Mechanical sutures in surgery

Abstract

Abstract Following the original introduction of an automatic stapling instrument producing B-form staples by de Petz (1924, 1927), there has been derived from the very important first generation of Soviet stapling instruments a second generation of American stapling instruments characterized by: (1) the use of preloaded, pre-sterilized, and disposable staple cartridges; (2) the adaptability of one instrument to a variety of cartridges for use in a variety of tissues and operative situations; (3) the transfer from the instrument itself to the disposable cartridge of delicate and fragile moving parts simplifying the maintenance and operation of instruments. The instruments have found wide and satisfactory application in numerous areas of thoracic, vascular, gastro-intestinal, and gynaecological surgery.