Surgical device

• US 20030105478A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitman, Michael P., Burbank, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws. The device may also include a stapling element disposed within the second jaw. The cutting element and the stapling element may be contiguous so as to define a cutting and stapling element, such as a wedge having a blade disposed thereon. As the wedge is moved proximally from the distal end of the second jaw to the proximal end, the wedge pushes a plurality of staples against a plurality of opposing staple guides disposed in the first jaw in order to staple a section of tissue while cutting the section of tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw, the second jaw mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end;

a cutting element disposed within the second jaw; and

a first driver configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element includes a cutting edge that faces the proximal end.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a stapling element disposed within the second jaw.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the cutting element and the stapling element are contiguous so as to comprise a cutting and stapling element.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the cutting and stapling element includes a wedge having a blade disposed thereon.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the cutting and stapling element is seated in a wedge guide channel formed in the second jaw.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second driver coupled to the first jaw, the second driver being configured to cause separation of the first jaw and the second jaw when the second driver is actuated for opening the jaws and to close the first jaw and the second jaw when the second driver is actuated for closing the jaws.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the second driver includes a pair of threaded turning shafts and a horizontal threaded gearing shaft disposed in turning and gearing relationship with the pair of threaded turning shafts, the rotation of the horizontal gearing shaft thereby causing relative movement of the first jaw and the second jaw.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the second driver includes at least one threaded turning shaft, and wherein the first jaw includes a corresponding at least one threaded bore for receiving therethrough the threaded turning shaft, whereby rotation of the turning shaft causes the first jaw to move axially along the turning shaft away from, or toward the second jaw, in accordance with the rotational direction of the turning shaft.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second driver includes a first rotatable shaft configured to effect the travel of the first jaw, the first rotatable shaft arranged in parallel to an axis of parallel correspondence of the first and second jaws when in a closed position.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first rotatable shaft is rotated in a first direction to effect opening of the jaws and rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction to effect closing of the jaws.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein a proximal end of the first rotatable shaft is configured to couple to a first drive shaft of an electro-mechanical driver, the electro-mechanical driver configured to rotate the first rotatable shaft.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the first driver includes a second rotatable shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis arranged in parallel to the axis of parallel correspondence of the first jaw and the second jaw when in a closed position.

14. The device according to claim 11, further comprising an electro-mechanical driver including a first rotatable drive shaft adapted to drive the first driver and a second rotatable drive shaft adapted to drive the second driver.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the electro-mechanical driver includes at least one motor arrangement adapted to drive each of the first and second rotatable drive shafts.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the electro-mechanical driver includes a first motor arrangement adapted to drive the first rotatable drive shaft and a second motor arrangement adapted to drive the second rotatable drive shaft.

17. The device according to claim 7, further comprising an electro-mechanical driver adapted to drive each of the first driver and the second driver.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the electro-mechanical driver is adapted to independently drive each of the second driver and the first driver.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaws are disposed in parallel correspondence in both the open and closed positions.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaws are arranged in scissor fashion, such that the first and second jaws are disposed in parallel correspondence in the closed position and, when in the open position, a distance between the distal ends of the first and second jaws is greater than the distance between the proximal ends of the jaws.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element is rotatably mounted within the second jaw.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the cutting element moves from a first position to a second position when the cutting element moves proximally.

23. The device according to claim 5, wherein the cutting and stapling element includes a blade moveably coupled to the wedge.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the blade is rotatably coupled to the wedge.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the blade is rotatable relative to the wedge between a retracted position and a cutting position when the cutting and stapling element moves proximally.

26. An electro-mechanical surgical system, comprising:

an elongated shaft;

at least a first axially rotatable drive shaft disposed within the elongated shaft;

a surgical device configured to detachably couple to a distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the device includes;

a first jaw;

a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw, the second jaw mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end;

a cutting element disposed within the second jaw; and

a first driver configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws; and

a motor system configured to drive the at least a first drive shaft.

27. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, wherein the cutting element includes a cutting edge that faces the proximal end.

28. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, further comprising a stapling element disposed within the second jaw.

29. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 28, further comprising a cutting and stapling element including the cutting element and the stapling element.

30. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 29, wherein the cutting and stapling element includes a wedge having a blade disposed thereon.

31. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 30, wherein the cutting and stapling element is seated in a wedge guide channel formed in the second jaw.

32. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, further comprising a second driver coupled to the first jaw, the second driver being configured to cause separation of the first jaw and the second jaw when the second driver is actuated for opening the jaws and to close the first jaw and the second jaw when the second driver is actuated for closing the jaws.

33. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, further comprising a housing, wherein a proximal end of the elongated shaft extends from the housing.

34. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, wherein the motor system includes a first motor configured to drive the first axially rotatable drive shaft and a second motor configured to drive the second axially rotatable drive shaft.

35. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, further comprising a control system configured to control the motor system.

36. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 35, wherein the control system is disposed within the housing.

37. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 36, further comprising a remote control unit configured to communicate with the control system to control the motor system via the control system.

38. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 37, wherein the remote control unit includes at least one of a wired remote control unit and a wireless remote control unit.

39. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 26, further comprising a sensor corresponding to the at least a first drive shaft, the sensor outputting a signal in response to and corresponding to a rotation of the at least a first drive shaft.

40. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 39, wherein the control system is configured to determine, based on the output signal of the sensor, at least one of a rotational position and a direction of rotation of the at least a first drive shaft.

41. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 35, wherein the control system includes a first memory unit.

42. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 41, wherein the first memory unit is configured to store a plurality of operating programs, at least one of the operating programs corresponding to the cutting and stapling device attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft.

43. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 42, wherein the control system is configured to identify the surgical instrument attached to distal end of the elongated shaft as the cutting and stapling device, wherein the cutting and stapling device is one of a plurality of types of surgical instruments attachable to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the control system being configured to at least one of read and select the operating program from the first memory unit corresponding to the cutting and stapling device.

44. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 43, wherein the control system is configured to identify the cutting and stapling device as the type of surgical instrument attached to the elongated shaft in accordance with a data read from a second memory unit disposed within the cutting and stapling device.

45. The electro-mechanical surgical system according to claim 44, further comprising a data cable disposed within the elongated shaft, the data cable being logically and electrically coupled to the control system and being logically and electrically coupleable to the second memory unit.

46. A method comprising the steps of:

positioning a section of tissue between a first jaw disposed in opposite correspondence with a second jaw, the second jaw mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end; and

actuating a first driver coupled to a cutting element disposed within the distal end of the second jaw so as to move the cutting and stapling element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw, thereby cutting the section of tissue disposed between the first jaw and the second jaw.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the cutting element further includes a stapling element, whereby actuation of the first driver simultaneously cuts and staples the section of tissue.

48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of actuating a second driver coupled to the first jaw so as to cause the first jaw to close toward the second jaw, thereby clamping the section of tissue between the first and second jaws.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the second driver further includes a pair of threaded turning shafts and a horizontal threaded gearing shaft disposed in turning and gearing relationship with the pair of threaded turning shafts, wherein the second driver actuating step includes the substep of rotating the horizontal gearing shaft.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein the second driver includes at least one threaded turning shaft, and wherein the first jaw includes a corresponding at least one threaded bore for receiving therethrough the threaded turning shaft, the method further comprising the step of rotating the turning shaft in a first rotational direction so as to cause the first jaw to move axially along the turning shaft away from the second jaw prior to positioning the section of tissue between a first jaw disposed in opposite correspondence with a second jaw, and wherein the second driver actuating step includes the substep of rotating the turning shaft in a second rotational direction so as to cause the first jaw to move axially along the turning shaft toward the second jaw in order to clamp the section of tissue.

51. The method according to claim 46, wherein the cutting and stapling element includes a blade and wedge seated in a wedge guide channel formed in the second jaw.

52. The method according to claim 46, wherein the second driver includes a first rotatable shaft configured to effect the travel of the first jaw, the first rotatable shaft arranged in parallel to an axis of parallel correspondence of the first and second jaws when in a closed position.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the second driver actuating step includes the substep of rotating the first rotatable shaft in a first direction to effect opening of the jaws and rotating the first rotatable shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction to effect closing of the jaws.

54. The method according to claim 53, further comprising the steps of:

coupling a proximal end of the first rotatable shaft to a first rotatable drive shaft of an electro-mechanical driver device; and

rotating the first rotatable shaft by rotation of the first rotatable drive shaft.

55. The method according to claim 46, wherein the first driver includes a second rotatable shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis arranged in parallel to the axis of parallel correspondence of the first and second jaws when in a closed position.

56. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

coupling the second driver to a first rotatable drive shaft of an electro-mechanical driver device; and

coupling the first driver to a second rotatable drive shaft of the electro-mechanical driver device.

57. The method according to claim 56, further comprising the step of driving to each of the first and second rotatable drive shafts with at least one motor arrangement of the electro-mechanical driver device.

58. The method according to claim 56, further comprising the steps of driving the first rotatable drive shaft with a first motor arrangement of the electro-mechanical driver device;

and

driving the second rotatable drive shaft with a second motor arrangement of the electro-mechanical driver device.

59. The method according to claim 57, further comprising the step of driving each of the first driver and the second driver with an electro-mechanical driver device.

60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the step of driving the first driver and the second driver with an electro-mechanical driver further includes the substep of independently driving each of the first driver and the second driver.