David P Kuhl, Age 876555 Us Highway 68 S UNIT 7B, West Liberty, OH 43357

4605001, Aug 12, 1986

Oct 19, 1984

6/662621

Robert G. Rothfuss - Bellevue KY
David K. Kuhl - Cincinnati OH
Michael A. Murray - Bellevue KY

Senmed, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

A61B 1711

128305

A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates an improved staple actuator mechanism operable by separate control buttons to accomplish its stapling and cutting actions in two stages. The two stage operation of the stapling instrument reduces the maximum force required to operate the instrument. The improved actuator mechanism permits selection of different staple heights to be produced by the same instrument. In addition, the actuator mechanism is designed to stabilize the upper and lower jaw members by providing longitudinal and lateral support along substantially the entire length of the operative portions of the jaw members. Preferably, the actuator mechanism comprises an elongated, I-beam structure slidably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the jaw members. The I-beam assembly includes upper and lower flanges which provide both longitudinal and lateral support along substantially the entire length of the anvil and staple cartridge carrying portions of the jaw members.

4487394, Dec 11, 1984

Apr 14, 1982

6/368100

Robert G. Rothfuss - Bellevue KY
David K. Kuhl - Cincinnati OH

Senco Products, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

B25C 1100
A61B 1704

254 28

A manually actuated surgical staple extractor comprising upper and lower handles pivotally joined together and swingable between open and closed positions. The upper handle terminates at its forward end in a pair of thin, flat, laterally extending stops separated by a blade-receiving slot. The forwardmost portions of the stops lie in an obtuse angle to the upper handle and are joined together by a thin, coplanar, forwardly projecting, U-shaped anvil. The lower handle terminates in a thin blade. When the handles are in their open positions, the blade is located in the above noted slot with its lower edge above the anvil. When the handles are shifted toward each other to their closed positions, the blade pivots downwardly so that it passes through the U-shaped anvil to a position therebelow. The blade and the anvil are so configured that, as the blade passes through the anvil, there is clearance therebetween to either side of the blade, the clearance being at least equal to the diameter of the crown portion of the staple.

4534351, Aug 13, 1985

Oct 20, 1982

6/435380

Robert G. Rothfuss - Bellevue KY
David K. Kuhl - Cincinnati OH
Federico Bilotti - Madeira OH
Hugh Melling - West Chester OH
Earl J. Mills - Cincinnati OH

Senmed, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

A61B 1704
B31B 100

128334R

A disposable ligator for applying clamping clips to veins, arteries and blood vessels. The ligator comprises a first handle terminating at its forward end in a first jaw and a second jaw and a second handle, both pivotally mounted on the first handle near the forward end thereof. The handles are shiftable between open and closed positions and shift the jaws between open and closed clip-clamping positions. A clip tube containing a plurality of clips and a spring biased feeder shoe to constantly urge the clips forwardly therein is mounted in the first handle. A pusher is mounted in the first handle parallel to the clip tube in a pusher track which extends to the forward ends of the jaws. The pusher is shiftable by the first and second handles between a retracted position when the handles are closed and an extended position to locate a clip in the pusher track at the forward ends of the jaws when the handles are open. The first handle provides a ramp structure leading to the pusher track at the forward end of the clip tube which is covered by the pusher when in its extended position and exposed by the pusher when in its retracted position, thus enabling the forwardmost clip to be transferred to the pusher track in front of the pusher due to the forward urging of the clips in the clip tube, and without the necessity of moving transfer parts.

4608981, Sep 2, 1986

Oct 19, 1984

6/662908

Robert G. Rothfuss - Bellevue KY
David K. Kuhl - Cincinnati OH

Senmed, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

A61B 1711

128305

A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a staple height adjusting mechanism which enables the gap between its jaw members to be adjusted to select different staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife assembly slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members sequentially drives the staples from the cartridge and forms the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows. A set of jaw support members is carried by the knife blade which travel along the elongate jaw members as the pusher bar and knife assembly is advanced to provide local support to the jaw members.