Tissue Stop for Surgical Instrument

• US 20110114702A1
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Farascioni, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,746,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A surgical including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a stop member is disclosed. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The stop member is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and is pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position, a significant portion of the stop member being positioned external to the first jaw member, and a second position capturing the tissue between the first jaw member and second jaw member.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, the end effector including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one jaw member being movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions, the first jaw member having a tissue contacting surface and the second jaw member having a tissue contacting surface;

a stop member disposed between the first jaw member and the second jaw member and extending generally in a proximal direction, the stop member being pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position and a second position, the stop member having a proximally-facing surface for engaging tissue.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the stop member is pivotably attached to the first jaw member.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the first jaw member is a cartridge assembly.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the first jaw member is an anvil assembly.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are curved.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising a biasing member arranged to bias the stop member towards its first position.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the first jaw member includes a knife channel.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the stop member defines a space aligned with the knife channel.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23, further comprising a knife arranged to translate through the knife channel, the space of the stop member being disposed to receive the knife.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 24, wherein the stop member has a first leg and a second leg, the space being defined between the first leg and the second leg.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the proximally-facing surface defines an oblique angle with the tissue contacting surface of the first jaw member when the stop member is disposed in the first position.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the proximally-facing surface defines a substantially perpendicular angle with the tissue contacting surface of the first jaw member when the stop member is disposed in the second position.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the stop member pivots toward the second position when the second jaw member moves with respect to the first jaw member toward the approximated position.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the first jaw member defines a recess for receiving the stop member when the stop member pivots to the second position.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the stop member extends substantially across the space between the tissue contacting surface of the first jaw member and the tissue contacting surface of the second jaw member when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the spaced position.