Surgical stapling apparatus

• US 20080203134A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Shah, Sachin, Beardsley, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus, including a frame, an endoscopic portion, a clamp handle, a firing handle, a tool assembly and a drive beam is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the frame. The clamp handle is disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The firing handle is disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with at least one firing rod. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a camming surface and is supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion. Actuation of the clamp handle moves the drive beam into engagement with the camming surface. Actuation of the firing handle moves the firing rod through an opening in the drive beam to eject surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the frame and defining a longitudinal axis;

a clamp handle disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member;

a firing handle disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with at least one firing rod;

a tool assembly including an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a camming surface, the tool assembly being supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion; and

a drive beam having a proximal engagement portion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof and being configured to engage a distal portion of the drive member and having a horizontal portion disposed adjacent a distal end of the drive beam, the drive beam configured to engage at least a portion of the camming surface of the tool assembly, whereby actuation of the clamp handle moves the drive beam distally into engagement with at least a portion of the camming surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly;

the drive beam having an opening therethrough extending from the proximal end through the distal end and whereby actuation of the firing handle moves the at least one firing rod through the opening to eject surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the drive beam is made of a flexible material.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the drive beam is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the drive beam has a cross section including a vertical portion and two horizontal portions.

5. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one firing rod is made of a flexible material.

6. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one firing rod is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal.

7. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly includes a tissue stop disposed adjacent at least a portion of the camming surface thereof.

8. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly is part of a disposable loading unit.

21. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the opening of the drive beam extends through the vertical portion of the cross-section of the drive beam.

22. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the vertical portion is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

23. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the horizontal portions is disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis.

9. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a frame having a first handle and a second handle;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the frame;

a tool assembly including an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a camming surface, the tool assembly being supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion;

a drive beam connected to the first handle, the drive beam having a distal end configured to engage at least a portion of the camming surface of the tool assembly, whereby actuation of the first handle moves the drive beam distally into engagement with at least a portion of the camming surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly with respect to one another, the drive beam having an opening therethrough;

a rod connected to the second handle so that manipulation of the second handle advances the rod distally through the opening of the drive beam and ejects staples from the cartridge assembly.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the distal end of the drive beam has a first portion arranged to engage the camming surface and wherein the camming surface is disposed on the anvil.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the distal end of the drive beam has a second portion arranged to engage the cartridge assembly.

12. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tool assembly is pivotably attached to the endoscopic portion.

13. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the rod is flexible to allow the tool assembly to articulate.

14. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the drive beam is flexible to allow the tool assembly to articulate.

15. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tool assembly includes a tissue stop disposed adjacent at least a portion of the camming surface thereof.

16. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tool assembly is part of a disposable loading unit, the disposable loading unit including a proximal body portion and the tool assembly attached to the proximal body portion.

17. A method of firing surgical fasteners, comprising:

providing a surgical stapling apparatus, including;

a frame;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the frame;

a first handle disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member;

a second handle disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with at least one firing rod;

a tool assembly including an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a camming surface, the tool assembly being supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion; and

a drive beam configured to engage a distal portion of the drive member and being configured to engage at least a portion of the camming surface of the tool assembly;

actuating the first handle to move the drive beam distally into engagement with at least a portion of the camming surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly; and

actuating the second handle to move the firing rod through an opening in the drive beam.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the drive beam is made of a flexible material.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein a portion of the drive beam has a cross section including a vertical portion and two horizontal portions.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the at least one firing rod is made of a flexible material.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the opening of the drive beam extends through the vertical portion of the cross-section of the drive beam.