Importance

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Abstract

A surgical instrument for implanting one or more rows of staples in living tissue has a pair of juxtaposed beam members with forward portions that jointly define a thin gap in which the tissue may be received and clamped. A latch couples the beam members together at a location behind the tissue gap. Operation of a first actuator forces staples out of one of the beam members and into the tissue, the other beam member having indentations shaped to close the staples. A tensioner flexes the beam members to create internal stresses which resist spreading of the beam member tips in response to load forces that are exerted on the members by clamped tissue and the stapling operation. This assures that the gap has a uniform width along its length and thus assures that the successive staples are each formed into an optimum configuration. The tensioner is actuated prior to and independently of operation of the first actuator and thus does not require exertion of additional effort nor interfere with tactile feedback to the surgeon during the stapling operation.

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First Claim