JPS6138692B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a surgical stapling instrument, and more particularly, to a surgical stapling instrument having an improved and simplified construction;
A surgical stapling instrument having an improved anvil plate.

The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention is a "disposable surgical stapling instrument".
SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT) published on December 18, 1979 by Carl T.
This is an improvement on the surgical stapling instrument described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,057 to M. Becht and J. Charles Huyil.

The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention can be used in any situation. This is the case when the element to be sutured with the staples can be accessed from only one side and the staples are molded around the anvil rather than being molded against it. This stapling instrument is particularly suitable for use as a surgical stapling instrument, and will be described below for surgical purposes only. This device may be manufactured as a reusable device by selecting appropriate materials. However, its construction makes it suitable for most of its parts to be molded in plastic, allowing the device to be made as a single-use, disposable device. For illustrative purposes, the instrument will be described in application as a single-use, disposable surgical stapling instrument.

Surgeons have increasingly used staples, rather than conventional thread sutures, to close wounds and incisions in a patient's skin or fascia. This is primarily because the use of staples is a much easier operation and, more importantly, because it is much faster. The use of staples is
The time required for suturing is significantly reduced, thus reducing the amount of time the patient must be kept under anesthesia.

Prior researchers have developed various types of surgical stapling instruments. Some examples are U.S. Pat.
It is described in each specification of No. 3837555 and No. 3873016. Generally, prior art devices were complex in construction and expensive to manufacture. They are not designed to be disposable. Prior art surgical stapling instruments typically require magazines or cartridges for the staples, and some of the force required to actuate these instruments is generated prior to forming the staples around the anvil device. The time spent moving the staples to the anvil device. As a result, some prior art surgical stapling instruments require 20 pounds or more of force to form and implant surgical staples.

Significant advances in surgical stapling instruments were made by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,109,844 and 4,179,057. These documents disclose single-use disposable instruments having an anvil along which surgical staples are supported by and fed along an anvil plate. The anvil plate terminates on the anvil surface of the same extent and is separate from the staple forming implantation device by constantly pushing the row of staples forward along the anvil plate to place the most forward staples in the row on the anvil surface. - A device is provided for shaping by a driver. All of the force required to operate these surgical stapling instruments is directed toward shaping and implanting the anterior-most surgical staple, and a portion of the force applied by the surgeon is transferred to the anvil surface around which the staple is shaped. There is no need to remove staples from the cartridge or magazine.

The disposable surgical stapling instruments provided by the present invention offer improvements over those described in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 4,179,057. The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention is disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat.
It features all of the advantages of the surgical stapling instrument described in the '057 patent. Additionally, the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention features a unique overall construction that is simpler and requires fewer parts. A unique trigger and trigger push device, an improved surgical staple magazine forming an integral part of the body of the surgical stapling instrument, and an improvement narrowing the opening through which the leading edge surgical staple is formed. Anvil plates, etc. This latter advance accomplishes two things. First, the anvil plate fully supports the legs and tops of not only the staples next to the leadingmost staple in the row of staples, but all of the staples behind it. This ensures that the staple immediately after the leadingmost staple in the row is in the correct position for forming when it becomes the leadingmost staple in the row. Second, by fully supporting this second staple, it provides better support to the forming leadingmost staple in the row, because it Helps hold the leading edge staple during forming and reduces the possibility of leg wobbling during forming operations.

In accordance with the present invention, a disposable surgical stapling instrument is provided for molding and implanting surgical staples into the skin or fascia of a patient. The surgical stapling instrument has a body made of two mating halves having a rear handle portion, a front portion, and a staple magazine portion located below the front portion. .

A staple driver is slidably mounted within the front of the instrument body. The staple driver is movable between a first retracted, normal position and a second extended, staple forming and implanting position.

The trigger is pivotally mounted inside the main body,
A portion of the trigger is exposed below the body handle for actuation by the surgeon. The front end of the trigger has a nose that directly engages the staple driver. The device is configured such that when the exposed portion of the trigger is squeezed and pivoted into the body handle, the nose of the trigger moves the staple driver from its first retracted position to its second extended position. I'm starting to do that. Inside the main body (mainly the handle part)
A leaf spring is disposed above the trigger to bias the trigger in its normal, inactive position and to bias the staple driver in its normal, first retracted position.

