Side-to-end vascular anastomotic staple apparatus

• US 5,403,333 A
• Filed: 08/06/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Medical Systems, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Kaster
• Inventors: Domaas, Perry M., Kaster, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/103,196
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151-153, 606/155, 606/139, 606/213, 606/219, 227/175, 227/178, 227/179, 227/181, 227/19
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065

Abstract

A side-to-end vascular anastomosis stapling apparatus that includes a stapling tool (10), a staple forming tool (11) and a staple (12). The stapling tool (10) includes a sleeve (13), a core unit (14), a mandrel (16) and a trigger unit (17). The core unit (14) includes a plurality of fingers (26) that can be selectively urged outwardly by interaction with the mandrel (16) to grip the staple (12). The staple (12) has a plurality of vessel and interior wall engaging members (43) and a plurality of exterior wall engaging members (44).

Claims

1. A method of connecting first and second blood vessels with a staple having a substantially rigid annular base member, a plurality of spaced apart first engaging members connected on a distal side of the annular base member and a plurality of spaced apart second engaging members connected on a proximal side of the annular base member, the method comprising:

providing a stapling instrument which includes;

a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, and an opening extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a core unit slidably disposed within the opening in the sleeve, the core unit having a hole disposed longitudinally therethrough and wherein a distal portion of the core unit extends beyond the distal end of the sleeve;

a staple holder disposed on the distal portion of the core unit for selectively holding a staple thereon in a position in which first engaging members of the staple pointing generally distally;

a mandrel slidably disposed within the hole in the core unit, wherein the mandrel has a hollow center for receiving a first blood vessel and wherein the mandrel has a larger outside diameter than the inside diameter of the staple holder whereby the mandrel will force the staple holder outwardly to hold the staple when the mandrel is inside the staple holder; and

an actuator for moving the sleeve in a distal direction relative to the core unit;

placing the staple onto the staple holder;

inserting the mandrel into the hole in the core unit to a position at which the mandrel pushes the staple holder outwardly to securely hold the staple;

pulling a free end of a first blood vessel through the hollow center of the mandrel;

folding the free end of the first blood vessel over the first engaging members;

forcing the first engaging members through the first blood vessel;

deflectively bending the ends of the first engaging members radially outwardly and proximally;

forming an opening in a side of a second blood vessel;

inserting the first engaging members and the free end of the first blood vessel through the opening in the side of the second blood vessel while the staple and the first blood vessel are disposed on the staple holder and while keeping the second engaging members on the outside of the second blood vessel;

forcing the sleeve against the second engaging members by sliding the sleeve distally on the core unit using the actuator so that the second engaging members will pierce an outer wall of the second blood vessel around the opening in the side thereof and pull the first engaging members into piercing contact with an inner wall of the second blood vessel around the opening therein;

pulling the mandrel out of the hole in the core unit to an extent that the staple holder collapses inwardly to release its hold on the staple; and

pulling the stapling instrument, including the mandrel and core unit, off of the first blood vessel.

2. A stapling instrument for stapling a first vessel to a second vessel comprising:

a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal bore therethrough, wherein the sleeve has a concave cavity formed annularly about the bore on the distal end of the sleeve for interaction with a staple;

a core unit slidably disposed within the bore of the sleeve wherein the core unit extends beyond the distal end of the sleeve, the core unit having a longitudinal bore therethrough and wherein the core unit is sized to hold a staple having first and second engaging members;

a mandrel slidably disposed for movement through the bore of the core unit, wherein the mandrel has a hollow center for receiving an end of a first vessel; and

an actuator for moving the sleeve into contact with the second engaging members of the staple to deflectively bend the second engaging members into piercing engagement with a side of a second vessel.

3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the sleeve is a tubular member, having a circumferential channel formed adjacent the proximal end of the sleeve for interaction with the actuator.

4. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the sleeve is a plastic tube.

5. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the core unit includes a plurality of spaced apart fingers formed by slots in the core unit.

6. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the core unit is formed to hold the staple on the portion of the core that extends beyond the distal end of the sleeve.

7. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the core is a stainless steel tube.

8. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the mandrel is a stainless steel tube.

9. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the actuator comprises a handle portion, a trigger lever pivotally movable, about a pivot rod for engaging the sleeve to move the sleeve distally with respect to the core unit, and biasing means for biasing the trigger lever away from the sleeve.

10. A stapling instrument for stapling a first vessel to a second vessel comprising:

a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal bore therethrough, wherein the sleeve has a concave cavity formed annularly about the bore on the distal end of the sleeve for interaction with a staple;

a core unit slidably disposed within the bore of the sleeve wherein the core unit extends beyond the distal end of the sleeve, the core unit having a longitudinal bore therethrough and wherein the core unit is sized to hold a staple having first and second engaging members, the staple is held by means of a plurality of spaced apart fingers formed by slots in the core unit;

a mandrel slidably disposed for movement through the bore of the core unit, wherein the mandrel has a hollow center for receiving an end of a first vessel, the mandrel being sized to force the fingers of the core unit outwardly to hold the staple when the mandrel is inside of the core unit; and

an actuator for moving the sleeve into contact with the second engaging members of the staple to defectively bend the second engaging members into piercing engagement with a side of a second vessel.

11. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is a tubular member, having a circumferential channel formed adjacent the proximal end of the sleeve for interaction with the actuator.

12. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is a plastic tube.

13. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the core unit is formed to hold the staple on the portion of the core that extends beyond the distal end of the sleeve.

14. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the core is a stainless steel tube.

15. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the mandrel is a stainless steel tube.

16. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the actuator comprises a handle portion, a trigger lever pivotally movable about a pivot rod for engaging the sleeve to move the sleeve distally with respect to the core unit, and biasing means for biasing the trigger lever away from the sleeve.