SURGICAL STAPLER
A surgical stapler comprises a hollow shaft 10 and a tube 92 slidable axially within the shaft between a forward position wherein one end 96 of the tube projects beyond a free end of the shaft to enter a puncture site in a blood vessel and a rearward position wherein the end of the locator tube is retracted within the shaft. A surgical staple 40 straddles the tube 92 and is slidable thereon forwardly towards an anvil 24 against which the staple may be deformed to staple together the opposite edges of the puncture site. A cam mechanism drives the staple forwardly along the tube 92 into deforming engagement with the anvil and at the same time retracts the tube into the shaft in time to allow the legs of the staple to close onto the puncture site.
1 . A medical staple comprising:
a body having an axis and a longitudinal opening; and
at least two opposed longitudinal tines spaced about said axis, each tine in contact with said body and having a distal end extending distally of the body;
the staple having a closed configuration wherein at least the distal ends of the tines are disposed adjacent to or contacting each other and an open configuration wherein at least the distal ends of the tines are separated from each other; and
wherein the staple is transformable via deformation of the body.
2 . The medical staple of claim 1 , wherein the two or more tines are transversely opposed to each other.
3 . The medical staple of claim 1 , wherein the two or more tines are radially opposed to each other.
4 . The medical staple of claim 1 , wherein the tines are biased by the body.
5 . The medical staple of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal opening is capable of receiving a member there through.
6 . The medical staple of claim 1 , wherein each of the tines comprises at least one tissue-engaging prong.
7 . The medical staple of claim 6 , wherein the at least one tissue-engaging prong is capable of at least partially piercing tissue adjacent the wound.
8 . The medical staple of claim 7 , wherein each of the tines are identical in size and shape and are disposed opposite each other such that the tissue engaging prongs are in at least a mutually adjacent mating relationship when the staple is in the closed configuration.
9 . The medical staple of claim 1 , wherein each of the tines mirrored about a plane through the longitudinal opening.
10 . A wound closure system comprising:
a staple comprising:
a body having an axis and a longitudinal opening;
at least two opposed longitudinal tines spaced about the axis, each tine in contact with the body and having a distal end extending distally of the body;
the staple having a closed configuration wherein at least the distal ends of the tines are disposed adjacent to or contacting each other and an open configuration wherein at least the distal ends of the tines are separated from each other; and
a stapler comprising a rod having a distal tip, the rod being slidably positionable with respect to the staple, the distal tip being adapted for deforming the body to transform the staple.
11 . The wound closure system of claim 10 , wherein the distal tip comprises a flared portion that is positionable for deforming the body.
12 . The wound closure system of claim 11 wherein the stapler further comprises a pusher having a distal end sized and shaped for abutting a proximal end of the staple.
13 . The wound closure system of claim 11 , wherein the flared portion is disposed adjacent to the tines.
14 . The wound closure system of claim 11 , wherein the flared portion impinges on at least a portion of the tines.
15 . The wound closure system of claim 11 , wherein the flared portion deforms at least a portion of the tines.
16 . A method for closing a wound comprising:
providing a staple having a body that is in contact with at least two tines;
engaging tissue surrounding the wound with the tines; and
moving the tines between an open and a closed configuration to close the wound.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein moving the tines between an open and a closed configuration to close the wound further comprises deforming the staple.