VARIABLE COMPRESSION SURGICAL FASTENER APPARATUS

• US 20090281554A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/0292 with the objects to be stapled together introduced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tool in an opening formed by an anvil and a plunger

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an anvil section and a cartridge section, where the cartridge section and the anvil section are movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position to clamp tissue therebetween. The cartridge section has a plurality of retention slots. A plurality of first surgical fasteners and a plurality of second surgical fasteners are disposed within a corresponding retention slot. The plurality of first surgical fasteners has a first backspan with a first configuration and the plurality of second surgical fasteners has a second backspan with a second configuration. The first configuration is different from the second configuration. In addition, when the first configuration applies a first compressive force to tissue upon formation of the plurality of first surgical fasteners and the second configuration applies a second compressive force to tissue upon formation of the plurality of second surgical fasteners, the second compressive force is different from the first compressive force.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising:

a fastener assembly including an anvil section and a cartridge section, the cartridge section and the anvil section movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position to clamp tissue therebetween, the cartridge section having a plurality of retention slots;

a plurality of first surgical fasteners and a plurality of second surgical fasteners, each surgical fastener disposed within a corresponding retention slot, the plurality of first surgical fasteners having a first backspan with a first configuration and the plurality of second surgical fasteners having a second backspan with a second configuration, wherein the first configuration is different than the second configuration, wherein the first configuration applies a first compressive force to tissue upon formation of the plurality of first surgical fasteners and the second configuration applies a second compressive force to tissue upon formation of the plurality of second surgical fasteners, the second compressive force being different than the first compressive force.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein as the plurality of first surgical fasteners are formed, a plurality of first pushers disposed within the retention slots forms a first recess in the first backspan of the first surgical fasteners to define the first configuration, and as the plurality of second surgical fasteners are formed, a plurality of second pushers disposed within the retention slots forms a second recess in the second backspan of the second surgical fasteners to define the second configuration.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first recess is different from the second recess.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein as the anvil section and the cartridge section move from the unclamped position to the clamped position, the pressure applied to surrounding tissue corresponds to the size of the recess in the backspan of the surgical fasteners.

5. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of first pushers and the plurality of second pushers form the corresponding recess in the corresponding backspan of the surgical fasteners at essentially the same time the surgical fasteners are driven against the anvil section.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an actuation sled capable of moving distally through the cartridge section, the actuation sled including at least one cam wedge.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein as the actuation sled travels through the cartridge distally, the at least one cam wedge drives the pushers in order to deploy the surgical fasteners and drive them against the anvil section.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge section includes a longitudinal slot configured to allow longitudinal movement of a knife bar therethrough.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cartridge section includes a first inner row of retention slots and a first outer row of retention slots on a first side of the longitudinal slot, and a second inner row of retention slots and a second outer row of retention slots on a second side of the longitudinal slot, wherein each retention slot is aligned with a corresponding pusher and fastener.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the surgical fasteners in the first inner row and the second inner row are formed with a bigger recess than the surgical fasteners in the first outer row and the second outer row, such that there is a smaller interior space within the surgical fasteners of the inner rows and thus a greater force is applied to the tissue as compared to the surgical fasteners in the outer rows.

11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the actuation sled includes a first inner cam wedge, a second inner cam wedge, a first outer cam wedge, and a second outer cam wedge, wherein the first inner wedge contacts the pushers in the first inner row of retention slots, the second inner cam wedge contacts the pushers in the second inner row of retention slots, the first outer cam wedge contacts the pushers in the first outer row of retention slots, and the second outer cam wedge contacts the pushers in the second outer row of retention slots.