Gas powered apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue.

摘要

An endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus 10 is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a frame 12 and a generally elongate endoscopic section 14 connected to the frame and extending distally therefrom. The endoscopic section includes a mechanism 16 for storing a plurality of staples, a mechanism 26 for advancing the staples for positioning adjacent body tissue and a mechanism for at least partially closing each staple. A low pressure pneumatic system 58 disposed in the frame provides the forces to at least partially activate the staple advancing mechanism. The apparatus has particular application in attaching mesh to body tissue as in laparoscopic hernia repair. <IMAGE>