Surgical stapler apparatus with pivotally mounted actuator assemblies
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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2. Surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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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.
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7. For use in combination with a surgical stapling assembly containing at least one surgical staple, an actuator comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical stapler comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification