Surgical stapling device

• US 20050006432A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Lee Ann, Beardsley, John W., Racenet, David C., Roy, Philip, Stearns, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms

Abstract

A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle portion, a central body portion and a SULU. The SULU includes a proximal body portion, an intermediate pivot member and a tool assembly. The intermediate pivot member is pivotally secured to the proximal body portion about a first pivot axis and the tool assembly is pivotally secured to the intermediate pivot member about a second pivot axis which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis. The SULU includes a plurality of articulation links which are operably connected to the tool assembly by non-rigid links. The articulation links are adapted to releasably engage articulation links positioned in the central body portion. The body portion articulation links are connected to an articulation actuator which is supported for omni-directional movement to effect articulation of the tool assembly about the first and second axes. The handle portion includes a spindle and barrel assembly drive mechanism for advancing and retracting a drive member positioned in the tool assembly. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical device comprising:

a handle portion having a stationary handle and a movable trigger;

a central body portion defining a first longitudinal axis and extending distally from the handle portion, the central body portion including an operating link operably connected to the movable trigger; and

a disposable loading unit removably secured to the distal end of the central body portion, the disposable loading unit including a tool assembly having a movable drive member for effecting operation of the tool assembly, a non-rigid link, and a substantially rigid link, the non-rigid link interconnecting the substantially rigid link to the movable drive member, wherein the substantially rigid link includes engagement structure for releasably engaging the operating link of the central body portion.

2. A surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples supported therein and an anvil assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the cartridge assembly between spaced and approximated positions.

3. A surgical device according to claim 2, wherein the staples of the cartridge assembly are aligned in a plurality of linear rows.

4. A surgical device according to claim 3, further including an actuation sled positioned adjacent to the movable drive member wherein the movable drive member includes a knife blade, the non-rigid link being operatively engaged with the movable drive member such that actuation of the movable trigger effects movement of the operating link, the substantially rigid link and the non-rigid link to effect translation of the drive member and of the actuation sled through at least a portion of the tool assembly.

5. A surgical device according to claim 4, wherein the cartridge assembly includes a distal end and a guide positioned at or near the distal end, the non-rigid link having a first end connected to the substantially rigid link, a central portion which extends through the cartridge assembly around a portion of the guide, and a second end operably engaged to the drive member, wherein proximal movement of the non-rigid link effects distal movement of the drive member and the actuation sled through at least a portion of the tool assembly.

6. A surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the disposable loading unit further includes a proximal body portion and an intermediate pivot member, the proximal body portion being removably secured to the central body portion of the stapling device, wherein the intermediate pivot member is pivotally secured to the proximal body portion about a first pivot axis and the tool assembly is pivotally secured to the intermediate pivot member about a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis being substantially orthogonal to the second pivot axis.

7. A surgical device according to claim 6, further including an articulation actuator supported adjacent the handle portion, the articulation actuator being movable to pivot the tool assembly about the first and second pivot axes.

8. A surgical device according to claim 7, wherein the articulation actuator is supported on a base member having substantially semi-spherical outer surface, wherein the articulation actuator is supported for generally omni-directional movement about the base member.

9. A surgical device according to claim 8, wherein the central body portion includes four articulation links, each articulation link having a first end connected to the articulation actuator by a non-rigid link and a second end adapted to releasably engage a corresponding articulation link supported in the disposable loading unit.

10. A surgical device according to claim 6, wherein the central body portion is rotatable in relation to the handle portion.

11. A surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the non-rigid link is selected from the group consisting of cables, ropes, cords, wires and kevlars.

12. A disposable loading unit comprising:

a tool assembly including a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the cartridge assembly between spaced and approximated positions;

a proximal body portion; and

an intermediate pivot member pivotally secured to the tool assembly about a first pivot axis and pivotally secured to the proximal body portion about a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis being substantially orthogonal to the second pivot axis.

13. A disposable loading unit according to claim 12, wherein the proximal body portion includes a plurality of substantially rigid articulation links, the substantially rigid articulation links being operably connected to the tool assembly by non-rigid articulation links.

14. A disposable loading unit according to claim 13, wherein the substantially rigid articulation links each include proximal engagement structure for releasably engaging a surgical stapling instrument.

15. A disposable loading unit according to claim 14, wherein each of the non-rigid articulation links extends through a channel formed through the intermediate pivot member and is operably engaged with the tool assembly.

16. A disposable loading unit according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of rigid articulation links includes four articulation links, each of the non-rigid articulation links having a first end secured to a first substantially rigid articulation link, a central portion operably associated with the tool assembly and a second end secured to a second substantially rigid articulation link.

