Surgical stapling instrument

• US 4,863,088 A
• Filed: 03/09/1988
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Redmond, Russell J., Solyntjes, Alan J., Banks, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schran, Donald R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolfe, James L.
• Application Number:
  US07/166,037
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/144, 128/337, 128/334 R
• US Class Current: 227/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially

Abstract

A stapling instrument including two elongate structural members each comprising a handle part with a jaw part projecting from a first end. The structural members have pivot means at second ends of their handle parts adapted for free engagement and disengagement and relative pivotal movement of the structural members between open and closed positions. An elongate locking member is mounted one one of the structural members for pivotal movement to a locking position generally aligned with its handle part where the locking member can be releasably retained to forcefully move the structural members to their closed position so that high compressive forces can be applied to tissues between the jaw parts. Staples from a cartridge along one jaw part can then be driven through the tissue and closed against an anvil along the other jaw part. One of the structural members has a support element in contact with the other of the structural members transverse of a space between the handle parts when the structural members are in their closed position to restrict bending and movement of the handle parts toward each other in response to separating forces applied between the jaw parts as a result of compressed tissues so that the staples can be properly closed.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

first and second structural members each being elongate in a first direction and each comprising a handle part having first and second ends and a jaw part projecting from said first end, said structural members having pivot means at said second ends adapted for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to said first directions for affording, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of said structural members in said plane between a closed position with said jaw parts in closely spaced relationship, and an open position with said jaw parts spaced farther from each other than in said closed position, said handle parts of said structural members in said closed position defining a space between said handle parts over the majority of the distance between said first and second ends when said structural members are in said closed position;

an elongate locking member having first and second ends and a pivot point closely adjacent the first end of the locking member, the pivot point of said locking member being mounted on said second structural member adjacent the first end of said second structural member for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to said plane between a locking position generally aligned with the handle part of said second structural member, and a release position with the second end of said locking member spaced from the second end of said second structural member, said first end of said locking member and said handle part of said first structural member adjacent the first end of said first structural member having surfaces adapted, when said pivot means are engaged with said structural members in said open position, for engagement during movement of said locking member from said release position to said locking position to forcefully move said structural members to said closed position; and

means adapted for releasable engagement between said elongate locking member and said second structural member for holding said locking member in said locking position;

said stapling instrument having an anvil surface along one of said jaw parts, a cartridge including a plurality of staples along the other of said jaw parts, and manually actuatable means for sequentially pressing said staples within said cartridge against said anvil to engage and close the staples in tissues between said jaw parts when said structural members are in said closed position; and

one of said structural members having a support element in contact with the other of said structural members transverse of said space when said structural members are in said closed position, said support element being spaced between said ends of said handle parts to restrict bending and deflection of said handle parts toward each other in response to separating forces applied to said jaw parts by tissues compressed between said jaw parts.

2. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 1 wherein when said structural members are in said closed position, said support element contacts a planar surface disposed at a right angle to said plane on the structural member contacted by said structural element.

3. A surgical sapling instrument according to claim 1 wherein said support element is spaced away from said first ends of said handle parts in the range of about one eighth to one half the distance between said first and second ends of said handle parts

4. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 1 wherein said support element has a length of about 1/2 inch in said first direction.

5. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 4 wherein said support element is spaced away from said first ends of said handle parts about one quarter the distance between said first and second ends of said handle parts.

6. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 1 further including manually engageable projections along said handle parts having engagement surfaces disposed at right angles to said first direction and facing said jaw parts, said engagement surfaces being adapted to be engaged with the fingers of a users hand while the thumb of that hand is used to operate said manually actuatable means, and said support element is positioned between said manually engageable projections.

7. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

first and second structural members each being elongate in a first direction and each comprising a handle part having first and second ends and a jaw part projecting from said first end, said structural members having pivot means at said second ends adapted for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to said first directions for affording, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of said structural members in said plane between a closed position with said jaw parts in closely spaced relationship, and an open position with said jaw parts spaced farther from each other than in said closed position, said handle parts of said structural members in said closed position defining a space between said handle parts over the majority of the distance between said first and second ends when said structural members are in said closed position;

an elongate locking member having first and second ends and a pivot point closely adjacent the first end of the locking member, the pivot point of said locking member being mounted on said second structural member adjacent the first end of said second structural member for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to said plane between a locking position generally aligned with the handle part of said second structural member, and a release position with the second end of said locking member spaced from the second end of said second structural member, said first end of said locking member and said handle part of said first structural member adjacent the first end of said first structural member having surfaces adapted, when said pivot means are engaged with said structural members in said open position, for engagement during movement of said locking member from said release position to said locking position to forcefully move said structural members to said closed position; and

means adapted for releasable engagement between said elongate locking member and said second structural member for holding said locking member in said locking position;

said stapling instrument having an anvil surface along one of said jaw parts, a cartridge including a plurality of staples along the other of said jaw parts, and manually actuatable means for sequentially pressing said staples within said cartridge against said anvil to engage and close the staple in tissues between said jaw parts when said structural members are in said closed position; and

one of said structural members having a support element in contact with the other of said structural members transverse of said space when said structural members are in said closed position, said support element being spaced between said ends of said handle parts to restrict bending and deflection of said handle parts toward each other in response to separating forces applied to said jaw parts by tissues compressed between said jaw parts;

said structural members contacted by said support element having surface defining a socket, and a distal end portion of said support element is engages said surfaces defining said socket when said structural elements are in said closed position.

8. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

first and second structural members each being elongate in a first direction and each comprising a handle part having first and second ends and a jaw part projecting from said first end, said structural members having pivot means at said second ends adapted for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to said first directions for affording, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of said structural members in said plane between a closed position with said jaw parts in closely spaced relationship, and an open position with said jaw parts spaced farther from each other than in said closed position, said handle parts of said structural members in said closed position defining a space between said handle parts over the majority of the distance between said first and second ends when said structural members are in said closed position;

an elongate locking member having first and second ends and a pivot point closely adjacent the first end of the locking member, the pivot point of said locking member being mounted on said second structural member adjacent the first end of said second structural member for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to said plane between a locking position generally aligned with the handle part of said second structural member, and a release position with the second end of said locking member spaced from the second end of said second structural member, said first end of said locking member and said handle part of said first structural member adjacent the first end of said first structural member having surfaces adapted, when said pivot means are engaged with said structural members in said open position, for engagement during movement of said locking member from said release position to said locking position to forcefully move said structural members to said closed position; and

means adapted for releasable engagement between said elongate locking member and said second structural member for releasably holding said locking member in said locking position;

said stapling instrument being adapted to have a removable anvil positioned along one of said jaw parts, and a cartridge assembly including a cartridge containing a plurality of staples disposed in rows positioned along the other of the jaw parts in opposition to the anvil, which cartridge assembly further includes manually actuatable means for sequentially ejecting the staples from the cartridge to press the staples against the anvil and engage and close the staples in tissues between said jaw parts when said structural members are in said closed position; and

one of said structural members having a support element in contact with the other of said structural members transverse of said space when said structural members are in said closed position, said support element being spaced between said ends of said handle parts to restrict bending and deflection of said handle parts toward each other in response to separating forces applied to said jaw parts by tissues compressed between said jaw parts.

9. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 8 wherein when said structural members are in said closed position, said support element contacts a planar surface disposed at a right angle to said plane on the structural member contacted by said structural element.

10. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 8 wherein said support element is spaced away from said first ends of said handle parts in the range of about one eighth to one half the distance between said first and second ends of said handle parts.

11. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 8 wherein said support element has a length of about 1/2 inch in said first direction.

12. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 11 wherein said support element is spaced away from said first ends of said handle parts about one quarter the distance between said first and second ends of said handle parts.

13. A surgical stapling instrument according to claim 8 further including manually engageable projections along said handle parts having surfaces disposed at right angles to said first direction and facing said jaw parts adapted to be engaged with the fingers of a users hand while the thumb of that hand is used to operate said manually actuatable means, and said support element is positioned between said manually engageable projections.

14. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

first and second structural members each being elongate in a first direction and each comprising a handle part having first and second ends and a jaw part projecting from said first end, said structural members having pivot means at said second ends adapted for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to said first directions for affording, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of said structural members in said plane between a closed position with said jaw parts in closely spaced relationship, and an open position with said jaw parts spaced farther from each other than in said closed position, said handle parts of said structural members in said closed position defining a space between said handle parts over the majority of the distance between said first and second ends when said structural members are in said closed position;

an elongate locking member having first and second ends and a pivot point closely adjacent the first end of the locking member, the pivot point of said locking member being mounted on said second structural member adjacent the first end of said second structural member for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to said plane between a locking position generally aligned with the handle part of said second structural member, and a release position with the second end of said locking member spaced from the second end of said second structural member, said first end of said locking member and said handle part of said first structural member adjacent the first end of said first structural member having surfaces adapted, when said pivot means are engaged with said structural members in said open position, for engagement during movement of said locking member from said release position to said locking position to forcefully move said structural members to said closed position; and

means adapted for releasable engagement between said elongate locking member and said second structural member for releasably holding said locking member in said locking position;

said stapling instrument being adapted to have a removable anvil positioned along one of said jaw parts, and a cartridge assembly including a cartridge containing a plurality of staples disposed in rows positioned along the other of the jaw parts in opposition to the anvil, which cartridge assembly further includes manually actuatable means for sequentially ejecting the staples from the cartridge to press the staples against the anvil and engage and close the staples in tissues between said jaw parts when said structural members are in said closed position; and

one of said structural members having a support element in contact with the other of said structural members transverse of said space when said structural members are in said closed position, said support element being spaced between said ends of said handle parts to restrict bending and deflection of said handle parts toward each other in response to separating forces applied to said jaw parts by tissues compressed between said jaw parts;

said structural member contacted by said support element having surfaces defining a socket, and a distal end portion of said support element engages said surfaces defining said socket when said structural elements are in said closed position.