Electrosurgical stapling apparatus

• US 20050159778A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heinrich, Russell, Viola, Frank J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing

Abstract

An electrosurgical stapling apparatus is provided which uses thermogenic energy as well as surgical fasteners or staples for strengthening tissue, providing hemostasis, tissue joining or welding. The thermogenic energy also strengthens tissue in proximity to a staple line and knife cut line and provides hemostasis along the staple and cut lines formed by the staples and a knife blade during surgical stapling. The use thermogenic energy provides short-term hemostasis and sealing, and reduces or prevents staple line and cut line bleeding, while the stapling features provide short and long-term tissue strength and hemostasis. The stapling apparatus further substantially reduces or prevents knife cut line bleeding by energizing a knife blade for cauterizing tissue while it is being cut. In one embodiment, energy is applied to the anvil to energize the staples as they make contact with the anvil.

Claims

1. In a surgical stapler including a first body portion defining a surface against which a plurality of surgical staples are driven when ejected from a second body portion by an actuation member mounted to translate through the first body portion, the second body portion housing the plurality of surgical staples, the improvement comprising:

at least one conductive member supported by the first body portion for sequentially applying thermogenic energy to the plurality of surgical staples for providing hemostasis along at least one staple line during surgical stapling.

2. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the type of thermogenic energy applied to the surgical staples via the means for sequentially applying thermogenic energy is selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, pure thermal, and resistive heating.

3. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive member is a metallic anvil.

4. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface is an outer surface of the metallic anvil, and wherein the surface includes a plurality of staple-receiving recesses.

5. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface is coated with an insulation material.

6. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the insulation material is configured for being partially removable by staples when driven against the first body portion during surgical stapling for energizing the surgical staples via the at least one conductive member.

7. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of staple-receiving recesses are not coated with the insulation material.

8. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the insulation material is selected from the group consisting of Teflon and plastics.

9. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation member includes a knife blade.

10. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 9, wherein the actuation member includes a sled with an actuating member having an upstanding flange and the knife blade is fastened to the upstanding flange.

11. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 9, wherein the knife blade traverses through a cavity formed in the first body portion, and wherein at least one other conductive member applied thermogenic energy to the knife blade during surgical stapling to cauterize tissue along at least one cut line.

12. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one conductive member is a surface which defines the cavity, traversing the length of the first body portion.

13. A surgical stapler as claimed in any of the preceding claims claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive member energizes the plurality of surgical staples via the surface defined by the first body portion for providing hemostasis along at least one staple line during surgical stapling.