Surgical Instrument

• US 20080296344A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon-Surgery, Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Conlon, Sean P., Cropper, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod

Abstract

A surgical instrument for fastening tissue with a staple. The instrument includes a cartridge adapted for containing the staple. The cartridge includes a mechanism adapted to selectively advance the staple toward a forward end of the cartridge so the ends of the staple protrude from the cartridge and to selectively close the staple. The cartridge includes a mount connected to the cartridge and adapted for mounting the cartridge to an end of an endoscope. The cartridge includes a linkage connected to the cartridge for actuating the mechanism to advance and close the staple and a remote actuator connected to the linkage a predetermined distance from the cartridge for actuating the mechanism from a position remote from the cartridge.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for fastening tissue with a staple that is deformable from an open configuration in which tissue is initially engaged by ends of the staple to a fastened configuration in which the ends of the staple are moved toward each other so the staple closes around the tissue thereby fastening the tissue, said instrument comprising:

a cartridge adapted for containing the staple, said cartridge including a mechanism adapted to selectively advance the staple toward a forward end of the cartridge so the ends of the staple protrude from the cartridge and to selectively close the staple;

a mount connected to the cartridge and adapted for mounting the cartridge to an end of an endoscope laterally offset from a tip of the endoscope so tissue can be viewed through the endoscope when fastened;

a linkage connected to the cartridge for actuating the mechanism to advance and close the staple; and

a remote actuator connected to the linkage a predetermined distance from the cartridge for actuating the mechanism from a position remote from the cartridge.

2. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 1 in combination with the endoscope.

3. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 2 wherein the endoscope includes a selectively articulatable flexible shaft for guiding the cartridge into position in the patient.

4. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 3 wherein the mount is selectively removable from the endoscope.

5. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the staple is a first staple; and

the cartridge is adapted for containing a plurality of staples including said first staple.

6. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plurality of staples are serially arranged in the cartridge.

7. A surgical instrument for fastening tissue with a staple that is deformable from an open configuration in which tissue is initially engaged by ends of the staple to a fastened configuration in which the ends of the staple are moved toward each other so the staple closes around the tissue thereby fastening the tissue, said instrument comprising:

a cartridge adapted for containing the staple, said cartridge including a mechanism adapted to selectively advance the staple toward a forward end of the cartridge so the ends of the staple protrude from the cartridge and to selectively close the staple;

a flexible shaft connected to the cartridge for positioning the cartridge in the patient;

a linkage connected to the cartridge and extending along the shaft for actuating the mechanism to advance and close the staple; and

a remote actuator connected to the linkage a predetermined distance from the cartridge for actuating the mechanism from a position remote from the cartridge.

8. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the shaft includes a hollow interior and the linkage extends through the hollow interior of the shaft.

9. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

the cartridge is mounted on an end of the shaft; and

the actuator is connected to the shaft at an end opposite the cartridge.

10. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

the actuator includes a handle grip and a trigger lever pivotally attached to the handle grip; and

the linkage is connected to the trigger lever so that as the lever is pivoted relative to the grip, the linkage is moved to advance the staple toward the forward end of the cartridge so the ends of the staple protrude from the cartridge and to close the staple.

11. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 10 wherein the handle grip includes a knob operatively connected to the cartridge for selectively rotating the cartridge about a longitudinal axis.

12. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the linkage includes a flexible cable.

13. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

the staple is a first staple; and

the cartridge is adapted for containing a plurality of staples including said first staple.

14. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein the plurality of staples are serially arranged in the cartridge.