The magazine portion of the main body houses an anvil plate whose front end terminates in a coextensive anvil surface located below the staple driver. A row of surgical staples is mounted on the anvil plate and can be slid therealong. This anvil plate has a shape that supports the legs of all staples other than the frontmost staple in the staple row.

The magazine portion of the instrument body also contains a surgical staple feeder assembly. The feeder assembly is configured to continuously press against a feeder shaft slidably mounted on an anvil plate behind the row of surgical staples and to continuously move the row of staples along the anvil plate. It has a single coil spring that presses to place the leadingmost staple in the row of staples onto the anvil surface so that it can be driven by the staple driver.

Hereinafter, the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention will be exemplarily described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Like parts have like reference numerals in all drawings. Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a surgical stapling instrument is generally designated by the numeral 1. This surgical stapling instrument is made of a right side body half 2a and a left side body half 2b, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and these body halves are assembled in a pairwise relationship. I can do it. The main body 2 has a rear part 3, which constitutes a handle part. It also has a front part 4 and a magazine part 5 located immediately below the front part 4. The rear or handle portion 3 of the body 2 is positioned obliquely relative to the front portion 4 so that the instrument can be easily grasped by the surgeon's hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. It can be held in the normal use position. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that once the instrument is so held in the hands of the surgeon, it can be oriented in any direction depending on the position of the patient and the portions of the patient to be sutured.

The right main body half 2a and the left main body half 2b are
These are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.
The right main body half 2a is connected to the edge 6 of the left main body half 2b.
It has edges 6 to 9 adapted to engage and be joined to the edges a to 9a, respectively. Figures 4 and 5
As can be seen from Figures 6 and 10, edges 6 to 9
The edges 6a to 9a are oppositely stepped so as to be in a mating relationship when abutted against each other. The right body half 2a has three annular elements 1 on its inner wall.
0, 11 and 12 are formed, and these annular elements 10, 11 and 12 constitute three female sockets. The left body half 2b has three upright hollow male members 13, 14 and 15. When the main body halves 2a and 2b are combined,
Male members 13, 14 and 15 are received in a friction fit in female sockets 10, 11 and 12, respectively.

Body halves 2a and 2 in the illustrated embodiment
b is molded of a suitable plastic material suitable for use within a surgical environment and capable of withstanding sterilization by any one or more standard sterilization procedures known to those skilled in the art. Once the internal components of the surgical stapling instrument (described below) have been assembled within one of the body halves, the body halves are joined together. In addition to frictionally engaging the male members 13 to 15 with the female sockets 10 to 12,
The fitted edges 6 to 9 and 6a to 9a may be reliably joined by adhesion, welding, or the like.
If the device of the present invention is to be reused rather than disposable, the main body halves 2a and 2
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that b can be made of stainless steel or other suitable material that is suitable for use in a surgical environment and can be sterilized.

The main body half 2a includes an annular flange 16 and a pair of straight flanges 17, 1 that are spaced parallel to each other.
It has 8. The main body half 2b includes an annular flange 19 corresponding to the annular flange 16, a pair of straight flanges 20 corresponding to the flanges 17 and 18,
They each have 21. When the body halves are assembled, the annular flanges 16, 19 are located coaxially opposite each other, and the flanges 17, 18 are
The flanges 20 and 21 are located oppositely and in parallel spaced relationship, respectively.

Next, refer to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the right body half 2a of the surgical stapling instrument with internal elements mounted therein. When we first look at the manganese part 5 of this surgical stapling instrument, we see that the anvil plate 2
2 is accommodated. This anvil plate 22 is best shown in FIG. This anvil plate 2
2 is preferably formed of a suitable metal for use in a surgical environment, such as stainless steel. The anvil plate 22 has a longitudinally extending, raised central portion 23. This lifting part 2
3 has at its forward-most end an extension 24 which is an integral part of the lifting portion 23 and is slightly angled thereto. This extension part 24 constitutes an anvil, and this extension part 2
The upper surface 24a of 4 constitutes an anvil surface coextensive with the upper surface of the lifting central portion 23.

