Surgical Stapler

• US 20090173766A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wenchell, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/178.100
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners, an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue therebetween. The first and second cam members are movable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners. A cam member supporting member fixed within the cartridge section has an upper surface on which the cam members are slidable. The upper surface of the cam member supporting member has a first upper surface portion on a first plane and a second lower surface portion in a different substantially parallel second plane such that the first and second cam members slide in offset planes on the upper surface to fire the fasteners.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising

a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners;

an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue therebetween;

first and second cam members movable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners; and

a cam member supporting member fixed within the cartridge section and having an upper surface, the cam members slidable along the upper surface, the upper surface of the cam member supporting member having a first upper surface portion on a first plane and a second lower surface portion in a different substantially parallel second plane such that the first and second cam members slide in offset planes on the upper surface to fire the fasteners.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second cam members are of substantially the same height.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fasteners include a first set of fasteners having legs of a first length and a second set of fasteners having legs of a second longer length.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners include a first set of fasteners having legs of a first length and a second set of fasteners having legs of a second longer length.

5. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first upper surface portion is closer to the anvil section than the second lower surface portion, the second cam bar slides along the second lower surface to fire the second set of fasteners.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes third and fourth cam bars, the second and fourth cam bars being movable on offset planes, the second and fourth cam bars positioned outboard of the first and third cam bars.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second and fourth cam bars are configured to fire fasteners having a length greater than a length of fasteners fired by the first and third cam bars.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second upper surface portions are formed by varying a thickness of the cam bar supporting member.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cartridge includes a plurality of fastener pushers configured to engage the fasteners as they are advanced by the cam bars, the fastener pushers being of substantially the same height.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second cam bars are of substantially the same height.

11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pushers are movable by the cam bars in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the cam bars.

12. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second cam members are attached and move as a single unit.

13. A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing first and second sets of fasteners;

an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue therebetween;

a first cam member movable within the cartridge section to advance the first set of fasteners against the anvil to fully form the fasteners, the first cam member movable in a first plane; and

a second cam member movable within the cartridge section along with the first cam member to advance the second set of fasteners to fully form the fasteners, the second cam member movable in a second plane offset from the first plane and further from the anvil section than the first plane when the anvil and cartridge sections are positioned to clamp tissue therebetween.

14. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cam members are of substantially the same height.

15. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first set of fasteners has legs of a first length and the second set of fasteners has legs of a second longer length.

16. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cartridge includes a plurality of fastener pushers configured to engage the fasteners as they are advanced by the cam bars, the fastener pushers being of substantially the same height.

17. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cartridge includes a plurality of fastener pushers configured to engage the fasteners as they are advanced by the cam bars, the fastener pushers being of substantially the same height.