SURGICAL FASTENER

• US 20120043367A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Blier, Kenneth M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 2017/0003 of parts of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00929 isolating electrical current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• 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 fastening system is disclosed, comprising a plurality of surgical fasteners, an energy source, and an indicating unit. Each surgical fastener includes a backspan, a pair of legs, and a contact pad. The backspan and pair of legs are at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material, and the contact pad has a portion formed from an electrically conductive material. The energy source is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners and generates a current, and the indicating unit is electrically connected to the contact pad of at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners. Upon contact of at least one of the pair of legs with the portion of the contact pad that is formed from an electrically conductive material, the indicating unit generates a signal indicating the formation of at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners.

Claims

1. A surgical fastening system, comprising:

a plurality of surgical fasteners, each surgical fastener including a backspan, a pair of legs and a contact pad, the backspan and pair of legs at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material, the contact pad having a portion formed from an electrically conductive material;

an energy source electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners, the energy source generating a current;

an indicating unit electrically connected to the contact pad of at least one of the plurality of surgical fasteners;

wherein, upon contact of at least one of the pair of legs with the portion of the contact pad formed from an electrically conductive material, the indicating unit generates a signal indicating the formation of the at least one surgical fastener of the plurality of surgical fasteners.

2. The surgical fastening system of claim 1, wherein the indicating unit is associated with a processor.

3. The surgical fastening system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to determine a percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that have formed.

4. The surgical fastening system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to compare the percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that have formed to a threshold value.

5. The surgical fastening system of claim 4, wherein the processor generates a signal of acceptability or unacceptability based on the difference between the percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that have formed and the threshold value.

6. The surgical fastening system of claim 2, wherein the indicating unit generates a unique signal corresponding to one or more surgical fasteners having the respective pair of legs spaced from the portion of the contact pad formed from an electrically conductive material.

7. The surgical fastening system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to determine a percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that have the respective pair of legs spaced from the portion of the contact pad formed from an electrically conductive material.

8. The surgical fastening system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to compare the percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that have the respective pair of legs spaced from the portion of the contact pad formed from an electrically conductive material to a threshold value.

9. The surgical fastening system of claim 8, wherein the processor generates a signal of acceptability or unacceptability based on the difference between the percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that have the respective pair of legs spaced from the portion of the contact pad formed from an electrically conductive material and the threshold value.

10. The surgical fastening system of claim 1, wherein the indicating unit includes at least one of a visual display and a speaker.

11. The surgical fastening system of claim 10, wherein the indicating unit is configured to generate at least one of an audible signal, a color indication, a graphic, and an alphanumeric display upon receiving a signal from the indicating unit.

12. The surgical fastening system of claim 1, wherein a contact pad extends through a portion of a respective surgical fastener such that a portion of the contact pad is exposed on the backspan.

13. A method of evaluating a surgical procedure, comprising:

providing a surgical instrument including a plurality of surgical fasteners, the surgical instrument configured to apply the plurality of surgical fasteners to tissue, each surgical fastener comprising;

a backspan having a pair of legs extending therefrom, the backspan and pair of legs at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material; and

a contact pad disposed on the backspan, the contact pad having a portion formed from an electrically conductive material, the portion formed from an electrically conductive material electrically isolated from the legs and the backspan;

providing an indicating unit operably coupled to the surgical instrument, the indicating unit configured to generate a signal upon a current path formed through the respective contact pads;

supplying a current to the surgical instrument and through each of the plurality of surgical fasteners;

actuating the surgical instrument to apply the plurality of surgical fasteners;

determining the success of a surgical procedure by assessing the signals generated by the indicating unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing an indicating unit includes providing a processor with the indicating unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing an indicating unit includes the processor determining a percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that form a current path through the respective contact pads.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining the success of a surgical procedure includes comparing the percentage of the plurality of surgical fasteners that form a current path through the respective contact pads to a predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the indicating unit includes providing at least one of a display and a speaker operably coupled to the indicating unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing the indicating unit includes at least one of the display and speaker generating an output upon receiving the signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the success of a surgical procedure includes the indicating unit generating an output having the form of at least one of an audible signal, a color indication, a graphic, and an alphanumeric display.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the success of a surgical procedure includes the indicating unit maintaining a unique signal when the current bypasses any of the respective contact pads of the plurality of surgical fasteners.