The raised central portion 23 of the anvil plate 22 has side edges that terminate in downwardly depending portions 25, 26 (see also FIG. 10). These downward hanging parts 2
5 and 26 are flanges 27 and 2 that further extend laterally.
Terminates at 8. The flange 27 has a pair of extensions 2
I have 9,30. Similarly, flange 28
has a pair of extensions 31 and 32. The right main body half 2a (FIG. 4) has a pair of recesses 33,
34 is formed. Similarly, left main body half 2b
(FIG. 5), a pair of recesses 35 and 36 are formed. When the main body halves 2a and 2b are connected and the anvil plate 22 is properly positioned between them,
Extensions 29 and 30 of flange 27 are received in recesses 33 and 34, respectively, of body half 2a. Similarly, extensions 31 and 3 of flange 28
2 are received in recesses 35 and 36 of body half 2b. In this way, the anvil plate 22
is properly positioned and secured within both body halves. This is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. As also apparent from FIG. 10, the anvil plate flanges 27 and 28 rest on the bottom parts of the body halves 2a and 2b.

Anvil plate 22 includes a raised central portion 23, downwardly depending portions 25, 26, and laterally extending portions 27, 28, and is straddled in face-to-face relationship by a row of staples 37. Ru. This is the first
1 of staples 37a in row 37
Show the number. This staple 37a is attached to the top 38
It has a pair of legs 38a and 38b that hang downward, and the tips of the legs are pointed. Legs 38a, 38b
The tips of the flange 27 and 28 ride along and are supported by the flanges 27 and 28.

As is clear from FIG. 10, the magazine portion 5
The inner wall surface of, together with the flanges 18 and 21,
In cooperation with anvil plate 22, surgical staple row 3
Form a magazine for 7. As is clear from FIG. 2, a notch 39 is formed in the frontmost surface of the magazine portion 5. This notch is sized such that intact staples cannot pass through it. As a result, the frontmost staple 37b of the row 37 abuts the inner surfaces 39a and 39b of the magazine portion adjacent to the notch 39 (the fourth
(see Figures and Figure 5). The forwardmost staples 37b of the row 37 are sized appropriately to pass through the notches 39, as described below, only when fully formed and implanted. As clearly shown in Figure 11,
A notch 40 is formed on the bottom surface of the magazine portion 5 in a region partially cooperating with the notch 39 . This notch 40 exposes the front end of the anvil plate 22,
The anterior-most staples of row 37 are allowed to be shaped and implanted into the patient's skin.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, the lungs 27 and 28 of the anvil plate 22 are connected to the front extension 2.
7a and 28a, ensuring that all legs of the surgical staples in the row 37 are supported except for the forwardmost staple 37b in the row (see FIG. 10). As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 11, extensions 27a, 28a narrow the gap through which anterior-most staple 37b is formed and implanted.

The magazine portion 5 of the surgical stapling instrument also includes a feeder assembly for a row 37 of surgical staples. Referring again to FIG. 6, the feeder assembly includes a feeder shoe 41, a coil spring 42, and a plug 43. feeder
The scene 41 is illustrated in FIG. feeder
The shaft 41 constitutes an inverted U-shaped member as a whole,
Its overall dimensions approximate those of the surgical staple itself. The feeder seat straddles the anvil plate 22 behind the surgical staple row 37. The downwardly hanging portion of the feeder shaft 41 has front portions 41a, 41b, and these front portions are connected to the magazine portion 5 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
It is inclined upward and rearward at approximately the same angle as the inner surfaces 39a and 39b of. The feeder shed 41 also has a centrally located upright piece 41c. Its purpose will become clear below.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 6, the rear end of the magazine section 5 has a square opening 44. As can be seen in FIGS. This rectangular opening is
1 to allow surgical staples to be loaded into the magazine portion. This opening 44 is closed with a plug 43 after completing the loading operation. The plug 43 has a pair of laterally extending flanges 43a.
and 43b, and their flanges are adapted to engage with a notch 44a of the right body half 2a (FIG. 4) and a notch 44b of the left body half 2b (FIG. 5). Flanges 43a and 43b
are angled forwardly and inwardly as shown in FIG. 9 so that the plug 43 can be inserted into the opening 44 with a snap fit. The plug 43 has a hollow cylindrical extension 43c at its front end. As is clear from FIG. 6, this extension 43
c acts as a mount for the rear end of the coil spring 42. The front end of the coil spring 42 is connected to the feeder.
It engages with the upright flange 41c of the shaft 41. Therefore, the spring 42 pushes the feeder shoe 41 forward. The feeder system 41 also ensures that the leadingmost staple of the row (for the entire row until no rows are left) is located on the inner magazine surfaces 39a and 39b.
(See Figures 4 and 5). flange pairs 17, 20 and 18,
21 is a spring 42 that keeps the spring 42 in the correct line shape.
Acts as a guide device for (10th
figure).

