Apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners

• US 5,352,238 A
• Filed: 10/16/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Geiste, Robert J., Bolanos, Henry, Young, Wayne P., Green, David T., Rende, Frank M. III, Gerry, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/962,279
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 606/220, 227/19, 227/175-188
• US Class Current: 606/220
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00446 for use only by lefthanded or only by righthanded persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00451 by lefthanded persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

Apparatus for applying at least one row of two-part surgical fasteners to body tissue, each surgical fastener having a pronged fastener portion for piercing body tissue, and an aperture retainer dimensioned and configured for engaged reception of the pronged fastener portion in interference fit therewith for gripping the body tissue therebetween. The apparatus includes means for holding a plurality of the fastener portions in generally aligned relation, means spaced from the fastener portion holding means for gripping body tissue therebetween and for releasably holding a plurality of the retainers in generally aligned relation and positioned opposite the fasteners when the body tissue is positioned therebetween. Means is provided for sequentially advancing the pronged fastener portions toward the apertured retainers to cause the fastener portions to pierce the body tissue and to be received within the apertures of the retainers in engaged interference relation so as to cause the fastener portions and the retainers to be engaged while gripping the body tissue therebetween. In the preferred embodiment a knife edge is provided to cut the body tissue midway between opposed pairs of rows of the fasteners as the fasteners are applied. A method for applying two spaced apart pairs of rows of the fasteners to body tissue on the apparatus of the invention is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying at least two rows of two-part surgical fasteners, each surgical fastener having a fastener portion and a retainer portion, which comprises:

a) a first section having a plurality of said fastener portions of said two-part fasteners supported thereby, said fastener portions arranged in at least two rows;

b) a second section engageable with said first section and having a plurality of said retainer portions of said two-part fasteners supported thereby, said retainer portions arranged in at least two rows and supported in positions opposite said fastener portions, said first and second sections being relatively movable to clamp body tissue therebetween; and

c) at least two cam bars movable within the first section and an actuating member for moving the at least two cam bars longitudinally for sequentially driving said fastener portions toward said retainer portions in a direction generally transverse to the direction of movement of said at least two cam bars and into engagement with each other.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a first row of said at least two rows is disposed on one side of a generally central longitudinal axis and arranged in general longitudinal alignment therewith, and a second row of said at least two rows of fastener portions is disposed on the other side of the longitudinal axis and arranged in general longitudinal alignment therewith.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a first row of said at least two rows of retainer portions is disposed on one side of the longitudinal axis and positioned opposite said first row of said fastener portions, a second row of said at least two rows of retainer portions is disposed on the other side of the longitudinal axis and positioned opposite said second row of said fastener portions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein one of said at least two cam bars is disposed on one side of the longitudinal axis and positioned to sequentially drive said first row of fastener portions, and a second of said at least two cam bars disposed on the other side of the longitudinal axis and positioned to sequentially drive said second row of fastener portions.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a knife disposed between said at least two cam bars for cutting the body tissue.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first section comprises at least two rows of apertures dimensioned and configured for frictionally detachably holding said at least two rows of said fastener portions.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second section comprises at least two rows of retainer portion holders having means for supporting said retainer portions in position for reception of said fastener portions.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each said retainer portion holder comprises at least two upstanding posts extending generally transversely relative to a plane defined by said retainer portion holder, said at least two upstanding posts dimensioned and configured to be received within correspondingly dimensioned and configured apertures formed in said retainer portions to support said retainer portions within said second section.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each said retainer portion holder comprises two pairs of said upstanding posts, a first pair of said upstanding posts positioned and dimensioned to enter into first and second apertures of a first retainer portion, a second pair of said upstanding posts positioned and dimensioned to enter into first and second holes of a second retainer portion.

10. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said knife comprises a knife bar extending in a generally longitudinal direction.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said at least one cam bar and said knife bar are each operatively connected to a manually operable finger pad adapted for slidable longitudinal movement, whereby distal longitudinal movement of said finger pad causes corresponding distal movement of said at least one cam bar to sequentially advance said fastener portions into engagement with their respective retainer portions and causes distal movement of said knife bar to cut the body tissue adjacent the location of the application of said fasteners.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said knife bar comprises a knife edge at a distal end thereof.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said knife bar lags said at least one cam bar when said at least one cam bar is distally advanced.

14. Apparatus for applying at least two rows of two-part surgical fasteners to body tissue, each surgical fastener having a fastener portion for piercing body tissue, and an apertured retainer portion for receiving said fastener portion, which comprises:

a frame defining a longitudinal axis;

a cartridge disposed within said frame for holding a plurality of said fastener portions in generally aligned relation;

a support member disposed within said frame and positioned opposite said cartridge for holding a plurality of said retainers in positions opposite the respective fastener portion;

means movable within said cartridge for sequentially driving at least one of said fastener portions and retainer portions into engagement with the other, said driving means adapted to drive said fastener portions in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said frame; and

an actuating member slidably mounted to said frame and adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement relative to said frame, whereby distal longitudinal movement of said actuating member activates said fastener portion driving means for driving said fastener portions into engagement with said retainer portions.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising knife means for cutting body tissue adjacent the location of the applied fasteners.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said cartridge is removably disposed on said frame.