Endoscopic stapler

• US 5,690,269 A
• Filed: 05/01/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bolanos, Henry, Pelletier, Thomas A., Sherts, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/640,589
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1152 applying the staples on the outside of the lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1142 Purse-string sutures
• 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

Abstract

An endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical instrument for applying fasteners to bodily tissue is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an endoscopic portion and a jaw portion. The instrument is configured and dimensioned to be insertable through a cannula, and is useful for applying a purse string to bodily tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis;

a pair of jaws extending generally longitudinally from the distal end portion, at least one of the jaws being movable relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the handle portion; and

a plurality of fasteners disposed within at least one of said pair of jaws, wherein each fastener has a pair of legs joined by a backspan, the distal-most fastener backspan being oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion and wherein each fastener is ejected in a direction generally towards said longitudinal axis when the instrument is fired.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein each jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position and wherein both jaws are in substantial parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the handle portion when in the closed position.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein each fastener has a pair of legs joined by a backspan and the fastener legs are generally oriented toward the longitudinal axis when the jaws are in the closed position.

4. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising anvilless means for deforming the fastener legs.

5. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising means for ejecting the fasteners from each jaw.

6. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one cam member disposed in each jaw for sequentially ejecting the fasteners from each jaw.