Surgical Stapler With Timer And Feedback Display

• US 20110068146A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heinrich, Russell, Soltz, Michael A., Krehel, Gregg, Viola, Frank J., DeSantis, Robert J., Holsten, Henry E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides to feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a handle assembly including a trigger;

a clamping device having a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon, the clamping device having a first open state and a second closed state;

a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the clamping device;

a controller configured to determine an occurrence of clamping by the anvil and the staple cartridge, the controller controlling a delay between start of clamping and firing of the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge for a predetermined time period; and

a dampening device coupled to the controller, the dampening device modulating movement of the drive assembly to vary movement of the clamping device to correspond with the predetermined time period from the start of the movement at the first open state to the end of the movement at the second closed state.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a manual drive member to urge the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a motor to urge the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the staples are fired automatically after the predetermined time period.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 3, wherein the dampening device controls the speed of the motor during the the predetermined time period.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising an indicator connected to the controller, the indicator indicating a signal to the surgeon after the predetermined time period.