Surgical stapling apparatus and method

• US 20070145096A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank, Ivanko, David
• Application Number:
  US11/711,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145096A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to staple-gap adjustment members for use in surgical stapling apparatus and methods. A gap adjustment member includes one or more bearing portions sharing a common rotational axis and one or more cam surface portions having a periphery with at least two different points along the periphery, with each point along the periphery having a different radius from the rotational axis. The one or more cam surface portions can have a central axis parallel to and spaced a distance from the rotational axis of the one or more bearing portions.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying a plurality of rows of fasteners to body tissue, comprising:

a first member configured to receive a fastener cartridge for supporting at least two rows of fasteners;

a second member having an anvil, the second member being adapted to be assembled with the first member, at a pivotable connection, so that the body tissue can be positioned between the cartridge and the anvil;

a fastener ejecting member adapted to be advanced longitudinally through the fastener cartridge to sequentially drive the fasteners into the body tissue toward the second member;

a knife bar having a cutting edge at a distal end of the knife bar, the knife bar being movable between the at least two rows of fasteners to cut the body tissue when the fasteners are driven into the body tissue;

a mounting member on one of the first member and the second member and being disposed between the first member and the second member, the mounting member defining a receiving recess adjacent the pivotable connection between the first and second members; and

a gap adjustment member received in the receiving recess.