Surgical Fastener Applying Apparatus

• US 20080283573A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Rethy, Csaba L., Ehrenfels, Karl H., Pedros, Roberto, Ivanko, David, Lehn, Randolph F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus is provided including a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position; and a loading unit receivable in the cartridge half-section and having a plurality of staples and a plurality of staple pusher members. The cartridge half-section includes a frame; a member being longitudinally movable through the loading unit to interact with the plurality of staple pusher members to fire the staples; and a lockout mechanism arranged to block advancement of the member in a locked-out position of the lockout mechanism. In use, after loading of the loading unit in the surgical fastener applying apparatus and subsequent clamping of the cartridge and anvil half-sections, the lockout mechanism is moved to an unlocked position to allow advancement of the member.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position; and

a loading unit receivable in the cartridge half-section and having a plurality of staples and a plurality of staple pusher members;

the cartridge half-section having;

a frame;

a member being longitudinally movable through the loading unit to interact with the plurality of staple pusher members to fire the staples; and

a lockout mechanism arranged to block advancement of the member in a locked-out position of the lockout mechanism;

whereupon after loading of the loading unit in the surgical fastener applying apparatus and subsequent clamping of the cartridge and anvil half-sections, the lockout mechanism is moved to an unlocked position to allow advancement of the member.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the member is a cam bar slidably coupled to said cartridge half-section, wherein said cam bar includes a pair of camming surface extensions for interacting with the staple pusher members to fire the staples.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lockout mechanism includes a rocker pivotably mounted to said cartridge half-section, said rocker including a downwardly extending blocking surface and being biased toward a locked-out position, wherein said blocking surface engages said member to prevent a longitudinal movement of said cam bar arrangement and said camming surface extensions.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anvil half-section includes a downwardly extending portion configured and adapted to engage the loading unit, the loading unit urging said lockout mechanism to rotate to the unlocked position.

5. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position; and

a replaceable staple cartridge assembly selectively receivable in the cartridge half-section, the replaceable staple cartridge assembly including;

a plurality of surgical staples;

a plurality of staple pusher members; and

a lock-out, the lock-out being movable between an initial substantially horizontal position and a vertical blocking position extending between the cartridge and anvil half-sections, wherein the lock-out prevents the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section from returning to the clamped position after the plurality of staples have been at least partially fired, wherein the lock-out is pivotally attached to a tissue contacting side of the replaceable staple cartridge.

6. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position; and

a replaceable staple cartridge assembly selectively receivable in the cartridge half-section, the replaceable staple cartridge assembly including;

a plurality of surgical staples;

a plurality of staple pusher members; and

a lock-out, the lock-out being movable between an initial substantially horizontal position and a vertical blocking position extending between the cartridge and anvil half-sections, wherein the lock-out prevents the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section from returning to the clamped position after the plurality of staples have been at least partially fired, wherein the lock-out includes a transverse horizontal surface formed on an underside thereof, the transverse horizontal surface engaging a hook formed on an upper edge surface of a knife thereby retaining said lock-out in said blocking position.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 6, wherein said lock-out moves to said blocking position upon an unclamping of the cartridge and anvil half-sections after the plurality of staples have been at least partially fired.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lock-out is confined between planes defined by opposed lateral side walls of said replaceable staple cartridge assembly when in the initial and blocking positions.

9. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position; and

a replaceable staple cartridge assembly selectively receivable in the cartridge half-section, the replaceable staple cartridge assembly including;

a plurality of surgical staples;

a plurality of staple pusher members; and

a lock-out movable between an initial position permitting a relative movement of the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to said clamped position and a blocking position preventing a relative movement of said cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to said clamped position after said plurality of staples have been at least partially fired, wherein the lock-out is confined between planes defined by opposed lateral side walls of said cartridge half-section when in the initial and blocking positions, wherein the lock-out is maintained in the initial position by a knife supported in the replaceable staple cartridge assembly.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lock-out includes a transverse horizontal surface formed on an underside thereof, the transverse horizontal surface engaging a hook formed on an upper edge surface of a knife thereby retaining said lock-out in the blocking position.

11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lock-out moves to the blocking position upon an unclamping of the cartridge and anvil half-sections after the plurality of staples have been at least partially fired.

12. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lock-out is confined between planes defined by opposed lateral side walls of said replaceable staple cartridge assembly when in the initial and blocking position.

13. A replaceable staple cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying apparatus having a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a plurality of surgical staples;

a plurality of staple pusher members;

a knife; and

a lock-out movable between an initial position permitting a relative movement of the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to said clamped position and a blocking position preventing a relative movement of said cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to said clamped position after said plurality of staples have been at least partially fired, wherein the lock-out is confined between planes defined by opposed lateral side walls of said replaceable staple cartridge assembly when in the initial and blocking positions, wherein the lock-out is maintained in the initial position by the knife thereof.

14. A replaceable staple cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying apparatus having a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a knife slidably supported therein;

a plurality of surgical staples;

a plurality of staple pusher members; and

a lock-out movable between an initial position permitting a relative movement of the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to the clamped position and a blocking position preventing a relative movement of the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to said clamped position after said plurality of staples have been at least partially fired.

15. The replaceable staple cartridge assembly of claim 14, wherein the lock-out is interposed between planes defined by opposed lateral side walls of said replaceable staple cartridge assembly when in the initial and blocking positions.