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6, 12, and 13. Within the front portion 4 of the surgical stapling instrument body 2,
A staple driver 45 is mounted. 1st
As best seen in Figure 2, the staple driver 45 has a generally flat, generally rectangular element preferably made of a metal suitable for use in a surgical environment, such as stainless steel.
This staple driver 45 has a central opening 46
and projecting pieces 47, 4 extending rearward from this opening.
8 is formed. The purpose of these protrusions 47, 48 will be explained below.

The staple driver has a staple forming notch 49 formed at its lowermost end. The lowermost corner of this notch is slightly rounded, as shown in FIG. This assists in bending the top of the staple, as explained below. The lowermost edges 52 and 53 and their adjacent rounded portions 50 and 51 (the first portion of the staple driver that contacts the top of the staple) are:
It may be slightly grooved to ensure that the staples formed by the driver are properly aligned during the initial stages of the staple forming operation.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the staple driver 45 is placed in abutment with the front inner surface 54 of the front section 4 of the instrument. The staple driver 45 can be positioned in the first retracted or normal position illustrated in FIGS. 6, 13 and 15 and in the second extended or staple forming and implantation position illustrated in FIG. Between the position and the inner surface 5
4 can be slid along. Front part of the instrument 4
The interior surface 54 of the staple driver 45 has a step at 55 for determining the initial retracted or normal position of the staple driver 45.
Acts as a stop.

Place the staple driver in its first position and
6 and 14.
Illustrated in the figure. Trigger 56 (best shown in Figure 14) is suitable for being molded of a plastic material suitable for use in a surgical environment and has a rear portion 57 and a front portion 58. There is. The rear portion 57 is hollow as shown and extends through an elongated opening 59 (see FIGS. 4-6) in the rear of the instrument body 2 or handle portion 3. The lower edge of the trigger 56 is adapted to be grasped by the surgeon's fingers and for this purpose is
It may be cut out or serrated like 57a.
The front portion 58 of the trigger 56 includes a pair of opposing, laterally extending integral pivot pins 60, 60.
a (Figures 10 and 14). The pivot pin 60 is adapted to be rotatably received within the annular flange 19 of the left body half 2b. Another pivot pin 60a is likewise adapted to be rotatably received in the annular flange 16 of the right body half 2a.

The front portion 58 of the trigger 56 terminates in a nose 61. The nose 61 itself has an arcuate surface 62,
63 and has a raised central arcuate surface 64 on either side thereof. As is clear from FIGS. 6, 12, and 14, the front end of the nose 61 includes a projecting piece 47 extending rearward of the staple driver 45;
48 to be accepted. The central raised arcuate surface 64 is wide enough to extend into the staple driver aperture 46 and the arcuate surfaces 62, 63 abut those portions of the staple driver 45 on either side of the aperture 46. come into contact with The nose portion 61 of the trigger 56 thus directs the stable driver to the inner surface 54 of the front portion 4 of the instrument.
and maintain the contact state.

As best seen in FIG. 6, a leaf spring 65 is mounted on the front portion of the instrument 1. This leaf spring has a substantially U-shape, and its first leg 66 presses against the upper inner surface of the instrument body 2, and its second leg 67 rides along the upper surface of the trigger 56. This spring 6
5 maintains the trigger 56 in its normal position as illustrated in FIG. This also ensures that the staple driver 45 is in its initial retracted or normal position. When the trigger 56 is squeezed and pivoted counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 6), its nose portion 61 moves the staple driver 45 into its second extended or staple drive and implant position. move it to

The various elements of the surgical stapling instrument 1 have been described in detail above, and its operation can be described as follows. The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention is assembled, loaded, and delivered to the surgeon in sterile form. Grasping the instrument in his right or left hand by the rear handle portion 3 and placing his finger on the trigger 56, the surgeon positions the instrument over the wound or incision to be sutured. This is illustrated in FIG. 15, where the patient's skin is shown at 68;
Includes a wound or incision 69. The outer surface of the most forward end of the instrument 1 may, if desired, include an indicator 70 to assist the surgeon in aligning the surgical stapling instrument 1 directly over the incision 69. Indicia 70 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes body halves 2a and 2b.
is shown as a raised element on each of the two halves, defining an arrow when the two halves are joined. When placed over the incision as shown in FIG.
is slightly expanded in the direction of the anvil 24.

