APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUBCUTICULAR STAPLING OF BODY TISSUE

摘要

A surgical apparatus for attaching two portions of cutaneous body tissue includes a pair of opposed elongated members having jaws which have tissue gripping members thereon at one end and which are movable toward each other to a closed position to engage two body tissue portions positioned within the members to move the body tissue portions into close approximation. A plurality of rod-like fasteners are carried in a stacked configuration proximally of the jaws such that when the jaws are in their closed position the two body tissue portions are held in close approximation. Each rod-like fastener is movable to a position in ingress to penetrate the body tissue portions to attach the body tissue portions together. A fastener cartridge is provided with fasteners stacked in a sloped fashion and having a coil spring to bias the fasteners toward the ejection position.