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US 7,963,432 B2Granted
Driverless surgical stapler
AssigneeCardica, Inc.
InventorsBryan D. Knodel, Bernard A. Hausen, Luke W. Clauson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary driverless surgical stapler may include a staple holder; staples positioned within that staple holder; and at least one wedge, where each wedge is slidable to directly contact at least one staple, where that contact causes deployment of each contacted staple. An exemplary surgical method may include providing a driverless surgical stapler that has a staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder, and at least one wedge; and sliding at least one wedge relative to the staples to directly contact at least one staple.
Claims11
A driverless surgical stapler, comprising:
- a staple holder;
- a plurality of staples positioned within said staple holder;
- at least one wedge, each wedge slidable relative to the staple holder to directly contact at least one said staple, wherein said contact causes deployment of said at least one staple;
- and
- a feeder belt to which at least one of said staples is frangibly affixed in a manner such that contact between at least one said wedge and a corresponding said staple causes said staple to first deform while affixed to said feeder belt and then to break away from said feeder belt.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.