Surgical Instrument with Pressure Distribution Device

• US 20140166720A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Chowaniec, Matthew J., Chen, Xingrui, Collings, Peter T., Richard, Paul D., Dussan, Luis
• Granted Patent: US 9,522,002 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a surgical apparatus, comprising an anvil jaw configured to form at least one surgical staple, a cartridge jaw configured to deploy one or more surgical staples against the anvil jaw, and a pressure distribution device attached to at least one of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw, wherein the pressure distribution device is configured to distribute a clamping pressure to a target tissue during a clamping and a stapling of the target tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

an anvil jaw configured to form at least one surgical staple;

a cartridge jaw configured to deploy one or more surgical staples against the anvil jaw; and

a pressure distribution device attached to at least one of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw, wherein the pressure distribution device is configured to distribute a clamping pressure to a target tissue during a clamping and a stapling of the target tissue, the pressure distribution device being at least initially furled up in a retracted state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure distribution device includes at least one flap extending from a side of a respective anvil jaw and cartridge jaw.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure distribution device is made of a shape memory material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure distribution device is furled up in a retracted state and retained against at least one of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw such that the apparatus has a low profile.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw comprise at least one pressure distribution device attached to a surface thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each pressure distribution device is furled up in a retracted state such that the apparatus has a low profile.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw each include one pressure distribution device, wherein each pressure distribution device is substantially U-shaped and extends beyond a distal end of the respective anvil jaw and cartridge jaw.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one pressure distribution device includes an inflatable bladder that is deflated in a retracted state and inflated in an extended state.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one pressure distribution device further includes a deployment member that holds the at least one flap in a retracted state, and is configured to allow the at least one flap to move to an extended state.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deployment member is a tubular member slidably disposed on the apparatus, configured to slide between a distal position surrounding the at least one flap and holding the at least one flap in the retracted state, and a proximal position to release the at least one flap and allow the at least one flap to move to an extended state.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deployment member includes at least one or more ties that bind the at least one flap in the retracted state.

12. A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical apparatus, including;

an anvil jaw;

a cartridge jaw configured to deploy one or more surgical staples into the anvil jaw; and

a pressure distribution device attached to at least one of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw, wherein the pressure distribution device is configured to distribute pressure to a target tissue during clamping and stapling of a target tissue; and

deploying the pressure distribution device before clamping and stapling a target tissue.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of deploying of the pressure distribution device is performed after clamping but before stapling.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each pressure distribution device is furled up in a retracted state against at least one of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw such that the apparatus has a low profile, the method further comprising passing the surgical apparatus through a cannula in the refracted state.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of unfurling the pressure distribution device from the retracted state to a deployed state after passing the pressure distribution device through a cannula.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of clamping target tissue after unfurling the pressure distribution device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of stapling target tissue after clamping target tissue.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of unclamping target tissue after stapling.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of furling the pressure distribution device back into the retracted state after unclamping target tissue.