Patent ID: 6171330
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A pneumatic surgical instrument for distribution and placement of connectors or fasteners, the instrument comprising:a) a handle body integral with an attachment piece;b) an interchangeable terminal element joined and fixed to the attachment piece in a removable manner;c) said interchangeable terminal element forming a magazine for the connectors or fasteners;d) the terminal element also containing a distributor that can individually distribute the connectors or fasteners;e) a means for placement of each connector or fastener;f) the body of the handle, being substantially perpendicular to an axis of its attachment piece, and containing a pressurized gas reservoir;g) a pneumatic thrustor with single action and a spring return for activating the distributor and the placement means;h) a pneumatic circuit extending from the reservoir to the thrustor;i) a pneumatic distributor arranged on the pneumatic circuit;j) a push-button to activate the distributor, wherein said push-button protrudes from the handle body on the same side of the handle body as the attachment piece;k) wherein the handle body constitutes a first of two branches of a T, and wherein a second branch of the T is formed by the attachment piece which is continued by the interchangeable element;l) indentations included on the handle body, the indentations being provided to position fingers of a hand, said indentations being arranged along the handle body on either side of the attachment piece;m) one of the indentations being an index finger indentation, for positioning an index finger; andn) the index finger indentation being equipped with a bore having the push-button protruding through the bore to activate the pneumatic distributor.