Once the instrument 1 is properly placed over the incision 69, the surgeon squeezes the trigger 56 against the action of the spring 65. As previously shown, pivoting trigger 56 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 6) causes nose portion 61 of trigger 56 to move staple driver 45 into its second extension. the stapling and implantation position. As the staple driver moves downward, its lowermost edges 52, 53
contacts the top of the leading edge staple 37b to both sides of the anvil. As driver 45 moves further downward, curved portions 50 and 51 of the driver begin to bend top 38 of leading edge staple 37b. This simultaneously causes staple legs 38a and 38b to be implanted into the skin 68. When this shaping and implantation operation is complete, the staple will assume the shape shown in FIG. 16 and close the incision 69. In this configuration, the fully formed and implanted staple 37b is sized such that it can pass through the notch 39 in the forward-most end of the magazine section 5 and exit the anvil 24 under the pressure of the spring 42. ing. When trigger 56 is released, spring 65 returns the trigger to its normal position as shown in FIG. This also returns staple former 45 to its original retracted or normal position. In the meantime, coil spring 42 and feeder shaft 41 advance the next forward-most staple of row 37 over anvil surface 24a, causing inner wall surfaces 39a and 39 of the front end of magazine section 5 to advance.
Bring it into contact with b. The flange extensions 27a and 28a of the Alvin plates support the staples next to the leading edge of the staple row and effectively narrow the gap through which the leading edge staples are formed and implanted. The leading edge staple is stabilized by the staple immediately following it to reduce or eliminate the possibility of leg wobbling during formation of the leading edge staple. Additionally, the staples immediately following the leading-most staple are in the proper position to become the leading-most staple after subsequent forming and implantation operations.

It is within the spirit of the invention to form a lug half on the inner front surface of each body half 2a and 2b. Such a lug half is shown at 71 in FIG. When body halves 2a and 2b are joined, lug half 71 on body half 2a is positioned adjacent to a similar lug half on body half 2b;
A square ear piece is formed that is located just above the top of the leading edge staple 37b. This lug limits the amount of deflection of the staple top during staple forming and implantation operations. If such lug halves are provided on body halves 2a and 2b, staple driver 45 may include an additional notch 72 (a second Figure 12).

