Surgical stapling instrument with articulated stapling head assembly on rotatable and flexible support shaft

• US 5,603,443 A
• Filed: 05/04/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Clark, George A., Robinson, Christopher, Snyder, Fred E., Burwell, Malcolm C., Gola, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STELACONE, JAY
• Application Number:
  US08/435,102
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/177.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 227/181.1
• US Class Current: 227/178.1
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

An improved surgical instrument is provided for applying surgical fasteners, such as staples, to human tissue which is particularly suited for applying one or more rows of fasteners across a tissue lumen. The surgical instrument can be used in thoracic and abdominal surgical procedures where access to the surgical site is restricted. The surgical instrument includes an articulated fastener applying assembly mounted on a rotatable and flexible support shaft assembly to provide more convenient access to restricted surgical sites. The fastener applying assembly has a compact construction including a fixed jaw which supports a fastener cartridge and a movable jaw which supports an anvil for clamping the tissue therebetween. The fastener applying assembly includes a pin placement mechanism which is actuated by the movable jaw to control the movement of a tissue retaining pin on the fixed jaw. A dual cam mechanism is provided for driving the fasteners into the tissue clamped between the anvil and the fastener cartridge. The instrument has an actuator handle assembly with an improved actuator mechanism for closing the jaws and driving the fasteners into the tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising:

a stapling head assembly including a first jaw which supports a staple holder for receiving one or more surgical staples, a second jaw which supports an anvil for clamping the tissue against said staple holder when said jaws are closed, and a staple driver for driving the staples from said staple holder into the tissue and against said anvil;

an actuator handle assembly including a jaw closure lever for closing said jaws to clamp the tissue between said anvil and said staple holder and a staple firing trigger for actuating said staple driver;

a shaft assembly for mounting said stapling head assembly on said actuator handle assembly;

a tissue retaining pin mounted inside one of said jaws and movable from a retracted position within said one jaw when said jaws are open to an extended position engaging the other jaw when said jaws are closed; and

actuator means on said other jaw for moving said tissue retaining pin between the retracted and extended positions; and

wherein;

said tissue retaining pin is mounted on a cantilever spring arm inside said one jaw which supports said retaining pin for movement between the retracted and extended positions, and including a pin placement arm pivotally mounted inside said one jaw for engaging said cantilever spring arm and moving said tissue retaining pin from the retracted position to the extended position.

2. The stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein:

said pin placement arm includes a cam projecting laterally therefrom and extending through a window formed in said one jaw; and

said actuator means comprises a cam actuator finger on said other jaw for engaging said cam when said jaws are closed to pivot said pin placement arm and move said retaining pin from the retracted position to the extended position.