Anvil for circular stapler

• US 5,639,008 A
• Filed: 02/09/1996
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Fowler, David N., Gallagher, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/598,859
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil

Abstract

An anvil assembly for a surgical fastening instrument is disclosed. The anvil is constructed to pivot relative to an anvil shaft to facilitate movement of the anvil and instrument during use. The anvil also has an improved surface for severing structures and a sloped surface for guiding a knife during use.

Claims

1. In an anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument, the anvil assembly having an anvil member with an annular staple forming surface and an annular array of staple forming buckets formed in the staple forming surface, and a shaft having a longitudinal axis extending from the anvil member in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the staple forming surface, the improvement comprising:

a sloped annular surface portion disposed adjacent to and radially inward of the staple forming surface, the sloped annular surface portion sloping radially inwardly and distally from the staple forming surface.

2. The anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is solid.

3. The anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is hollow.