Self contained gas powered surgical apparatus

• US 5,364,001 A
• Filed: 10/01/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology plc (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bryan, Graham W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/130,606
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175, 227/176, 227/178, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors

Abstract

A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil member and a surgical fastener cartridge member mounted to the distal end of an elongated endoscopic portion. A tubular collar of the endoscopic portion moves distally to engage the anvil member and bias the anvil member and the cartridge member into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and the cartridge member. A self contained pneumatic system is disposed in the surgical apparatus and is actuable to eject and/or form the surgical fasteners in the clamped body tissue. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for preventing the premature actuation of the pneumatic system during shipment of the instrument. A mechanism for frictionally engaging body tissue inserted between the anvil member and the cartridge is also provided. In addition, a mechanism for inhibiting external exposure of a tissue cutting structure is provided.

Claims

1. In a surgical instrument having a pneumatic actuation system disposed within a housing and including a canister containing compressed gas and a valve assembly, the improvement comprising:

means for selectively controlling relative approximation of said canister and said valve assembly within said housing to prevent premature actuation of said instrument during shipment, said means being movable between a first position in which relative approximation of said canister and said valve assembly is inhibited and a second position in which relative approximation of said canister and said valve assembly is permitted, said means comprising a blocking member configured to occupy a space between said canister and said valve assembly when disposed in said first position so as to inhibit relative approximation of said canister and said valve assembly, said blocking member permitting said relative approximation when disposed in said second position.

2. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said canister is configured to move relative to said valve assembly.

3. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said blocking member is configured to abut a proximal end of said canister when disposed in said rest position, so as to inhibit movement of said canister with respect to said valve assembly.

4. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing defines a longitudinally extending chamber for retaining said canister and said blocking member is oriented transverse to the elongation of said chamber.

5. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 4, wherein said chamber defines a ridge which extends along an outer wall thereof and said blocking member includes a cantilevered detent for engaging said ridge when said blocking member is disposed in said first position.

6. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 5, wherein said blocking member includes a blocking surface for contacting said canister when said blocking member is disposed in said first position and a recessed region for accommodating movement of said canister when said blocking member is disposed in said second position.

7. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 6, wherein said blocking surface and said ridge are similarly contoured so as to provide an unobstructed path of movement for said canister when said blocking member is disposed in said second position.