Surgical stapler

Abstract

A surgical stapler including a hollow shaft and a tube slidable axially within the shaft between a forward position wherein one end 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 straddles the tube and is slidable thereon forwardly towards an anvil 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 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 tissue stapler, comprising
 an elongated shaft having an inside dimension;   an elongated member sized to fit within said inside dimension of said shaft;   a staple adapted to fit within said shaft, said staple including a base portion disposed between two legs, a portion of said base portion being received in a complementary structure of the elongate member; and   an actuator mechanism to move said elongate member relative to said shaft, said actuator mechanism adapted to move said elongate member relative to said staple.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue stapler of  claim 1 , further comprising a staple former within said elongate shaft, wherein said staple former causes said two legs to contract inward thereby deploying said staple into the tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue stapler of  claim 1 , wherein the complementary structure receives the portion to selectively retain the staple to the elongate member. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue stapler of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the elongate member includes a sloping portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue stapler of  claim 1 , wherein the legs are positioned on opposite sides of the elongate member in a predeploved configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue stapler of  claim 1 , wherein said staple is deformed by a staple former and a projection. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue stapler of  claim 6 , wherein said projection is an anvil. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue stapler of  claim 6 , wherein said staple is deformed around said projection. 
     
     
         9 . A process for deploying a tissue staple comprising:
 inserting a distal end of a delivery apparatus into tissue, the delivery apparatus including a tissue staple including a plurality of tines connected to a base portion, the base portion being adapted to be supported by a portion of the delivery apparatus, each of the tines being connected to the base portion which is supported by a complementary structure of an elongate member of the delivery apparatus, each of the tines having a tapered tissue-piercing portion on the distal end thereof; and   deploying the tissue staple from the elongate member by releasing the base portion from the complementary structure of the elongate member.   
     
     
         10 . A process for deploying staple, comprising:
 providing a staple having a plurality of tines, said tines oriented at least partially in about a longitudinal axis, the staple being supported by a complementary structure of an elongate member of a delivery apparatus, with the plurality of tines being disposed on sides of the elongate member;   penetrating at least one tine of the staple into tissue in the proximity of a location within the tissue; and   releasing the staple from the complementary structure of the elongate member of the delivery apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing a guidewire; and   advancing the guidewire through tissue until the distal end of the guidewire is located near the location.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein penetrating into the tissue is caused by moving the staple along the guidewire. 
     
     
         13 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing a guidewire; and   advancing the guidewire through tissue until the distal end of the guidewire is located near the location.   
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24 , wherein penetrating into the tissue is caused by moving the staple along the guidewire. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the base portion of the staple extends transversely to a direction of extension of the plurality of tines. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising sliding the elongate member relative to the staple. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein releasing the base portion from the complementary structure of the elongate member comprises sliding the base portion relative to the complementary structure. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein a base portion of the staple extends transversely to a direction of extension of the plurality of tines. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising sliding the elongate member relative to the staple.