Apparatus for applying wound treatment material using tissue-penetrating needles

• US 20060111738A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wenchell, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/186
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder

Abstract

A surgical apparatus is provided including a disposable loading unit selectively operatively engagable within a distal end of a first half-section; and a wound treatment material applicator assembly for delivering wound treatment material to the target surgical site. The disposable loading unit includes a cartridge; a plurality of deployable needles supported within the cartridge, wherein each needle includes a lumen extending therethrough and at least one hole formed in an outer periphery thereof; and an actuation member translatably disposed within the cartridge for delivering a driving force to each needle to deploy the needles from the cartridge. The applicator assembly includes a first and second reservoir supported on the distal end of a respective first and second half-section; and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with each reservoir.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

a first half-section adapted to receive a disposable loading unit in a distal end thereof;

a second half-section in juxtaposed relation to the first half-section;

a disposable loading unit selectively operatively engagable with the distal end of the first half-section, the disposable loading unit including;

a cartridge;

a plurality of deployable needles supported within the cartridge, wherein each needle includes a lumen extending therethrough and at least one hole formed in an outer periphery thereof;

a needle pusher in operative association with each needle for deploying each needle from the cartridge and into a target tissue; and

an actuation member translatably disposed within the cartridge for delivering a driving force to each needle pusher to deploy the needles from the cartridge; and

a wound treatment material applicator assembly for delivering wound treatment material to the target surgical site, the applicator assembly including;

a first and second reservoir supported on the distal end of a respective first and second half-section; and

a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with each reservoir.

2. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the source of wound treatment material is at least one pressurized canister of wound treatment material.

3. The surgical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each canister is supported on one of the first and second half-sections.

4. The surgical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each needle pusher includes an opening formed therein for fluid communication with the lumen of the respective needle.

5. The surgical apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the distal end of the first half-section includes a plurality of openings provided between the reservoir and the cartridge supported thereon for enabling transmission of wound treatment material from the reservoir to the cartridge.

6. The surgical apparatus according to claim 5, a plate including a plurality of needle receiving openings is supported on the distal end of the second half-section.

7. The surgical apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a distal end of each needle enters a respective needle receiving opening of the second half-section during operation of the surgical apparatus.

8. The surgical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an elastomeric material confines the wound treatment material within the reservoir supported on the distal end of the second half-section.

9. The surgical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein upon actuation of the surgical apparatus, a distal end of each needle penetrates the elastomeric material and the lumen of each needle is in fluid communication with the reservoir supported on the distal end of the second half-section.

10. The surgical apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the wound treatment material is at least one of an adhesive, a sealant, a hemostat, and a medicament.

11. The surgical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the disposable loading unit includes a biasing member operatively associated with at least one of the needles for biasing the needles to a retracted condition.

12. The surgical apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a knife blade supported on the actuation sled for severing tissue clamped between the distal ends of the first and second half-sections, where in the knife blade travels along a longitudinal slot provided in the cartridge.

13. The surgical apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least some needles are disposed on either side of the longitudinal slot of the cartridge.

14. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applicator assembly includes a valve fluidly interposed between the source of wound treatment material and the reservoir.

15. A method of operating on tissue at a target surgical site, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical apparatus including;

a disposable loading unit selectively operatively supportable in a distal end of a first half-section, the disposable loading unit having a cartridge operatively supporting a plurality of deployable needles, wherein each needle includes a lumen extending therethrough and at least one hole formed in an outer periphery thereof, and an actuation member translatably disposed within the cartridge for delivering a driving force to each needle to deploy the needles from the cartridge; and

a wound treatment material applicator assembly for delivering wound treatment material to the target surgical site, the applicator assembly having at least one reservoir supported on a distal end of one of a first and second half-section, and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with each reservoir;

clamping adjacent layers of tissue between a distal end of a first and a second half-section of the surgical apparatus; and

firing the surgical apparatus, wherein firing of the surgical apparatus includes distally advancing the actuation member to drive the plurality of needles through the clamped tissue, and dispensing wound treatment material to the clamped tissue from the source of wound treatment material, through the plurality of needles.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the source of wound treatment material is pressurized, and wherein upon firing the surgical apparatus the wound treatment material is expelled from the source thereof.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein upon firing of the surgical apparatus a distal end of each needle enters a distal end of the second half-section.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the surgical apparatus includes a reservoir supported on a distal end of each of the first and second half-sections.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein wound treatment material is delivered to the lumen of each needle from each of the reservoirs.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the surgical apparatus further includes a knife blade translatably movable along the distal ends of the first and second half-sections to sever tissue clamped therebetween, wherein upon firing the surgical apparatus the knife blade is distally advanced along the distal ends of the first and second half-sections to sever the tissue clamped therebetween.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the wound treatment material is at least one of an adhesive, a sealant, a hemostat, and a medicament.