A method for operating a surgical instrument. The method includes linking a second drive member to a first drive member such that the second drive member moves with the first drive member. The method further includes applying first control motions to the first drive member to cause the second drive member to apply actuation motions to a surgical end effector. The method also includes discontinuing application of the first control motions to the first drive member and de-linking the second drive member from the first drive member such that the second drive member is locked in place by a locking system. The method also includes re-applying control motions to the first drive member.

A device for connecting body tissues has a head part, which can be pushed into a body opening and has a longitudinal axis, wherein tissue staples are accommodated in the head part in a storage position. The tissue staples have a linear main section and two engagement sections projecting perpendicularly therefrom aligned in a first plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Optimal usability in the human body is achieved by rotor elements, which are pivotable about an axis parallel to the main sections of the tissue staples with each have a bearing surface for an engagement section of a tissue staple to rotate said tissue staple from the storage position into a working position in which the tissue staple is arranged in a further plane oriented perpendicularly to the first plane, and in that a slider is provided to advance the tissue staple and deform it into a clamping position.

Described herein are devices and methods for delivering implants that include multiple coupled anchors. The anchors are secured to tissue using a multi-opening guide tunnel that is configured to releasably retain one or more portions of the implant located between two of the anchors. The releasable retention of one or more intervening portions of the implant maintains the position of the implant and the guide tunnel until the implant is secured to the tissue. The multi-opening guide tunnel permits securement of the multiple anchors without requiring repositioning of the guide tunnel for each anchor.

An implant delivery system includes an implant and an inserter releasably connectable to the implant. When the inserter is connected to the implant, actuating the inserter moves the implant between a free state and an elastically deformed state. The implant has a body with a bone facing surface and bilaterally protruding connecting means. The inserter has hooks that engage under the connecting means. The hooks and the rest of the inserter are proximal to the bone facing surface so that the implant may be fully seated against a bone surface while connected to the inserter.

A deployment device and an associated surgical fastener as well as their methods of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the deployment device includes a restraining mechanism constructed and arranged to temporarily limiting movement of a surgical fastener back span. The surgical fastener includes two legs extending in a distal direction from opposing ends of the back span. The legs are in a first closed position with a first shape. The deployment device also includes a spreader configured and arranged to engage the legs of the surgical fastener in the first closed position. When the spreader is moved in a distal direction relative to the back span, the spreader spreads the legs of the surgical fastener from the first closed position to a second open position as the back span is limited from distally moving by the restraining mechanism.

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can comprise a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck. The staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. Additionally, a plurality of wells can be defined into the staple cartridge from the deck to a lowermost surface of the well. A plurality of staples can be removably positioned in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge can comprise a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the wells. Each well can surround at least one staple cavity and/or can extend between at least two staple cavities.

A surgical stapler comprising an end effector and a system configured to feed staples into the end effector is disclosed.

A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an anvil half-section and a cartridge-receiving half-section including an elongated channel member having a pair of opposed openings defined through sidewalls thereof. A disposable assembly including a single use loading unit and a single use firing unit is configured to be releasably supported within the cartridge-receiving half-section. The disposable assembly includes a stationary housing for supporting the firing unit which includes a distal extension for supporting the single use loading unit. The stationary housing includes a pair of flared tabs configured to be releasably received within the openings of the cartridge-receiving half-section to releasably engage the disposable assembly within the cartridge-receiving half-section.

The present disclosure relates to a dissecting tip for use in a surgical stapler or instrument.

The invention comprises a fusion implant system for a generally u-shaped bone staple in which the staple is provided on a storage block with the two side legs in an un-splayed position, and an inserter having two triangular shaped pivoting handles has detachable tips that engage the staple on the storage block such that when the handles are aligned one over the other in a congruent position, the tips force the side legs into a splayed configuration at 90 and a sliding block holds the handles in this position to allow the staple to removed from the storage block and tamped using the inserter handles into respective bone.