Bone stapler

• US 4,540,110 A
• Filed: 06/28/1983
• Issued: 09/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Bent, deceased, John H., Bent, executor, by Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US06/508,588
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 227/DIG. 1, 227/8, 227/19, 227/120, 227/130, 227/156, 227/121, 227/109, 146/200
• US Class Current: 227/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically

Abstract

A bone stapler including a housing in which stapler can be driven by a driver along a passageway from an inlet to an outlet opening by activation of an operated drive means. Pointed projections are provided to locate bone portions to be stapled, manually releasable safety means is provided to prevent inadvertent driving of a staple, and the drive means is adopted to exhaust air at a location remote from the bone portion being stapled. Also a staple cartridge is provided that, when removed from the stapler, insures that no staple can remain in the stapler, and the stapler will accept different parts that receive the cartridge and define the passageway so that staples of different sizes may be driven.

Claims

1. A bone stapler adapted for use with generally U-shaped staples each comprising a central portion and two generally parallel leg portions projecting generally in the same direction from opposite ends of its central portion and having distal ends, said stapler comprising:

a housing having a passageway extending from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, said passageway being adapted to guide a single staple moved from the inlet to the outlet opening with the distal ends of the staple leading;

means for biasing a stack of staples into said inlet opening;

a driver having an end portion adapted to engage the central portion of a said staple and being mounted on said housing for sliding movement between a load position with the driver spaced from the inlet opening to afford movement of one of the staples into the passageway, along said passageway with said end portion pushing the staple, to an eject position at which the end portion of the driver pushes the staple out said outlet opening and at which eject position the driver is stopped by said housing;

drive means adapted to be mutually activatable for rapidly and forcefully propelling said driver along said passageway from said load position to said eject position to move a said staple from said inlet opening to said outlet opening and for returning said driver from said eject to said load position after activation of said drive means; and

means for releasably latching said driver in said load position comprising latch means adapted for automatic engagement between said housing and said driver when said driver returns to said load position from said eject position, manually activatable button means mounted on said housing for movement from an outer position affording engagement of said latch means to an inner position engaged with and releasing said latch means to afford movement of said driver to said eject position, and means for biasing said button means to said outer position.

2. A bone stapler adapted for use with generally U-shaped staples each comprising a central portion and two generally parallel leg portions projecting in generally the same direction from opposite ends of its central portion and having distal ends, said stapler comprising:

a housing having a passageway extending from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, said passageway being adapted to guide a single staple moved from the inlet to the outlet opening with the distal ends of the staple leading;

means for biasing a stack of staples into said inlet opening;

a driver having an end portion adapted to engage the central portion of a said staple and being mounted on said housing for sliding movement between a load position with the driver spaced from the inlet opening to afford movement of one of the staples into the passageway, along said passageway with said end portion pushing the staple, to an eject position at which the end portion of the driver pushes the staple out said outlet opening and at which eject position the driver is stopped by said housing; and

drive means adapted to be manually activatable for rapidly and forcefully propelling said driver along said passageway from said load position to said eject position to move a said staple from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, said drive means comprising;

an air cylinder assembly including a cylinder having first and second ends with a portion of said driver opposite said end portion extending into said cylinder from said second end, and having an inner surface between said ends around and aligned with said driver, and a piston within said cylinder fixed to said driver and in slideable sealing engagement with said inner surface, said piston being movable along said inner surface from a first position adjacent said first end when said driver is in said load position to a second position adjacent said second end when said driver is in said eject position; and

a valve assembly on said housing, said valve assembly comprising a body having an inlet port and first and second outlet ports, an actuator manually movable along said body from a blocking position closing said inlet port and connecting said outlet ports and an activate position connecting said inlet and first outlet ports and closing said second outlet port, and means for biasing said actuator to said blocking position;

said housing having an outlet passageway communicating with said cylinder adjacent said second end, communicating with said second outlet port, and being adapted to be coupled to a hose leading to air at atmospheric pressure;

having an inlet passageway coupled to said inlet port and adapted to be coupled to a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, and a transfer passageway coupled between said first outlet port and communicating with said cylinder adjacent said first end.

3. A bone stapler adapted for use with generally U-shaped staples each comprising a central portion and two generally parallel leg portions projecting generally in the same direction from opposite ends of its central portion and having distal ends, said stapler comprising:

a housing having a passageway extending from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, said passageway being adapted to guide a single staple moved from the inlet to the outlet opening with the distal ends of the staple leading;

means for biasing a stack of staples into said inlet opening comprising a cartridge including a case adapted to engage said housing, said stack of staples being within said case, and said cartridge further including a follower on the side of said stack of staples opposite said passageway and movable within said case with said stack of staples;

manually actuatable means for releasably retaining said case in engagement with said housing; and

means for biasing said follower toward said passageway;

a driver having an end portion adapted to engage the central portion of a said staple and being mounted on said housing for sliding movement between a load position with the driver spaced from the inlet opening to afford movement of one of the staples into the passageway, along said passageway with said end portion pushing the staple, to an eject position at which the end portion of the driver pushes the staple out said outlet opening and at which eject position the driver is stopped by said housing; and

drive means adapted to be manually activatable for rapidly and forcefully propelling said driver along said passageway from said load position to said eject position to move a said staple from said inlet opening to said outlet opening;

said housing and driver both comprising first and second parts, said first part of said housing defining said inlet and outlet openings, carrying said first part of said driver, and releasably carrying said cartridge, and said second part of said housing carrying said drive means and said second portion of said driver; and

said bone stapler including manually actuated means for releasably engaging said first and second parts of said housing and of said driver to afford using first parts adapted for staples of different sizes with said second parts.