Apparatus for stapling and incising tissue

• US 20090008424A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David T. Green
• Original Assignee: David T. Green
• Inventors: Green, David T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• 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 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking

Abstract

A surgical fastening and cutting assembly having a housing defines a passage and a pusher, with a cam surface, slides in the passage. An arm couples to the housing and an anvil base is located on the arm. A body slides on the arm between the housing and the base. The body defines a bore and a staple passage having a staple therein. A cam follower extends from the cartridge body to the housing. In an open position, tissue can be placed between the anvil base and the body. In an intermediate position, the cam surface of the pusher can move the cam follower into a locked position and, thereby, the tissue can be clamped. In a fastened and cut position, the pusher can move such that the staple can be been driven and formed in the tissue and a knife, coupled to the pusher, can cut the tissue.

Claims

1. An instrument for stapling and cutting body tissue comprising:

a) a handle portion for actuating and controlling placement of the instrument;

b) a pusher housing having a proximal end coupled to the handle portion, the pusher housing defining a pusher axial passage having a hollow;

c) a primary pusher slidably received in the pusher axial passage, the primary pusher having a cam surface;

d) an anvil assembly having an arm coupling to the pusher housing and a base located on a distal end of the arm;

e) a cartridge body slidably mounted on the arm, the body including a distal face and a proximal face, the body defining an axial bore and at least one staple passage;

f) a cam follower extending from the proximal face;

g) a knife blade coupled to the primary pusher for sliding movement in the axial bore; and

h) at least one staple in the at least one axial staple passage,

wherein in an open position, the handle portion is used to place tissue in between the anvil base and the distal face of the cartridge body, in an intermediate position, the handle portion has actuated the primary pusher such that the cam surface has moved the cam follower into a locked position in the hollow and, thereby, the tissue is clamped, and in a fastened and cut position, the handle portion has further actuated the primary pusher such that the staple has been driven and formed in the tissue and the knife blade has cut the tissue against the anvil base.

2. An instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising a release cam block upstanding from the primary pusher, wherein as the primary pusher returns to the open position, the release cam block dislodges the cam follower from the hollow to allow the cartridge body to move.

3. An instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one staple passage is two opposing staple passages.

4. An instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one secondary pusher coupled to the primary pusher for movement in the at least one staple passage to engage the staple therein.

5. An instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising a safety lock for preventing accidental movement.

6. An instrument as recited in claim 5, wherein the safety lock has a depending projection that rests within a notch defined in the arm and defines an opening sized to receive the cam follower.

7. An instrument as recited in claim 6, wherein the safety lock has a rib within the opening for engaging the primary pusher.

17. An instrument as recited in claim 5, wherein the safety lock has a depending projection that rests within a notch defined in the arm and defines an opening sized to receive the cam follower.

8. An instrument for stapling and cutting body tissue comprising:

a) a handle portion for actuating and controlling placement of the instrument;

b) an elongated pusher housing having a proximal end coupled to the handle portion, the pusher housing defining a locking passage and a pusher axial passage having a hollow;

c) a primary pusher slidably received in the pusher axial passage, the primary pusher being a plate with a closer cam block and a release cam block upstanding therefrom; and

d) a cartridge assembly coupled to the pusher housing, the cartridge assembly including;

i) a body with a distal face and a proximal face and a cam follower extending from the proximal face, the body defining an axial bore, two opposing axial staple passages and opposing staple load passages;

ii) an anvil assembly having an arm extending through the axial bore and coupled to the locking passage, the anvil assembly having a base located on a distal end of the arm wherein a proximal face of the base forms a tissue gap with the distal face of the body;

iii) a knife blade coupled to the primary pusher for sliding movement in the axial bore;

iv) a first secondary pusher coupled to the primary pusher for sliding movement in one of the axial staple passages;

v) a second secondary pusher coupled to the primary pusher for sliding movement in the other of the axial staple passages; and

vi) staples in the axial staple passages,

wherein in a normally open position, the handle portion is used to place tissue in the tissue gap,

in an intermediate position, the handle portion has actuated the primary pusher such that the closer cam block has moved the cam follower such that the cam follower is locked in the hollow to clamp the tissue, and

in a fastened and cut position, the handle portion has further actuated the primary pusher such that the first and secondary pushers have each driven and formed a staple in the tissue and the knife blade has cut the tissue.

9. An instrument as recited in claim 8, further comprising a release cam block upstanding from the plate of the primary pusher, wherein as the primary pusher returns to the open position, the release cam block dislodges the cam follower from the hollow to allow the body to move.

10. An instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein the pusher housing further defines a first transaxial bore for receiving an anvil pin to lock the staple anvil therein.

11. An instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein the handle portion includes a steering knuckle coupled to the pusher housing, the pusher housing further defines a second transaxial bore for receiving a steering pin to allow articulation thereof, and steering cables operatively engaged to the steering pin.

12. An instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one staple is at an angle with respect to the slot and the knife.

13. An instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein the anvil base defines two pairs of staple forming cups on opposing sides of the slot.

14. An instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein the anvil base includes a rod aligned with the knife blade and pairs of staple forming cups are on opposing sides of the rod.

15. An instrument as recited in claim 8, further comprising a push-rod extending from the handle portion to the primary pusher for transmitting force applied to a trigger of the handle portion to actuate the instrument.

16. An instrument as recited in claim 8, further comprising a safety lock for preventing accidental movement.

18. A fastening and cutting assembly for stapling and cutting body tissue comprising:

a) a housing defining an axial passage;

b) a pusher slidably received in the axial passage, the pusher having a cam surface;

c) an arm coupled to the housing;

d) an anvil base located on the arm;

e) a cartridge body slidably mounted on the arm between the housing and the base, the cartridge body defining an axial bore and at least one staple passage;

f) a cam follower extending from the cartridge body to the housing;

g) a knife blade coupled to the pusher for sliding movement in the axial bore; and

h) at least one staple in the at least one axial staple passage,

wherein in an open position, tissue can be placed between the anvil base and the cartridge body, and in an intermediate position, the cam surface of the pusher can move the cam follower into a locked position and, thereby, the tissue can be clamped between the cartridge body and the anvil base.

19. A fastening and cutting assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein in a fastened and cut position, the pusher can move such that the staple can be driven and formed in the tissue and the knife blade can cut the tissue against the anvil base.

20. A fastening and cutting assembly as recited in claim 18, further comprising a safety lock for preventing accidental movement, wherein the safety lock has a depending projection that rests within a notch defined in the arm and defines an opening sized to receive the cam follower.