STAPLER POWERED AUXILIARY DEVICE

• US 20110068144A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Krehel, Gregg C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective

Abstract

There is disclosed an auxiliary device for injecting material between the jaws of a surgical stapler. The auxiliary device includes a nozzle assembly having a discharge port and a compression assembly having at least one compression roller for forcing material out of the discharge port. The disclosed compression rollers may be formed of an incompressible or compressible material. The auxiliary device also includes a drive mechanism for moving the compression assembly within a nozzle body of the nozzle assembly. There is also disclosed a rupturable capsule for retaining material to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A medicament dispenser for use in a surgical stapler comprising:

a nozzle body defining a longitudinal axis and an opening for passage of medicament disposed in the nozzle body;

a compression assembly including an arm member and a roller rotatably supported on the arm member; and

an actuation assembly including;

an actuation cable;

a lead screw translatably disposed within the nozzle body, the lead screw having a distal end coupled with the arm member of the compression assembly and a proximal end connected with the actuation cable for concomitant rotation with the actuation cable; and

a support member rotatably supporting the lead screw, wherein rotation of the actuation cable causes translation of the lead screw along the longitudinal axis, which in turn moves the roller between proximal and distal positions.

2. The medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is longitudinally tapered toward the opening.

3. The medicament dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the opening is defined in a distal portion of the nozzle body.

4. The medicament dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the medicament is disposed adjacent the opening, such that a distal translation of the lead screw causes the roller to discharge the medicament through the opening.

5. The medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the medicament is contained in a capsule.

6. The medicament dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the capsule has a greater wall thickness at a proximal portion thereof than at a distal portion thereof, whereby a distal translation of the lead screw causes the roller to compress the capsule to break a distal end thereof and discharge the medicament therein through the opening.

7. The medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the roller is made of an inelastic material.

8. The medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the roller is made of a compressible material.

9. The medicament dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member configured to urge the roller to move along an inner surface of the nozzle body.

10. A surgical stapler comprising:

a handle;

a first jaw securely fixed to the handle;

a second jaw moveable from an open position spaced apart from the first jaw to a closed position substantially adjacent the first jaw; and

a nozzle assembly including;

a nozzle body defining a longitudinal axis and an opening for passage of medicament disposed in the nozzle body;

a compression assembly including an arm member and a roller rotatably supported on the arm member; and

an actuation assembly including;

an actuation cable;

a lead screw translatably disposed within the nozzle body, the lead screw having a distal end coupled with the arm member of the compression assembly and a proximal end connected with the actuation cable for concomitant rotation with the actuation cable; and

a support member rotatably supporting the lead screw, wherein rotation of the actuation cable causes translation of the lead screw along the longitudinal axis, wherein the nozzle assembly is disposed in one of the first and second jaws, such that the opening is exposed to a space defined between the first and second jaws.

11. The surgical stapler according to claim 10, wherein the nozzle body is longitudinally tapered toward the opening.

12. The surgical stapler according to claim 10, wherein the opening is defined in a distal portion of the nozzle body.

13. The surgical stapler according to claim 12, wherein the medicament is disposed adjacent the opening, such that a distal translation of the lead screw causes the roller to discharge the medicament through the opening.

14. The surgical stapler according to claim 10, wherein the medicament is contained in a capsule.

15. The surgical stapler according to claim 14, wherein the capsule has a greater wall thickness at a proximal portion thereof than at a distal portion thereof, whereby a distal translation of the lead screw causes the roller to compress the capsule to break at its distal end and to discharge the medicament therein through the opening.

16. An end effector for use in surgical stapler comprising:

a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw;

a nozzle assembly mounted on one of the first and second jaws, the nozzle assembly including a nozzle body defining a cavity and a discharge port;

a compression assembly moveably mounted within the cavity of the nozzle body and having a compression roller, the compression roller being moveable between a proximal position spaced from the discharge port to a distal position substantially adjacent the discharge port; and

a drive mechanism operable to move the compression roller between the proximal and distal positions, wherein the compression roller urges material contained within the cavity toward the discharge port as the compression roller moves between the proximal and distal positions.