SURGICAL STAPLER WITH DISCRETE STAPLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND TACTILE FEEDBACK

• US 20110139852A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Zingman, Aron O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,136,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical stapler is provided that may comprise a body, a stapling head operably coupled to the body, an anvil movably supported relative to the stapling head for selective travel toward and away from the stapling head, and an anvil adjustment shaft supported by the body for selectively adjusting a position of the anvil relative to the stapling head. The adjustment shaft and/or the body may be configured to establish at least one predetermined staple forming height between the anvil and the stapling head irrespective of adjustment shaft rotation. Additionally, the adjustment shaft and/or the body may be configured to provide tactile feedback to a user rotating the anvil adjustment shaft, thereby providing the user of an indication of when an appropriate staple forming height has been reached. Various integrations of components described herein may also reduce the part count required for a surgical stapler, thereby reducing assembly time and manufacturing cost.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a body comprising;

a handle portion; and

a shaft portion extending from the handle portion;

a stapling head assembly releasably coupled to the shaft portion, the stapling head assembly comprising;

a staple cartridge for supporting one or more surgical staples; and

at least one staple driver for engaging and driving the staples from the staple cartridge;

a drive system for applying drive motions to the staple driver;

an anvil movably supported relative to the staple cartridge for axial movement toward and away from the staple cartridge; and

an anvil adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting an axial position of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil adjustment assembly comprises an adjustment shaft and a trocar coupled to the adjustment shaft for travel therewith, the trocar configured for removable attachment to the anvil, wherein one of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises an engagement portion, and wherein the other of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises;

a screw surface comprising at least one ramp portion, at least one dwell portion, and at least one delimiter separating the at least one dwell portion from the at least one ramp portion, the at least one ramp portion configured to operably engage the engagement portion to cause the adjustment shaft to move relative to the body when the adjustment shaft is rotated.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising a trigger movably coupled to the body, the trigger configured to actuate the drive system when the trigger is moved, wherein the adjustment shaft comprises a first portion defining a first width and a second portion defining a second width, wherein the trigger further comprises a lockout stem defining an opening having a size, wherein the size of the opening is smaller than the first width but the opening is larger than or equal to the second width.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the at least one delimiter is a bump.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the at least one delimiter is a protrusion.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the screw surface defines a surface topography, and wherein the at least one delimiter is an interruption in the surface topography.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the at least one ramp portion slopes at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the adjustment shaft'"'"'s axis and the at least one dwell portion is substantially perpendicular to the adjustment shaft'"'"'s axis.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising visual indicia on the anvil adjustment shaft correlating with the at least one dwell portion.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 3, wherein the at least one ramp portion slopes at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the adjustment shaft'"'"'s axis and the at least one dwell portion is substantially perpendicular to the adjustment shaft'"'"'s axis.

8. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a body;

a stapling head operably coupled to the body;

an anvil movably supported relative to the stapling head for selective travel toward and away from the stapling head; and

an anvil adjustment shaft supported by the body for selectively adjusting a position of the anvil relative to the stapling head, wherein one of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises an engagement portion, and wherein the other of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises;

a screw surface comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion configured to operably engage the engagement portion to cause the adjustment shaft to move relative to the body when the adjustment shaft is rotated; and

at least one delimiter separating the first portion from the second portion.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein the at least one delimiter is a bump.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein the at least one delimiter is a protrusion.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein the screw surface defines a surface topography, and wherein the at least one delimiter is an interruption in the surface topography.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein the first portion slopes at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the adjustment shaft'"'"'s axis and the second portion is substantially perpendicular to the adjustment shaft'"'"'s axis.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising a trigger movably coupled to the body, the trigger configured to actuate the drive system when the trigger is moved, wherein the adjustment shaft comprises a first portion defining a first width and a second portion defining a second width, wherein the trigger further comprises a lockout stem defining an opening having a size, wherein the size of the opening is smaller than the first width but the opening is larger than or equal to the second width.

14. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a body;

a stapling head operably coupled to the body;

an anvil movably supported relative to the stapling head for selective travel toward and away from the stapling head; and

an anvil adjustment shaft supported by the body for selectively adjusting a position of the anvil relative to the stapling head, wherein one of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises an engagement portion, and wherein the other of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises;

a screw surface comprising at least one ramp portion and at least one dwell portion, the at least one ramp portion configured to operably engage the engagement portion to cause the adjustment shaft to move relative to the body when the adjustment shaft is rotated.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 14, further comprising at least one delimiter between the at least one ramp portion and the at least one dwell portion.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 16, wherein the at least one delimiter is a bump.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 16, wherein the at least one delimiter is a protrusion.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 16, wherein the screw surface defines a surface topography, and wherein the at least one delimiter is an interruption in the surface topography.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 14, further comprising a trigger movably coupled to the body, the trigger configured to actuate the drive system when the trigger is moved, wherein the adjustment shaft comprises a first portion defining a first width and a second portion defining a second width, wherein the trigger further comprises a lockout stem defining an opening having a size, wherein the size of the opening is smaller than the first width but the opening is larger than or equal to the second width.