Surgical stapling apparatus having self-contained pneumatic system for completing manually initiated motion sequence
First Claim
1. In apparatus for ligating and dividing body tissue including first means for clamping the tissue in the apparatus and then advancing two spaced staple-like metal ligatures toward the clamped tissue and crimping the ligatures around the tissue, and second means for cutting the tissue between the crimped ligatures, an actuator comprising:
- a first movably mounted actuator member for actuating the first means;
a second movably mounted actuator member for actuating the second means;
a pneumatic system including a supply of pressurized gas pneumatically connected to a pneumatic actuator;
a first mechanical linkage for connecting the pneumatic actuator to the first actuator member for moving the first actuator member to actuate the first means during an initial first part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator and for holding the first actuator member stationary during a subsequent second part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator;
a second mechanical linkage for connecting the pneumatic actuator to the second actuator member for moving the second actuator member relative to the first actuator member to actuate the second means during the second part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator;
manually operable means mechanically connected to the first actuator member for initiating motion of the first actuator member to at least initiate clamping of the tissue by the first means; and
means responsive to a predetermined manually produced motion of the first actuator member beyond the motion which at least initiates clamping of the tissue by the first means for releasing pressurized gas from the gas supply to initiate the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical stapling apparatus has a sequence of motion which is initiated manually and which is thereafter continued automatically by a pneumatic system contained within the apparatus. The pneumatic system uses relatively low pressure gas, and the apparatus has a mechanical linkage between the pneumatic system and the parts driven by the pneumatic system for matching the force available from the pneumatic system to the force required to drive the apparatus during the various portions of the motion sequence. An illustrative embodiment of the invention is ligating and dividing apparatus in which the motion sequence includes clamping tissue in the apparatus, advancing staple-like metal ligatures toward the clamped tissue, crimping the ligatures around the tissue to ligate the tissue, and cutting through the ligated tissue between the ligatures.
1458 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In apparatus for ligating and dividing body tissue including first means for clamping the tissue in the apparatus and then advancing two spaced staple-like metal ligatures toward the clamped tissue and crimping the ligatures around the tissue, and second means for cutting the tissue between the crimped ligatures, an actuator comprising:
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a first movably mounted actuator member for actuating the first means; a second movably mounted actuator member for actuating the second means; a pneumatic system including a supply of pressurized gas pneumatically connected to a pneumatic actuator; a first mechanical linkage for connecting the pneumatic actuator to the first actuator member for moving the first actuator member to actuate the first means during an initial first part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator and for holding the first actuator member stationary during a subsequent second part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator; a second mechanical linkage for connecting the pneumatic actuator to the second actuator member for moving the second actuator member relative to the first actuator member to actuate the second means during the second part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator; manually operable means mechanically connected to the first actuator member for initiating motion of the first actuator member to at least initiate clamping of the tissue by the first means; and means responsive to a predetermined manually produced motion of the first actuator member beyond the motion which at least initiates clamping of the tissue by the first means for releasing pressurized gas from the gas supply to initiate the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for ligating and dividing body tissue comprising:
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an anvil assembly; first means for clamping the tissue to be ligated and divided against the anvil assembly and then advancing two spaced staple-like metal ligatures toward the tissue and crimping the ligatures around the tissue against the anvil assembly; second means for cutting the tissue between the ligatures; first and second movably mounted actuator members for respectively actuating the first and second means; a pneumatic system including a supply of pressurized gas and a pneumatic actuator pneumatically connected to the gas supply; a first mechanical linkage for mechanically connecting the pneumatic actuator to the first actuator member for moving the first actuator member to actuate the first means during an initial first part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator and for holding the first actuator member stationary during a subsequent second part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator; a second mechanical linkage for connecting the pneumatic actuator to the second actuator member for moving the second actuator member relative to the first actuator member to actuate the second means during the second part of the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator; third means for manually initiating motion of the first actuator member to at least initiate clamping of the tissue by the first means; and fourth means responsive to a predetermined manually produced motion of the first actuator member beyond the motion which at least initiates clamping of the tissue by the first means for releasing pressurized gas from the gas supply to initiate the power stroke of the pneumatic actuator.
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Specification