Surgical apparatus for applying surgical fasteners

• US 5,709,334 A
• Filed: 01/25/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sorrentino, Gregory, Alli, Alim
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/591,096
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/175.4, 227/176.1, 227/178.1
• US Class Current: 227/175.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge

Abstract

A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for 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 optionally 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 locking structure for preventing firing of the instrument after it has been fired a predetermined number of times. A counter for displaying the number of times the apparatus has been fired may be provided. A firing interlock is also shown which prevents accidental actuation of the firing trigger. A clamping interlock is shown which prevents approximation of the jaws when the jaws are either misaligned or improperly inserted into the instrument. The instrument also includes structure for disabling the actuation system after a cartridge has been fired and structure for identifying a cartridge member having firing characteristics compatible with the pneumatic actuation system.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

a) a frame portion;

b) an elongated body portion extending distally from said frame portion;

c) a fastener applying assembly operatively associated with a distal end portion of said body portion and including;

i) a compatible cartridge member removably mountable in said distal end portion and having a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed therein, said compatible cartridge member having a first predetermined set of firing characteristics; and

ii) an anvil member mounted adjacent said compatible cartridge member and against which said fasteners are driven when ejected from said compatible cartridge member, said anvil member configured to correspond to said first predetermined set of firing characteristics;

d) fastener ejection means actuable from said frame portion for sequentially ejecting said plurality of surgical fasteners from said compatible cartridge member; and

e) identification means associated with said fastener ejection means for permitting actuation thereof when said compatible cartridge is inserted within said distal end portion and for preventing actuation thereof when an incompatible cartridge member having fasteners disposed therein and having a second set of predetermined firing characteristics different from the first predetermined set of firing characteristics is inserted within said distal end portion of said body portion.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said identification means is a transverse bridge member associated with said fastener ejection means and configured to disable said incompatible cartridge member upon engagement with a portion of said incompatible cartridge member.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said fastener ejection means has a channel member and said bridge is formed on said channel member.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said incompatible cartridge does not include ramping structure which is present on a compatible cartridge member.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic actuation system disposed within said frame portion and operatively associated with said fastener ejection means.

6. A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

a) a frame portion;

b) an elongated body portion extending distally from said frame portion;

c) a fastener applying assembly operatively associated with a distal end portion of said body portion and including;

i) a compatible cartridge member removably mountable in said distal end portion and having a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed therein, said compatible cartridge member having a first predetermined set of firing characteristics; and

ii) an anvil member mounted adjacent said compatible cartridge member and against which said fasteners are driven when ejected from said compatible cartridge member, said anvil member configured to correspond to said first predetermined set of firing characteristics;

d) a channel member actuable from said frame portion, said channel member movable relative to said elongated body portion to sequentially eject said plurality of surgical fasteners from said compatible cartridge member; and

e) identification means associated with said channel member for permitting actuation thereof when said compatible cartridge is inserted within said distal end portion and for preventing actuation thereof when an incompatible cartridge member having fasteners disposed therein and having a second set of predetermined firing characteristics different from the first predetermined set of firing characteristics is inserted within said distal end portion of said body portion.