Surgical stapling device with a curved end effector

• US 20080169330A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Balek, Stephen J., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 17/0686 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 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and

an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising;

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and

a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a linear portion, and a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein said linear portion defines an axis that is not parallel to or collinear with said shaft axis.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said linear portion has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is positioned closer to said shaft axis than said distal end, wherein said curved portion includes a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said distal end is positioned along said shaft axis.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said curved portion includes a proximal portion that extends away from said shaft axis and a distal portion that extends toward said shaft axis.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising said staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge includes a linear portion corresponding to said linear portion of said path and a curved portion corresponding to said curved portion of said path.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 4, wherein said staple cartridge includes cavities for storing said staples therein, and wherein said cavities are positioned within said curved portion of said staple cartridge and not within said linear portion.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge channel includes a linear portion corresponding to said linear portion of said path and a curved portion corresponding to said curved portion of said path.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said anvil includes a linear portion corresponding to said linear portion of said path and a curved portion corresponding to said curved portion of said path.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said curved portion defines an arc corresponding to an angle at least 90 degrees.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said curved portion defines an arc corresponding to an angle at least 30 degrees.

10. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, comprising:

obtaining the surgical stapler of claim 1;

sterilizing said surgical stapler; and

storing said surgical stapler in a sterile container.

11. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and

an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising;

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and

a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a linear portion, and a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, wherein said linear portion has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is positioned closer to said axis than said distal end, wherein said curved portion includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is closer to said shaft than said second portion, and wherein said second portion is closer to said axis than said first portion.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 11, wherein said second portion of said curved portion includes a distal end, and wherein said curved portion distal end is positioned along said axis.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 11, wherein said first portion of said curved portion extends away from said axis and said second portion extends toward said axis.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 11, further comprising said staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge includes a linear portion corresponding to said linear portion of said path and a curved portion corresponding to said curved portion of said path, and wherein said staple cartridge includes cavities for storing said staples therein, and wherein said cavities are positioned within said curved portion of said staple cartridge and not within said linear portion.

15. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and

an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising;

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and

a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, and

wherein said curved portion includes a first portion that extends away from said axis and

a second portion that extends toward said axis.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 15, further comprising said staple cartridge,

wherein said staple cartridge includes a linear portion corresponding to a linear portion of said path and a curved portion corresponding to said curved portion of said path,

wherein said staple cartridge includes cavities for storing said staples therein, and

wherein said cavities are positioned within said curved portion of said staple cartridge and not within said linear portion.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said curved portion includes a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said distal end is positioned along said shaft axis.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said curved portion defines an arc corresponding to an angle at least 90 degrees.

19. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and

an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising;

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, said staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and

a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle at least 90 degrees.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 19, wherein said curved portion includes a proximal portion that extends away from said shaft axis and a distal portion that extends toward said shaft axis.