KROH MATTHEW (US)
| AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 21 December 2017 (21.12.2017) CLAIM AMENDMENTS 1 . (Currently Amended) A surgical duplex staple assembly comprising: a first staple comprising: a base having a back surfacei nd a front surfaceA and having a top portion, a bottom portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion; a left prong extending from the left side portion; and a right prong extending from the right side portion; a second staple comprising: a base having a back surface, a front surface, a top portion, a bottom portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion; a top prong extending from the top portion; a bottom prong extending from the bottom portion; wherein in a deployed position, the left and right prong of the first staple penetrate through tissue and are retroflexed onto the back surface of the second staple, and the top and bottom prong of the second staple penetrate through tissue and are retroflexed onto the back surface of the first staple. 2. (Cancelled) The surgical duplex staple assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first staple further comprises a top prong extending from the top portion of the base and a bottom prong extending from the bottom portion of the base, wherein in a deployed position, the top and bottom prong of the first staple penetrate through tissue and are retroflexed on the back surface of the second staple. 3. (Cancelled)The surgical duplex staple assembly of claim 1 wherein the second staple comprises a top prong extending from the top portion of the base and a bottom prong extending from the bottom portion of the base, wherein in a deployed position, the left and right prong of the first staple penetrate through tissue and are retroflexed onto the back surface of the second staple, and the top and bottom prong of the second staple penetrate through tissue and are retroflexed onto the back surface of the first staple. 4. (Currently Amended) The surgical duplex staple assembly of claim [[3]] 1, wherein: the top portion, the bottom portion, the left side portion, and the right side portion of the first and the second staple each define a substantially central indentation; the left prong and the right prong of the first staple extend from the respective substantially central indentation of the left side portion and the right side portion of the first staple; the top prong and the bottom prong of the second staple extend from the respective substantially central indentation of the top portion and the bottom portion of the second staple; the right prong and the left prong of the first staple are disposed in the respective substantially central indentation of the right side portion and the left side portion of the second staple and are retroflexed onto the back surface of the second staple in a deployed configuration; and the top prong and the bottom prong of the second staple are disposed in the respective substantially central indentation of the top portion and the bottom portion of the first staple and are retroflexed onto the back surface of the first staple in a deployed configuration. 5. (Original)The surgical duplex staple assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the first and second staple each have a surface area of between approximately 9mm2 and approximately 36mm2. 6. (Original) A surgical fastening system comprising: the surgical duplex staple assembly of claim 1 ; and a fastening device configured to house the surgical duplex staple assembly. 7. (Original) The surgical fastening system of claim 6, further comprising a flexible endoscope defining a plurality of channels, the fastening device being configured to attach or is pre-attached to a bottom portion of a distal end of the flexible endoscope such that the fastening device does not occlude a field of view of a camera, a light source or the plurality of channels of the endoscope. 8. (Original) A fastening device comprising: a casing; a first carrier disposed within the casing and having a distal end defining an exit opening, the first carrier configured to house a plurality of the first staples of claim 1 ; a second carrier disposed within the casing opposite the first carrier and having a distal end defining an exit opening, the second carrier configured to house a plurality of the second staples of claim 1 therein; a first plunger disposed within the first carrier; a second plunger disposed within the second carrier; and a carrier compression spring connected to the first and second carriers. 9. (Original) The fastening device of claim 8, wherein the casing comprises a base that is configured to attach or is pre-attached to a bottom portion of a distal end of a flexible endoscope defining a plurality of channels, the base attachable or pre- attached to the flexible endoscope such that the casing does not occlude a field of view of a camera, a light source, or the plurality of channels of the endoscope. 10. (Original) A surgical fastening device comprising: a casing; a first carrier disposed within the casing and having a distal end defining an exit opening, the first carrier configured to house a plurality of first staples or a plurality of rivets of rivet assemblies; a second carrier disposed within the casing opposite the first carrier and having a distal end defining an exit opening, the second carrier configured to house a plurality of complementary second staples or a plurality of secondary heads of rivet assemblies therein; 26 a first plunger disposed within the first carrier; a second plunger disposed within the second carrier; and a carrier compression spring connected to the first and second carriers, wherein the casing comprises a base that is configured to attach or is pre-attached to a bottom portion of a distal end of a flexible endoscope defining a plurality of channels, the base attachable or pre-attached to the flexible endoscope such that the casing does not occlude a field of view of a camera, a light source or the plurality of channels of the endoscope. 1 1 . (Original) A fastening device comprising: a clamp comprising opposing first and second arms, each arm having an exit port at a distal end thereof; a spring-loaded casing in operable association with the clamp and located between the first and second arms of the clamp in a stowed position, the spring- loaded casing comprising: a first section having a distal access port facing the first arm, the first section configured to house a plurality of the first staples of claim 1 therein; a second section having a distal access port facing the second arm, the second section configured to house a plurality of the second staples of claim 1 therein; and a rod in slidable relation with the clamp and located distal to the spring-loaded casing. 12. (Original) The fastening device of claim 1 1 , wherein the clamp and spring- loaded casing are configured to attach or are pre-attached to a bottom portion of a distal end of a flexible endoscope defining a plurality of channels such that the fastening device does not occlude a field of view of a camera, a light source or the plurality of channels of the endoscope. 27 13. (Original) A surgical fastening device comprising: a clamp comprising opposing first and second arms, each arm having an exit port at a distal end thereof; a spring-loaded casing in operable association with the clamp and located between the first and second arms of the clamp in a stowed position, the spring- loaded casing comprising: a first section having a distal access port facing the first arm, the first section configured to house a plurality of first staples or a plurality of rivets of rivet assemblies therein; a second section having a distal access port facing the second arm, the second section configured to house a plurality of second complementary staples or a plurality of secondary heads of rivet assemblies therein; and a rod in slidable relation with the clamp and located distal to the spring-loaded casing, wherein the clamp and spring-loaded casing are configured to attach or are pre-attached to a bottom portion of a distal end of a flexible endoscope defining a plurality of channels such that the fastening device does not occlude a field of view of a camera, a light source or the plurality of channels of the endoscope. 14. (Original) The surgical fastening system of claim 13, further comprising forceps extending from the distal end of the flexible endoscope. 15. (Original) A surgical fastening kit comprising: a plurality of rivet cartridges, each rivet cartridge comprising a plurality of rivets, each rivet comprising a primary head, a shaft extending from the primary head, and a tail extending from the shaft; a plurality of secondary head cartridges, each secondary head cartridge comprising a plurality of secondary heads, each secondary head defining an opening sized to receive the tail of one of the rivets; a plurality of staple cartridges, each staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples; a plurality of staple back cartridges, each stage back cartridge comprising a plurality of staple backs, each staple back configured to couple to a staple; a tension-loaded fastening device comprising: 28 a first arm defining a compartment sized to receive one of the plurality of rivet cartridges or one of the plurality of staple cartridges; a second arm opposing the first arm, the second arm defining a compartment sized to receive one of the plurality of secondary head cartridges or one of the plurality of staple back cartridges, wherein the tension-loaded fastener device is configured to attach or is pre- attached to a bottom portion of a distal end of a flexible endoscope defining a plurality of channels such that the tension-loaded fastener device does not occlude a field of view of a camera, a light source or the plurality of channels of the endoscope. 16. (Original) The fastening kit of claim 15, wherein the tail of each of the rivets comprises an outer ridge and each of the secondary heads comprises an internal tab that engages the outer ridge of the tail. 17. (Original) The fastening kit of claim 15, wherein the shaft of each of the rivets comprises an outer ridge. 29 |