Surgical stapler apparatus with pivotally mounted actuator assemblies

• US 4,383,634 A
• Filed: 05/26/1981
• Issued: 05/17/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US06/267,080
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 227/19, 227/135, 227/155, 227/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 227/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously

Abstract

Surgical stapler apparatus in which the actuator elements can be pivoted out of the actuator housing to facilitate cleaning of the apparatus between uses without disassembly of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a frame for supporting a stapling assembly adjacent a distal portion of the frame;

a first actuator means pivotally mounted relative to a proximal portion of the frame, the first actuator means being pivotable away from the frame sufficiently to allow cleaning of both the first actuator means and the frame without removal of the first actuator means from the frame;

a second actuator means mounted relative to the frame for both pivotal and reciprocal motion and located intermediate the first actuator means and the stapling assembly, the second actuator means being pivotable away from the frame sufficiently to allow cleaning of both the second actuator means and the frame without removal of the second actuator means from the frame; and

means for interconnecting the first and second actuator means so that the second actuator means responds to pivoting of the first actuator means by translating toward the stapling assembly and at least partially actuating the stapling assembly.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the means for translating the actuator member toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly comprises:

a further actuator member reciprocally mounted in the first actuator means for contacting the actuator member in the second actuator means when the first actuator means has been pivoted to cause translation of the second actuator means toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly; and

means for translating the further actuator member toward the second actuator means to cause the actuator member in the second actuator means to translate toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the means for translating the further actuator member comprises a handle pivotally mounted on the frame for engaging the further actuator member when the first actuator means has been pivoted to cause translation of the second actuator means toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for preventing pivoting of the second actuator means except when the second actuator means is fully retracted from the tissue clamping and stapling assembly.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the means for interconnecting the first and second actuator means comprises linkage means for providing increasing mechanical advantage as the second actuator means translates toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly.

2. Surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a frame, having proximal and distal portions and a longitudinal axis which passes through both the proximal and distal portions, for supporting a tissue clamping and stapling assembly adjacent the distal portion;

a first actuator means pivotally mounted relative to the proximal portion about a first pivotal axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame;

a second actuator means mounted relative to the frame for both pivotal and reciprocal motion and located intermediate the first actuator means and the stapling assembly, the second actuator means being pivotal about a second pivotal axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame, the second actuator means including a reciprocally mounted actuator member;

means for interconnecting the first and second actuator means so that the second actuator means responds to pivoting of the first actuator means by translating toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly to actuate the tissue clamping and stapling assembly to clamp the tissue in preparation for subsequent stapling of the clamped tissue; and

means for translating the actuator member toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly after the second actuator means has been translated toward the tissue clamping and stapling assembly to actuate the tissue clamping and stapling assembly to staple the clamped tissue.

7. For use in combination with a surgical stapling assembly containing at least one surgical staple, an actuator comprising:

a frame for supporting the stapling assembly;

a first actuator assembly mounted relative to the frame for pivotal motion toward and away from the frame to expose the parts of the actuator for cleaning when the first actuator assembly is pivoted away from the frame, the first actuator assembly including a first housing and a first staple pusher actuator member reciprocally mounted in the first housing;

a second actuator assembly including a second housing and a second staple pusher actuator member reciprocally mounted in the second housing;

linkage means operatively connecting the first and second actuator assemblies for translating the second actuator assembly toward the stapling assembly to actuate the stapling assembly to clamp the tissue to be stapled in response to pivoting of the first actuator assembly;

means for pivotally mounting the second actuator assembly relative to the linkage means so that the second actuator assembly can be pivoted toward and away from the frame to expose the parts of the actuator for cleaning when the second actuator assembly is pivoted away from the frame; and

means for causing the first and second staple pusher actuator members to translate in the direction of the stapling assembly to actuate the stapling assembly to drive the staple from the stapling assembly to staple the tissue.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the linkage means comprises:

a first link member pivotally connected adjacent one end to the first actuator assembly at a point intermediate the pivotal axis of the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly, and pivotally connected adjacent the opposite second end to the second actuator assembly; and

a second link member pivotally connected adjacent one end to the pivotal connection between the first link member and the second actuator member, and pivotally connected adjacent the opposite second end to the frame.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the linkage means further comprises means for increasing the mechanical advantage of the linkage means as the second actuator assembly advances toward the stapling assembly.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the means for causing the first and second staple pusher actuator members to translate includes means for operatively engaging the first and second staple pusher actuator members only when the first actuator assembly has been pivoted to cause the tissue to be clamped.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the means for causing the first and second staple pusher actuator members to translate comprises an actuator handle pivotally mounted relative to the frame and having a portion which can contact the first staple pusher actuator member only when the first actuator assembly has been pivoted to cause the tissue to be clamped.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 further comprising a safety latch for preventing the actuator handle from pivoting prior to release of the safety latch.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 7 further comprising means for preventing pivoting of the second actuator assembly relative to the frame unless the second actuator assembly is substantially retracted from the stapling assembly.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 7 further comprising means for resiliently biasing the second actuator assembly away from the stapling assembly.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the first and second staple pusher actuator members are resiliently biased away from the stapling assembly.

16. A surgical stapler comprising:

a frame;

a stapling assembly removably mounted on a distal portion of the frame, the stapling assembly including an anvil portion and a staple holding portion pivotally mounted on the proximal side of the anvil portion;

first actuator means pivotally mounted relative to the frame proximally of the stapling assembly;

second actuator means disposed intermediate the first actuator means and the stapling assembly;

linkage means operatively interconnecting the first and second actuator means so that pivoting of the first actuator means causes translation of the second actuator means in the direction of the stapling assembly, which causes the staple holding portion to pivot toward the anvil portion and clamp the tissue to be stapled between the staple holding portion and the anvil portion;

means for causing the second actuator means to actuate the staple holding portion to drive the staples from the staple holding portion, through the clamped tissue, and against the anvil portion so that the ends of the staples are clinched; and

means for pivotally mounting the second actuator means relative to the frame.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the first actuator means comprises a first actuator support member pivotally mounted relative to the frame and a first staple pusher actuator member reciprocally mounted relative to the first actuator support member, and wherein the second actuator means comprises a second actuator support member pivotally mounted relative to the linkage means and a second staple pusher actuator member reciprocally mounted relative to the second actuator support member.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein the reciprocal axes of the first and second staple pusher actuator members are aligned when the first actuator means is pivoted so that the second actuator means is translated in the direction of the staple holding portion.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the linkage means comprises:

a first link member pivotally connected adjacent a first end to a portion of the first actuator support member intermediate the pivotal axis of the first actuator means and the second actuator means, and pivotally connected adjacent the other second end to the second actuator support member; and

a second link member pivotally connected adjacent a first end to the pivotal connection adjacent the second end of the first link member, and pivotally connected adjacent the other second end to the frame.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the means for causing the second actuator means to actuate the staple holding portion to drive the staples comprises a handle pivotally mounted relative to the frame for engaging the first staple pusher actuator member when the first actuator member is pivoted so that the second actuator means is translated in the direction of the stapling assembly, pivoting of the handle when thus engaged with the first staple pusher actuator member causing the first staple pusher actuator member to translate in the direction of the stapling assembly so that the second staple pusher actuator member also translates in the direction of the stapling assembly and actuates the staple holding portion to drive the staples.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 16 further comprising means for preventing pivoting of the second actuator means when the second actuator means is translated in the direction of the stapling assembly.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the mechanical advantage of the linkage means increases as the second actuator means translates toward the stapling assembly.