Surgical instrument for applying fasteners having improved gap indicating means (Case V)

• US 4,606,344 A
• Filed: 07/16/1984
• Issued: 08/19/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Di Giovanni, John
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/631,117
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 112/169, 227/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 227/181.1
• 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 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots

Abstract

A surgical instrument for applying tissue fasteners. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The jaws are placed on the opposite sides of the tissue to be joined. The instrument includes an indicator to indicate minute changes in positioning of the jaws.

Claims

1. Is a surgical instrument for stitching tissue by means of staples said instrument comprising:

a support body, a pair of jaws mounted at one end of said support body, a staple housing mounted in one of said jaws, means mounted on said support body for moving said jaw containing said staple housing towards the other jaw to close the gap and clamp tissue placed therebetween, drive means mounted on said support body for driving the staples from the jaw on which the staple housing is mounted towards the opposite jaw, actuating means mounted at the end of said support body opposite said end on which the jaws are mounted for actuating said staple drive means, the improvement comprising indicating means mounted adjacent the actuating means for indicating when an appropriate gap has been set between the jaws, said indicating means comprising a pointer member pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the support body with the other end of said pointer being a free end, a member mounted on the means for moving the jaw containing the staple housing to contact the pointer member adjacent its pivotal mount whereby slight movement of the means for moving the jaw containing the staple housing causes substantial movement of the free end of the pointer member.

2. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the pointer member is spring mounted to resist movement and cause it to continually return to its originally mounted position.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 or 2 including an opening in the support body through which the pointer may be viewed.

4. A surgical instrument according to claim 3 including side means on the support body adjacent to the opening to indicate the distance of the gap between the jaws of the instrument.