A word about staples/ anvils:
Seems to be some confusion here.
The anvil of the STAPLER is used to form the staple wire into the desired end shape of the fastener (staple).
As currently stated by Dennis Ogawa in his paper, it is the ANVIL which would be made of liquidmetal. The staple wire, currently made of stainless or titanium, would never be made of liquidmetal, because the liquidmetal would spring back to the original shape of the wire. Two completely different applications but associated, of course, with the stapling device. The staple wire is MEANT to DEFORM and stay PERMANENTLY DEFORMED. Hence stainless steel or titanium in the normative crystalline structure. Amorphous metals are designed to "spring back" or to retain their original shape. Hope I haven't added to the confusion here. Look at any household stapler. At the bottom on the base plate or anvil, observe the grooved shape which guides the staple wire "how to bend" into the clamping or holding state.
The principle is exactly the same for a surgical stapler, but the surgical stapler being more complex in its formation.
Yes, indeed. Paul Hauck did highlight targeting disposable medical devices. But, again, they would not apply to surgical staples, which, for the most part, are permanent for most surgeries and would not be disposable in the sense that Hauck was trying to convey.
Rather, in my opinion, a better example might be disposable needles, perhaps surgical needles, or even some throw-away one time use surgical tools, say like a scalpel (perhaps not a good example). I think the point is, he wants to get REPEAT BUSINESS, rather than design things that will last forever. You know, like, PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE and items that would not be cost effective to sterilize or autoclave or whatever.
