Surgical fastener applying apparatus with controlled beam deflection

• US 20050082336A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ivanko, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.100
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus including an anvil half-section having a distal end and a longitudinal axis; a cartridge receiving half-section having a distal end and operatively couplable with the anvil half-section such that the distal ends of the half-sections are in juxtaposed relation; and a deflection control system operatively engaged with and reinforcing the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

an anvil half-section including a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis;

a cartridge receiving half-section including a distal end, wherein the cartridge receiving half-section is operatively couplable with the anvil half-section such that the distal end of the anvil half-section is in juxtaposed relation to the distal end of the cartridge receiving half-section, and wherein a tissue gap is defined between the distal end of the anvil half-section and the distal end of the cartridge receiving half-section when the anvil and cartridge half-sections are coupled together; and

a deflection control system operatively associated with the anvil half-section, the deflection control system reinforces the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anvil half-section defines a tissue contacting surface, and wherein the deflection control system reinforces the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and normal to a plane defined by the tissue contacting surface of the anvil half-section.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the anvil half-section includes a U-shaped channel member having a pair of side walls interconnected by a base wall, and wherein the deflection control system is operatively associated with the channel member.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the deflection control system is operatively disposed within the channel member.

5. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the deflection control system includes a U-shaped channel section having a pair of side walls interconnected by a base wall, wherein the base wall of the channel section of the deflection control system is adjacent the base wall of the channel member of the anvil half-section, and the side walls of the channel section are disposed interior of and adjacent the side walls of the channel member.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the base wall of the channel member and the base wall of the channel section are disposed adjacent one another, and each side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel section has a height which is less than a height of a respective one of the pair of side walls of the channel member thereby defining a reveal along each side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel member.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least a proximal end of the channel section is fixedly secured to a proximal end of the channel member.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the height of each side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel section is uniform along a length thereof.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel section has a uniform thickness along a length thereof.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the deflection control system is a multi-stage system.

11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the deflection control system is a two-stage system.

12. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the deflection control system begins reducing the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member in a second stage of deflection.

13. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second stage of deflection takes effect when the reveal between the side walls of the channel member and the side walls of the channel section is about zero, whereby the distal end of the channel member and the distal end of the channel section deflect concomitantly.

14. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the greater the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member, the greater the deflection control system reduces the rate at which the distal end of the channel section deflects.

15. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the reveal between the distal end of the channel member and the distal end of the channel section is zero.

16. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the deflection control system comprises:

a first U-shaped channel section having a pair of side walls interconnected by a base wall, wherein the base wall of the first channel section of the deflection control system is adjacent to the base wall of the channel member of the anvil half-section; and

a second U-shaped channel section having a pair of side walls interconnected by a base wall, wherein the base wall of the second channel section of the deflection control system is adjacent to the base wall of the first channel section of the deflection control system.

17. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a distal end of each side wall of the pair of side walls of the first channel section has a height which is less than a height of a respective side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel member thereby defining a first reveal along each of the pair of side walls of the channel member;

and wherein each side wall of the pair of side walls of the second channel section has a height which is less than a height of the respective side walls of the pair of side walls of the first channel section thereby defining a second reveal along a a distal end of each side wall of the pair of side walls of the second channel section.

18. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a proximal end of each of the first and second channel sections is operatively fixedly secured to a proximal end the channel member.

19. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the height of the distal end of each side wall of the pair of side walls of the first channel section and the height of a corresponding distal end of each side wall of the pair of side walls of the second channel section are uniform along each of the lengths thereof.

20. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the deflection control system is a three-stage system.

21. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the deflection control system begins reducing the degree and the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel section in a second stage of deflection, and in a third stage of deflection the deflection control system reduces the degree and the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member by a second degree.

22. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second stage of deflection engages when the first reveal between the side walls of the channel member and the side walls of the first channel section is about zero, whereby the distal end of the channel member and the distal end of the first channel section deflect concomitantly and, wherein the third stage of deflection engages when the second reveal between the side walls of the first channel section and the side walls of the second channel section is about zero, whereby the distal end of the channel member, the distal end of the first channel section and the distal end of the second channel section deflect concomitantly.

23. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the deflection control system includes a pair of reinforcing ribs each disposed along an inner surface of a respective side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel member.

24. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 23, wherein each rib of the pair of reinforcing ribs of the deflection control system has a height which is less than the height of the respective side walls of the channel member thereby defining a reveal along each of the pair of side walls of the channel member.

25. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a proximal end of each of the pair of reinforcing ribs is pinned to a proximal end of the channel member.

26. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the deflection control system is a two-stage system.

27. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the deflection control system begins to reinforce the distal end of the channel member in a second stage of deflection.

28. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the second stage of deflection engages when the reveal between the reinforcing ribs and the side walls of the channel member is about zero, whereby the distal end of the channel member and the distal end of the reinforcing ribs deflect concomitantly.

29. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a proximal end of the deflection control system is fixedly secured to a proximal end of the channel member and a distal end of the deflection control system is longitudinally slidingly coupled to the channel member.

30. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the deflection control system includes at least one reinforcing plate adjacent the base wall of the channel member.

31. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the deflection control system includes a plurality of reinforcing plates each adjacent one another, at least in the distal end of the channel member.

32. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a pin member fixedly secured to the base wall of the channel member, wherein the distal end of each of the plurality of reinforcing plates is slidingly coupled to the channel member by the pin member extending through a plurality of elongate longitudinally oriented slots formed, one each, in the plurality of respective reinforcing plates.

33. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the elongate slots increase in length from the reinforcing plate which is closest to the base wall of the channel member to the reinforcing plate which is furthest from the base wall of the channel member.

34. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 33, the slots of the plates each have a proximal edge, and the proximal edges are in registration with one another.

35. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the pin member includes a head secured to an end thereof that is opposite to the base wall, the head being configured and dimensioned to engage the reinforcement plates and force the distal end of each of the reinforcing plates to deflect concomitantly with the distal end of channel member.

36. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 35, wherein as the distal end of the channel member and the deflection control system deflect in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the distal end of at least one of the plurality of reinforcing plates translates in a longitudinal direction.

37. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the deflection control system is a multi-stage system, wherein the deflection control system begins to incrementally reduce the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member as a distal end of each elongate slot of each respective reinforcing plate engages the pin member, the deflection control system incrementally reduces the rate at which the distal end of the channel member deflects.

38. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a pair of juxtaposed shoulders each extending from an inner surface of the side walls of the channel member in a distal end thereof, wherein each of the plurality of reinforcing plates includes an elongate recesses formed along each lateral side thereof and in operative engagement with a respective one of the pair of shoulders.

39. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the elongate recesses increase in length from the reinforcing plate which is closest to the base wall of the channel member to the reinforcing plate which is furthest from the base wall of the channel member.

40. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 39, wherein each of the elongate recesses has a proximal edge and wherein the proximal edges are in registration with one another.

41. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 40, wherein each shoulder includes a head portion secured to an end thereof, the head portion being configured and dimensioned to force the distal end of each of the reinforcing plates to deflect concomitantly with the distal end of channel member.

42. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 41, wherein as the distal end of the channel member and the deflection system deflect in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis the distal end of each of the plurality of reinforcing plates translates in a longitudinal direction.

43. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the deflection control system is a multi-stage system, wherein the deflection control system begins to incrementally reduce the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member as a distal end of each elongate recess of each respective reinforcing plate engages a respective shoulder, the deflection control system incrementally reduces the rate at which the distal end of the channel member deflects.

44. A deflection control system for a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an anvil half-section having a channel member and a cartridge receiving half-section operatively couplable to the anvil half-section, wherein the deflection control system comprises:

an elongate reinforcing assembly having a proximal end operatively engaged with a proximal end of the channel member and a distal end operatively associated with a distal end of the channel member, wherein the reinforcing assembly incrementally reduces the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member when forces are applied to the distal end of the channel member in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the channel member and normal to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil half-section.

45. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

an anvil half-section including a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis, the anvil half-section including a channel member having pair ofjuxtaposed side walls interconnected by a base wall, each side wall defining a through hole having a diameter;

a cartridge receiving half-section including a distal end, wherein the cartridge receiving half-section is pivotably couplable with the anvil half-section such that the distal end of the anvil half-section is in juxtaposed relation to the distal end of the cartridge receiving half-section, wherein the distal end of the anvil half-section is pivotable relative to the distal end of the cartridge receiving half-section about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis; and

a deflection control system operatively associated with the anvil half-section for reinforcing the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the deflection control system including;

a pair of reinforcing ribs including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of each reinforcing rib is fixedly secured to an inner surface of a respective side wall of the pair of side walls of the channel member and the proximal end of each reinforcing rib extends beyond the pivot axis, the proximal end of each reinforcing rib defining a hole in registration with the through hole defined in the side walls of the channel member, the holes being positioned proximal of the pivot axis; and

a cam extending through the holes formed in each side wall of the channel member and each reinforcing rib, the cam having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the through hole formed in each reinforcing rib to thereby define a reveal between each reinforcing rib and the cam.

46. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the deflection control system is a two-stage system.

47. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the deflection control system begins reducing the rate of deflection of the distal end of the channel member in a second stage of deflection.

48. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the second stage of deflection takes effect when the reveal between an upper portion of the hole formed in each reinforcing rib and an upper portion of the cam is zero.