17. A disposable loading unit according to claim 16, wherein the central portion of each non-rigid articulation link is operably associated with a proximal end of the cartridge assembly.

18. A disposable loading unit according to claim 14, wherein the proximal engagement structure includes an extension having a bore formed therethrough.

19. A disposable loading unit according to claim 12, wherein the tool assembly includes a drive member positioned to translate through the tool assembly to eject the staples from the cartridge assembly.

20. A disposable loading unit according to claim 12, further including a substantially rigid firing link movably supported in the proximal body portion, the substantially rigid firing link being operably connected to the drive member by a non-rigid firing link.

21. A disposable loading unit according to claim 20, wherein the non-rigid firing link has a first end connected to the substantially rigid firing link, a central portion extending through the tool assembly and about a guide supported in the distal end of the tool assembly and a second end operably engaged with the drive member, wherein proximal movement of the substantially rigid firing link within the proximal body portion effects distal advancement of the drive member within the tool assembly.

22. A disposable loading unit according to claim 21, further including a substantially rigid retraction link movably supported in the proximal body portion, the substantially rigid retraction link being operably connected to the drive member by a non-rigid retraction link.

23. A disposable loading unit according to claim 22, wherein the non-rigid retraction link operably engages the drive member such that proximal movement of the rigid retraction link effects proximal movement of the drive member within the tool assembly.

24. A disposable loading unit according to claim 19, wherein the drive member supports a knife blade.

25. A disposable loading unit according to claim 22, wherein the proximal end of each of the substantially rigid articulation links and the substantially rigid firing retraction links includes engagement structure for releasably engaging a surgical stapling device.

26. A disposable loading unit according to claim 23, wherein the non-rigid firing link and the non-rigid retraction link are cables.

27. A surgical device comprising:

a handle portion including a body defining a stationary handle, a movable trigger, a spindle supported within the body and a barrel assembly slidably positioned about the spindle, the spindle defining a first guide track for slidably receiving a first rack, the first rack being operably connected to a drive member of the surgical device, the barrel assembly including a first pawl which is selectively movable from a first position engaging the first rack to a second position disengaged from the first rack, the movable trigger being operably associated with the barrel assembly such that movement of the movable trigger effects axial movement of the barrel assembly in relation to the spindle, wherein when the first pawl is in its first position, movement of the barrel assembly in a first axial direction effects corresponding axial movement of the first rack to effect movement of the drive member of the surgical device.

28. A surgical device according to claim 27, wherein the spindle defines a second guide track for slidably receiving a second rack, the second rack being operably connected to the drive member of the surgical device, the barrel assembly including a second pawl which is selectively movable from a first position engaging the second rack to a second position disengaged from the second rack, wherein when the second pawl is in its first position, axial movement of the barrel assembly in relation to the spindle in a first direction effects corresponding axial movement of the second rack to effect axial movement of the drive member of the surgical device.

29. A surgical device according to claim 28, further including a first shift ring assembly supported in the handle portion, the first shift ring assembly being operably associated with the first and second pawls and being movable from a first position in which the first pawl is in its first position and the second pawl is in its second position to a second position in which the first pawl is in its second position and the second pawl is in its first position.

30. A surgical device according to claim 29, wherein the first rack is connected to the second rack by a pinion, wherein movement of the first rack in one direction effects movement of the second rack in an opposite direction.

31. A surgical device according to claim 29, wherein the first shift ring assembly includes an outer ring and an inner ring, the inner ring being positioned about the barrel assembly and having a first rod extending across the inner ring through a first cam slot formed in the first pawl and a second rod extending across the inner ring through a second cam slot in the second pawl, wherein the inner ring is slidable in relation to the barrel assembly to move the first and second pawls between their first and second positions.

32. A surgical device according to claim 31, wherein the spindle, the barrel assembly and the inner ring are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spindle.

33. A surgical device according to claim 32, wherein the outer ring is positioned about the inner ring of the first shift ring assembly within the body of the handle portion, the outer ring being rotatably fixed in relation to the body of the handle portion and including a spring arm having an inner protrusion dimensioned to be received in an annular recess formed in the inner ring, the spring arm being inwardly deformable to position the inner protrusion of the spring arm into the annular recess of the inner ring such that linear movement of the outer ring is translated to linear movement of the inner ring.

34. A surgical device according to claim 33, further including a cam surface on an inner wall of the body of the handle portion, the spring arm further including an outer abutment member, wherein engagement between the abutment member and the cam surface urges the inner protrusion of the spring arm into the annular recess of the inner ring when the outer ring of the first shift ring assembly is moved linearly in relation to the barrel assembly to translate movement of the outer ring to movement of the inner ring.