Multiple-use surgical stapler

Abstract

A surgical apparatus may include an end effector comprising a staple holder including a housing therein, and an anvil connected to the staple holder, where the end effector is movable between an open configuration and a clamped configuration; a feeder belt having two lateral edges, at least part of which is held within the housing; a plurality of staples, where each staple has a first end frangibly connected to the feeder belt and a second, free end; where at least one staple is oriented relative to the corresponding feeder belt in a direction angled relative to the transverse direction; and wherein the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples; and an overtube movable relative to the staple holder and anvil, where motion of the overtube relative to the staple holder and anvil both clamps the staple holder and anvil together and clamps the feeder belt in place relative to the housing. Such an end effector may be utilized by inserting it into the body of a patient through an opening; clamping the end effector; closing a plurality of staples into a closed configuration; and separating each closed staples from the corresponding feeder belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical apparatus for treating tissue within a body of a patient, comprising:
 an end effector with a first plurality of staples arranged in a firing position, said first plurality of staples frangibly connected to a feeder belt;   a wedge element to deploy said first plurality of staples to a first portion of tissue of the patient by a first actuation of the surgical apparatus; and   a drive mechanism to reset the wedge and move a pawl to advance the feeder belt along with a second plurality of staples frangibly connected to said feeder belt into the firing position for a next deployment of staples to a second portion of tissue of the patient by a second actuation of the surgical apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . A surgical apparatus, comprising:
 an end effector with a first plurality of staples arranged in a firing position, said first plurality of staples frangibly connected to a feeder belt;   a wedge element to deploy said first plurality of staples by a first actuation of the surgical apparatus; and   a drive mechanism to reset the wedge and move a pawl to advance the feeder belt along with a second plurality of staples frangibly connected to said feeder belt into the firing position for a next deployment in a second actuation of the surgical apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pawl includes an upward-extending stop to engage and advance said feeder belt. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pawl includes a downward-extending ramp to allow movement of the pawl without causing the feeder belt to move along with the pawl.