Importance

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Abstract

A tissue suturing assembly (10) and method involves C-shaped suturing staples (16) embedded in a cartridge (14) formed of a carrier (18) and opposite cartridge jaws (20 and 22). The opposite cartridge jaws are moved linearly along a track in the carrier to bend the C-shaped staples into spiraling overlapping loops by a separate elongated pliers-like clamping tool (12). The cartridge jaws selectively engage the pliers-like tool jaws (90) so that a loaded cartridge can be mounted on the pliers-like tool, the suturing staples mounted therein can be rolled up from their ends to thereby pass through tissues positioned in mouths of the staples, the cartridge can be removed from the pliers-like tool jaws, and a new loaded cartridge can be mounted on the pliers-like tool jaws to repeat this process. An equalizer mechanism (84) is included on the pliers-like tool to cause opposite jaws of the pliers-like tool to move correspondingly uniformed distances.

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First Claim