easy visualization within tissue. The coated surgical fastener includes a core and a relatively non-reflective coating applied about the core. There is also disclosed an illuminated staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling device having a light source. The illuminated staple cartridge includes a transparent insert and a relatively nontransparent U-shaped outer channel at least partially surrounding the transparent insert. Windows formed in sides of the U-shaped outer channel allow defined amounts of light to project from the sides of the illuminated staple cartridge.
Claims13
A surgical fastener comprising:
- a core material having at least one tissue penetrating tip;
- and
- a non-reflective coating applied to at least a portion of the core material, the non-reflective coating emitting visible rays.
A surgical stapling device comprising;
- a handle;
- an elongate tubular member extending distally from the handle;
- an illuminated staple containing cartridge mounted on a distal end of the elongate tubular member;
- and
- a light source associated with the distal end of the elongate tubular member, such that light emitted from the light source is transmitted to the illuminated staple containing cartridge, wherein the transmitted light is emitted by the illuminated staple containing cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.