Many variations can be made within the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. for example,
Leaf spring 65 may be replaced by a compression spring or any other suitable type of biasing device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a side view of the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the interior of the right body half of the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the interior of the left body half of the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of the right body half similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the staple driver, trigger, leaf spring, anvil plate, surgical staple row, and staple delivery assembly mounted therein; 7th
8 is a perspective view of the feeder shaft of the invention, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the magazine plug, and FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the anvil plate of the invention. 11 is a partial bottom view of the surgical stapling instrument; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the surgical staple driver of the present invention; and FIG. 13 is a view of FIG. cutting line 13
14 is a perspective view of the trigger of the invention; FIG. 15 shows the surgical staple of the invention placed over the incision to be sutured. A partial front view of the instrument, FIG. 16, is a partial front view similar to FIG. 15, illustrating the anterior-most surgical staple being formed and implanted into the patient's skin. 1...Surgical stapling instrument, 2...Main body, 2
a...Right side body half, 2b...Left side body half, 3
... Rear part of main body, 4 ... Front part of main body, 5 ... Magazine part, 6 to 9 ... Edge, 10, 11, 12 ... Female socket, 13, 14, 15 ... Hollow male member, 16 ...Annular flange, 17, 18... Straight flange, 19... Annular flange, 20, 21...
...Straight flange, 22...Anvil plate, 23...
Lifting central part, 24...Anvil surface, 25,2
6... hanging portion, 27, 28... side flange,
29, 30, 31, 32... Extension part, 33, 3
4, 35, 36... recess, 37... staple row, 37a... one staple, 38... staple top, 38a, 38b... leg, 39... magazine front notch, 40... magazine bottom Notch, 41...Feeder shaft, 42...Coil spring, 43...Plug, 44...Square opening, 44
a, 44b... Notch, 45... Staple driver, 46... Center opening, 47, 48... Protruding piece, 49... Staple forming notch, 50, 51
... Rounded part, 52, 53 ... Lowermost edge of driver, 54 ... Main body front inner surface, 55 ... Stepped part, 56
...Trigger, 57...Trigger step, 58...Trigger front part, 59...Body opening, 60, 60a...Trigger pivot pin, 61...Trigger nose, 62,
63...Circular arc surface, 64...Central arc surface, 6
5... Leaf spring, 66, 67... Legs of the leaf spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A surgical stapling instrument for molding and implanting surgical staples into the skin or fascia of a patient, comprising:
The instrument includes an elongated body made of a rear handle portion, a front portion, and two mating halves forming a surgical staple magazine portion located below the front portion, and a surgical staple magazine portion mounted within the magazine portion. an anvil plate having a front end and a back end, the anvil plate having an inverted U-shaped cross-section with a longitudinally extending raised flattened central portion; The central portion has a longitudinal edge terminating in a downwardly depending portion of the same extension, and each of said downwardly depending portions has longitudinal edges that extend laterally of said downwardly depending portion and said central portion. terminating in a flange portion of the extension area, and having an extension part of the same extension area of the central portion at the front end of the anvil plate;
The extension has an anvil surface and a surgical staple slidably attached to the anvil plate, and the surgical stapling instrument is positioned on the anvil surface for molding implantation of the most anterior staple of the row. and a feeder assembly mounted within the magazine section for constantly pressing and advancing the row of staples along the anvil plate toward the anvil surface for release therefrom when molded and implanted. the surgical staples of the row have tops terminating in downwardly depending legs at each end; the free end of said leg of said surgical staple straddles a portion depending from said surgical staple;
supported by the lateral flange portion of the anvil plate, the lateral flange portion having a coplanar extension at the forward end of the anvil plate, the coplanar extension having an extension of the same extension; The legs of the surgical staples, except for the foremost row of staples, extend laterally along the length of the surgical staples so that the rows of staples are connected to the extension and the anvil plate in the same extent by the feeder assembly. the surgical stapling instrument is supported by the lateral flange portions, the body has a straight inner surface extending upwardly relative to the anvil surface, and the surgical stapling instrument , a staple driver located within the front of the body on the anvil surface;
The staple driver is longitudinally movable between a first retracted position and a second extended staple forming and implantation position, and the surgical stapler is rotated within the body. the staple driver includes a supported trigger rotatable between an inactive and an activated position, the staple driver having a pair of spaced apart protrusions extending rearwardly therefrom; , between the protrusions for abutting the staple driver to maintain the staple driver abutting the inner body surface and for moving the staple driver between its first and second positions. and a rear portion of the trigger is partially exposed below the rear handle portion of the body for manipulation by a surgeon;
The surgical stapling instrument includes a device within the body for pushing the trigger to the inactive position and pushing the staple driver to the first position. 2. The device for pressing the trigger to the inactive position and pressing the staple driver to the first position is disposed within the body and includes a first leg that engages an upper inner surface of the body and the trigger. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further comprising a U-shaped leaf spring having a second leg that engages the rear portion of the surgical stapling instrument. 3. An anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having a magazine containing rows of staples in face-to-face relationship, each of said staples terminating at each end in a downwardly depending leg; the legs have an apex terminating in a free end; the anvil plate has an elongate member having a forward end and a rearward end and an inverted U-shaped cross section; a raised central flat portion extending into a raised area, the longitudinal edges thereof terminating in a downwardly depending portion of the extension; terminating in a laterally extending flange portion of the anvil plate and having an extension of the same extent on the central portion of the forward end of the anvil plate, by which the staple is formed; an anvil having an upper anvil surface, the flange portion extending the length of the anvil plate, the flange portion having a coplanar extension at a forward end thereof, and the coplanar extension having a coplanar extension. extending laterally along an extension of the range, the staples of the row being mounted on the anvil plate and straddling the raised central portion and the anvil; An anvil plate characterized in that the free ends of all staples other than the leading staple are supported by said flange and said coplanar extension.