HUB FOR POSITIONING ANNULAR STRUCTURE ON A SURGICAL DEVICE

• US 20100264195A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bettuchi, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,161,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/181.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples

Abstract

An apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections is provided. The apparatus includes an anastomosis device having a cartridge assembly; and an anvil assembly having a shaft extending therefrom and a connection feature on the shaft. The apparatus further including a hub having a connection portion selectively attachable to the connection feature of the shaft, the connection portion defining a lumen for receiving the shaft; and an annular structure operatively connected to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the hub being arranged for locating the annular structure between the adjacent intestinal sections when connected to the shaft.

Claims

1. A method of disposing an annular structure between adjacent tissue sections, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a surgical stapling device including an anvil assembly and a body portion, the anvil assembly including an anvil member supported on an anvil shaft and the body portion carrying a plurality of surgical staples and a knife;

b) providing a hub for locating an annular structure between the adjacent tissue sections, the hub including a central sleeve defining a lumen which is configured and adapted for selectively receiving the shaft of the anvil assembly therein, and an annular structure operatively connected to the central sleeve and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

c) inserting the anvil assembly into a first tissue section; and

d) positioning the hub onto the anvil shaft such that the annular structure is concentrically located with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anvil shaft and such that the annular structure is positioned adjacent to the first tissue section.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) inserting the body portion in a second tissue section;

b) approximating the anvil assembly and body portion with one another so that an end portion of the first tissue section, an end portion of the second tissue section and the annular structure are disposed between the anvil member and the body portion, wherein the annular structure is disposed between the first tissue section and the second tissue section;

c) deploying the staples from the body portion; and

d) cutting the first tissue section, the second tissue section, and the annular structure with the knife.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hub includes an annular flange monolithically formed with and extending from the central sleeve.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the flange extends from a first end of the central sleeve.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the central sleeve includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slots formed around a periphery thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein each elongate slot extends through one end of the central sleeve.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the annular structure is fabricated from at least one of a bioabsorbable or a non-absorbable material.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the annular structure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a sealant, a hemostat, and a medicament.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the annular structure includes an outer annular disc defining a central opening having a dimension larger than an outer diameter of the central sleeve, and a web interconnecting the disc to the central sleeve.

10. A method of utilizing a disc with a surgical stapler for joining and reinforcing tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical stapler including an anvil assembly and a body portion, the anvil assembly including an anvil member operably associated with an anvil rod, the anvil rod including a protrusion disposed about an outer portion thereof;

fixedly positioning a hub onto the anvil rod, the hub including a sleeve configured to receive the anvil rod and a disc extending radially outward from the sleeve, wherein the sleeve of the hub engages the protrusion of the anvil rod at a location to position the disc in axial spaced relation from a tissue contacting surface of the anvil member; and

coupling the anvil rod of the anvil assembly with the body portion such that the disc is disposed in spaced relation from a tissue contacting surface of the body portion.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of securing a first tissue to the anvil assembly at a location between the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and the disc of the hub.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of securing a second tissue to the body portion at a location between the tissue contacting surface of the body portion and the disc of the hub.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

securing a second tissue to the body portion; and

approximating the anvil assembly and the body portion such that the disc of the hub is captured between the first and second tissues.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of firing the surgical stapler to deploy staples from the body portion and to form the staples against the anvil member.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the sleeve of the hub includes elongated axially extending slots defining a plurality of resilient fingers, wherein the resilient fingers snap over the protrusion of the anvil rod when the hub is positioned on the anvil rod.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the hub includes a web extending radially inward from the disc and interconnects the disc with the sleeve of the hub.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of approximating the anvil assembly and the body portion further includes step of cutting the web to release the disc from the sleeve of the hub.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of approximating the anvil assembly and the body portion further includes the step of firing a knife to cut the web of the hub.