SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT FOR APPLYING A LARGE STAPLE THROUGH A SMALL DELIVERY PORT AND A METHOD OF USING THE SURGICAL STAPLER TO SECURE A TISSUE FOLD

摘要

A low-profile surgical stapler (10) enables a large-sized staple (12) to be delivered into a body cavity through a small opening or port. The surgical stapler includes a handle (16) having a trigger (20) movably coupled to the handle. The surgical stapler also includes an elongated, tubular shaft (22) extending distally from the handle. The tubular shaft includes a proximal end (24) secured to the handle and a distal end (26) in which a deployment opening (32) is formed. A staple deploying assembly (28) is disposed within an interior of the shaft (22) for discharging staples (12) from the deployment opening at the distal end of the shaft, the staple deploying assembly supporting a staple such that a longitudinal axis of the staple is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The deployment opening is shaped and dimensioned to permit the deployment of the staples from within the shaft, out of the deployment opening and into adjacent tissue.