| abstract |
A surgical stapler (12) comprising a distal end with anmovable jaw (26) and a counter jaw (22) and a proximal endn(34) with means (30, 32, 38, 40, 42) to approximate the jawsnand means (28, 52, 56) to drive fasteners in one jaw throughnbodily tissue placed between the jaws, and including a guidenpin tissue retainer (29) with a distal end which advancesndistally between the jaws to retain said tissue between thenjaws when the jaws are approximated, the stapler beingncharacterised by interrelated first and second lockingnmechanisms which cooperate to positively indicate to thensurgeon that the staples have, in fact, been fired and tonmechanically prevent operation of the staple firingnmechanism. |