THREE STAGE INSTRUMENT FOR LIGATING, SUTURING AND DIVIDING

摘要

A surgical instrument for controlling the operation of a three-stage staple-carrying cartridge adapted to ligate, suture and divide organic tubular structures such as blood vessels. The instrument also operates in three stages to positively control the ligating, suturing and dividing operations of the cartridge. the cartridge actuating mechanism takes the form of three saddles which are, in turn, controlled by the operating mechanism of the instrument. A two-link mechanical toggle positively controls the operation of two of the three cartridge-actuating saddles. The third saddle is, in turn, controlled by a shifter dog mechanism. The instrument is also equipped with a mechanism which ensures the completion of a ligating, suturing and dividing cycle to avoid jamming the staple-carrying cartridge.