Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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Who this is for: clinic and supply staff, buyers and students who meet names such as GIA, Endo GIA, TA and EEA on surgical stapler product lists and want to know what each name refers to, using the FDA clearance summaries as the reference.
What a GIA stapler is
A GIA stapler is a disposable linear surgical stapler sold under the Covidien name (now part of Medtronic). In its FDA 510(k) summary, the GIA Stapler with Tri-Staple Technology (K231934, decided 27 October 2023) “places two triple staggered rows of titanium staples and simultaneously cuts and divides tissue between these two triple rows.” It is indicated for “abdominal and thoracic surgical procedures for resection, transection and creation of anastomosis.”
GIA is a trade name, not a regulatory category. FDA regulates these products as surgical staplers for internal use under 21 CFR 878.4740 (see below). The FDA records do not state what the letters in GIA, EEA and TA stand for, so no expansions are given here.
GIA vs Endo GIA vs TA vs EEA
The table sets out what the FDA 510(k) summaries say about each named product line. Each row describes the model named in the cited summary; other models under the same name can differ.
| Name | Shape | What the FDA summary says | Sizes stated in the summary | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIA Stapler with Tri-Staple Technology | Linear | Two triple staggered rows of titanium staples, with tissue cut and divided between the rows | Staplers and cartridges in 60 mm and 80 mm lengths | K231934 (Covidien, 2023) |
| GIA with DST Series | Linear | Two staggered staple rows on each side of the cut line | 60 mm; white cartridge, 2.5 mm staples | K231934, predicate comparison table |
| Endo GIA reloads with Tri-Staple Technology | Linear reloads | Indicated for abdominal, urologic, gynecologic, pediatric and thoracic surgery for resection, transection and creation of anastomosis; used with Endo GIA Ultra universal short, universal and universal XL staplers | Not extracted | K253657 (decided 10 April 2026) |
| TA Stapler and Loading Unit with DST Series | Linear, reloadable handle | Indicated for “abdominal and thoracic surgical procedures for transection or resection of tissue”; its role is stapling the tissue to prepare for transection and resection | Loading units of 30, 45, 60 and 90 mm | K231491 (Covidien, 2023) |
| EEA Circular Stapler with Tri-Staple Technology | Circular | Places a circular, triple staggered row of titanium staples and resects the excess tissue, creating a circular anastomosis; indicated for the alimentary tract in open and laparoscopic surgery | 21 mm lumen size for this model; shafts of 22 cm (standard) and 35 cm (XL); related cleared models cover 25, 28, 31 and 33 mm | K221771 (Covidien, 2022) |
FDA’s 510(k) database also carries these as cleared device names: “Endo GIA Staplers, DST Series GIA Staplers, DST Series TA Staplers” (K111825, 2011), “Autosuture EEA Orvil” (K093402, 2009) and “Auto Suture Premium Plus CEEA Disposable Stapler” (K024275, 2003).
Endo GIA
Endo GIA is a separate product name in the clearance records. The clearance covering Tri-Staple 2.0 and Endo GIA reloads (K253657) lists Endo GIA reloads with Tri-Staple Technology alongside Endo GIA Gray Articulating Reloads and Signia Small Diameter Reloads.
TA
The TA summary (K231491) describes a reloadable handle with loading units, and a purpose limited to stapling tissue ahead of transection and resection. The summary does not describe a cutting knife, so the TA and GIA entries should not be treated as interchangeable.
EEA
EEA is the circular line. Where a GIA lays straight staple lines, the EEA in K221771 fires a ring of staples and removes the excess tissue inside it, which is what creates a circular anastomosis.
Cartridge colors and staple heights
Color codes are model-specific. The same color does not mean the same staple height across product families, as the rows below show.
| Product line | Color | Staple heights stated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIA with Tri-Staple | Tan (thin/medium) | 2.4, 2.7 and 3.0 mm in progressive rows | K231934 |
| GIA with Tri-Staple | Purple | 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 mm | K231934 |
| GIA with Tri-Staple | Black | 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 mm | K231934 |
| GIA with DST Series | White | 2.5 mm | K231934 |
| TA with DST Series | White (vascular, 3 rows, 30 mm only) | 2.5 mm | K231491 |
| TA with DST Series | Blue (2 rows) | 3.5 mm | K231491 |
| TA with DST Series | Green (2 rows) | 4.8 mm | K231491 |
| EEA with Tri-Staple | Purple (medium/thick) | 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 mm | K221771 |
| EEA with Tri-Staple | Black (extra thick) | 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 mm | K221771 |
Staple height is matched to tissue by the surgeon under the manufacturer’s instructions for use; this page does not give guidance on that choice.
