Circular stapler tissue retention spring method

• US 5,309,927 A
• Filed: 10/22/1992
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Welch, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US07/964,734
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 606/153, 606/154, 227/175, 227/179, 227/180, 227/181, 227/902, 227/176, 227/177, 227/178, 267/166, 267/166.1, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples

Abstract

An tissue retention spring for use with a surgical circular stapler used to perform an anastomosis. The tissue retention spring is mounted onto the anvil shaft of the stapler. The spring has a plurality of connected helical coils defining a member having an axial passage therethrough. The spring provides tissue retention, tissue and fluid venting, and improved stapler closing.

Claims

1. A method of using a circular stapler having an anvil, an anvil shaft, a staple cartridge and an actuating means to connect sections of intestine, comprising:

positioning a tissue retention spring onto anvil shaft, wherein the spring comprises;

a plurality of connected helical coils members defining a spring member, the coils separated by spaces, said spring member having a proximal end and a distal end and an axial length, said spring member having an axial passageway therethrough for mounting onto the anvil shaft;

inserting the anvil and cartridge into adjacent sections of an intestine;

tying at least one section of the intestine to the spring so that the intestine extends into at least one of the spaces between the coils of the spring; and

, actuating the actuating means to staple the sections of the intestine together.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the passage through the spring member comprises a cylindrical configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the coils varies along the axial length of the spring.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the coils is constant along the axial length.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the spaces between the coils are constant along the axial length.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the spaces between the coils vary along the axial length.

7. A method of retaining tissue on a circular stapler having an anvil shaft, said method comprising:

concentrically mounting a tissue retention spring on the anvil shaft, said tissue retention spring comprising a plurality of connected helical coils members defining a member, the coils separated by spaces, said member having a proximal end and a distal end and an axial length, said spring member having an axial passageway therethrough for mounting onto the anvil shaft;

placing tissue about the spring; and

,

compressing the spring so that at least some of the tissue is engaged by the spring in the spaces between the coils.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of tying the tissue to the spring with at least one suture before compressing the spring.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the passage through the spring member comprises a cylindrical configuration.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the diameter of the coils varies along the axial length of the spring.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the diameter of the coils is constant along the axial length.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the spaces between the coils are constant along the axial length.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the spaces between the coils vary along the axial length.