Deborah A Lucas

US Patent:

6402008, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Apr 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/553906

Inventors:

Deborah A. Lucas - Sugar Land TX 77479

International Classification:

A61B 17068

US Classification:

2271751, 2271761, 2271781, 227 19

Abstract:

A surgical stapler assembly for joining a tubular prosthesis to an organic duct such as a blood vessel or artery is disclosed. The assembly has a handle and a set of interchangeable heads attachable to a distal end of the handle. Each head has a staple holder housing a plurality of radially arrayed staples, a plurality of anvils disposed concentrically opposite said staples and an annular gap between the staples and the anvils for receiving the prosthesis and an end of the organic duct. The annular gap of each head in the set has a different median diameter for use with prostheses and organic ducts of different diameters. Hammers are provided to eject the staples through the prosthesis and organic duct in the annular gap and onto the anvils. The heads can be replaceably attachable to the distal end of the handle. The annular gap can be enlarged to facilitate insertion and removal of the organic duct into and from the annular gap prior to and following ejection of the staples.