Reloads and single-use limits
Both the GIA (K231934) and TA (K231491) summaries state that the instrument may be reloaded up to 7 times, for a total of 8 firings per instrument. The GIA summary describes the device as single-use, sterilized with ethylene oxide, with a 5-year shelf life, and “intended for multiple use during a single procedure.” “Single use” here refers to one patient and one procedure, not one firing. The TA is supplied sterile with titanium staples. The EEA in K221771 is single-use.
How FDA classifies surgical staplers
Under 21 CFR 878.4740 (Cornell LII, checked 30 October 2026), “a surgical stapler for internal use is a specialized prescription device used to deliver compatible staples to internal tissues during surgery for resection, transection, and creating anastomoses.” Internal staplers are Class II. The listed special controls include testing of staple formation at maximum and minimum tissue thickness, staple line strength, line integrity and hemostasis; powered staplers also need electromagnetic compatibility and software testing. A stapler for external use, which delivers staples to skin, is Class I. In openFDA, product code GAG, “Stapler, Surgical”, is class 2 under regulation 878.4740 in the General and Plastic Surgery panel.
For the generic internal, linear, circular and skin categories without trade names, see the CASRAI guide on surgical stapler types.
Safe use and handling basics
- Internal surgical staplers are prescription devices used by surgeons; the choice of device, size and cartridge belongs to the operating team and the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
- Supplies are single-use and sterile as described in the clearance summaries. The GIA summary describes use within a single procedure.
- Staplers, loading units and reloads are specific to a product family. The summaries state which staplers a given reload is used with, so check the pairing in the instructions for use.
This page gives no firing, placement or technique steps. Those are in the manufacturer’s instructions for use and in surgical training.
Common mistakes
- Treating a color as universal. White is 2.5 mm in the DST Series, while tan is 2.4 to 3.0 mm in Tri-Staple.
- Assuming TA and GIA do the same thing. The GIA summary says it cuts and divides tissue between its staple rows; the TA summary describes stapling ahead of transection.
- Reading “single use” as “one firing.” The summaries allow up to 8 firings per instrument in a single procedure.
- Confusing a name with a standard. GIA, Endo GIA, TA and EEA are manufacturer trade names; the regulatory category is the surgical stapler in 21 CFR 878.4740.
Staplers sit within broader product-selection discussions; see physician preference items for how surgeon-driven product choices are described, and wound closure kit contents for the skin-closure supplies that are a separate product group.
FAQ
What is an Endo GIA stapler?
It is a Covidien (Medtronic) product name for staplers and reloads. FDA clearance K253657 covers Endo GIA reloads with Tri-Staple Technology, indicated for abdominal, urologic, gynecologic, pediatric and thoracic surgery for resection, transection and creation of anastomosis, used with Endo GIA Ultra universal short, universal and universal XL staplers.
Is a GIA the same as an EEA?
No. The GIA in K231934 is linear, with two triple staggered staple rows and a cut between them. The EEA in K221771 is circular, placing a ring of staples and resecting excess tissue to create a circular anastomosis.
Is a GIA stapler a prescription device?
Under 21 CFR 878.4740, a surgical stapler for internal use is described as a specialized prescription device and is Class II.
Can a GIA stapler be reused?
The summary describes a single-use device that can be reloaded up to 7 times, for a total of 8 firings per instrument within one procedure.
Sources
- 21 CFR 878.4740, Surgical staplers, Cornell LII (checked 30 October 2026): law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/878.4740
- openFDA device classification, product code GAG (checked 30 October 2026): api.fda.gov
- FDA 510(k) K231934, GIA Stapler with Tri-Staple Technology (checked 30 October 2026): accessdata.fda.gov
- FDA 510(k) K231491, TA Stapler and Loading Unit with DST Series (checked 30 October 2026): accessdata.fda.gov
- FDA 510(k) K221771, EEA Circular Stapler with Tri-Staple Technology (checked 30 October 2026): accessdata.fda.gov
- FDA 510(k) K253657, Tri-staple 2.0 and Endo GIA reloads (checked 30 October 2026): accessdata.fda.gov
- openFDA 510(k) records (checked 30 October 2026): K111825, K093402, K024275
Trade names are trademarks of their owners, named here as they appear in the FDA clearance records.
