Surgical stapler

• US 5,735,445 A
• Filed: 03/14/1997
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vidal, Claude A., Plyley, Alan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHLEY, BOYER DOLINGER
• Application Number:
  US08/818,086
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/175.4, 227/176.1, 227/19, 227/8
• US Class Current: 227/175.4
• 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 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A surgical stapler having a supporting frame, replaceable staple cartridge, an anvil, a mechanism for approximating the cartridge relative to the anvil, and a mechanism for firing the device so as to crimp the staples against the anvil in a manner to enable the surgeon to substantially simultaneously place one or more rows of surgical staples in organs or tissue. The device, while at all times permitting approximation of the cartridge relative to the anvil, provides a novel lockout feature for positively preventing retiring if the staple cartridge is spent. In this way, unlike the prior art devices, the device of the present invention can be used as a clamping mechanism even after the staples have been fired.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simultaneously securing a plurality of surgical staples in tissue comprising:

a supporting frame;

a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples receivable into said frame;

an anvil mounted on said supporting frame for engagement by said staples;

approximation means for moving said staple cartridge within said supporting frame from a retracted position to a clamping position proximate said anvil;

a pusher member positioned at least partially within said staple cartridge and movable relative thereto into driving engagement with said staples;

an operating member movable within said supporting frame for advancement of said pusher member relative to said staples so as to drive said staples into engagement with said anvil; and

locking means for releasably locking said operating member against movement relative to said supporting frame, said locking means including a locking element connected to said approximation means and having a locking protuberance for engaging said approximation means, said locking protuberance moveable from a first position relative to said operating member to a second position, wherein said locking element blocks movement of said operating member toward said staple cartridge.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said approximation means of said apparatus includes a wall having an aperture and in which said locking element comprises a strip of resiliently deformable material having first and second ends, said first end of said deformable material being connected to said wall and said locking protuberance is receivable into said aperture for engagement with said operating member to block movement thereof in a direction toward said staple cartridge.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said operating member is provided with a notch and in which said locking element comprises a locking pin carried by said approximation means for movement between a first retracted position and a second locking position wherein said locking pin is received within the notch provided in said operating member, said locking means further including biasing means for biasing said locking pin toward said second position.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said biasing means comprises a generally "C" shaped spring having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said locking pin, said locking means further including trigger means connected to the second end of said spring the engagement with said pusher member upon insertion of said staple cartridge into said supporting frame so as to move said locking pin toward said first retracted position.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said trigger means comprises a trigger element having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said spring and said second end having a tapered wall for engagement with said pusher member.

6. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is spring biased to the first position.

7. An apparatus for simultaneously emplacing a plurality of surgical staples into tissue comprising:

(a) an elongated supporting frame having walls defining an interior space;

(b) an anvil connected to said supporting frame;

(c) a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples receivable within said supporting frame, said staple cartridge being movable toward and away from said anvil;

(d) a pusher member carried by said staple cartridge for moving said staples simultaneously toward said anvil;

(e) approximation means including a wall having an aperture carried by said supporting frame for moving said staple cartridge toward said anvil;

(f) operating means carried by said supporting frame for engagement with said pusher member to drive said staples into engagement with said anvil, said operating means comprising an operating bar slidably movable within said supporting frame from a first retracted position to a second staple driving position; and

(g) locking means including a locking element connected to said approximation means and movable from a first retracted position to a second locking position, the locking element formed as a strip of resiliently deformable material having first and second ends, said second end having a locking protuberance receivable into said aperture of said wall for preventing movement of said operating bar toward said second staple driving position after driving said staples into pressural engagement with said anvil.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said locking element comprises an elongated spring having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said wall.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said elongated spring continuously biases said protuberance in a direction inwardly of said aperture.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said elongated spring urges said locking protuberance inwardly of said aperture for blocking engagement with said operating bar upon movement of said operating bar into said second position.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said locking protuberance of said locking element is provided with a sloping portion engageable by said pusher member when said staple cartridge and said pusher member are inserted into said supporting frame, said sloping portion being so constructed and arranged to move said locking protuberance outwardly relative to said aperture as said pusher member moves into said supporting frame.

12. An apparatus for simultaneously emplacing a plurality of surgical staples into tissues and organs comprising:

(a) an elongated supporting frame having first and second spaced-apart walls defining an interior space;

(b) an anvil connected to said supporting frame;

(c) a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples removably receivable within said supporting frame, said staple cartridge being movable toward and away from said anvil;

(d) a pusher member carried by said staple cartridge for moving said staples simultaneously toward said anvil;

(e) approximation means, including spaced-apart walls carried by said supporting frame for moving said staple cartridge toward said anvil;

(f) operating means carried by said supporting frame for engagement with said pusher member to drive said staples into pressural engagement with said anvil, said operating means comprising an operating bar slidably movable between said walls of said approximation means from a first retracted position to a second staple driving position, said operating bar having a notch; and

(g) locking means connected to said approximation means for preventing movement of said operating bar toward said second position, said locking means comprising a locking pin disposed between said spaced-apart walls for movement between a first retracted position and a second locking position wherein said locking pin is received within the notch provided in said operating bar, said locking means further including biasing means for biasing said locking pin toward said second position.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said biasing means comprises a generally "C" shaped spring having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said locking pin, said locking means further including trigger means connected to second end of said spring for engagement with said pusher member upon insertion of said pusher member and said staple cartridge into said supporting frame so as to move said locking pin toward said first retracted position.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said trigger means comprises a trigger element having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said spring and said second end having a tapered wall for engagement with said pusher member.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said "C" shaped spring is disposed between said first and second spaced-apart walls of said approximation means.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which said operating bar is slidably movable between said spaced-apart walls of said approximation means with said locking pin being superimposed over said notch when said operating bar is in said first position.

17. An apparatus for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners in tissue including:

a supporting frame;

a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners;

an anvil mounted on said supporting frame for engagement by said fasteners;

an approximation member carried by said supporting frame and configured to move said cartridge relative to said supporting frame from an open position to a clamping position proximate said anvil;

at least one pusher member positioned in said cartridge and movable relative thereto into driving engagement with said fasteners;

an operating member movable within said supporting frame for advancement of said pusher member relative to said fasteners so as to drive said fasteners into engagement with said anvil; and

at least one locking element connected to said supporting frame for movement from a first position relative to said operating member to a second position wherein said locking element blocks movement of said operating member toward said cartridge, said approximation member including a wall having an aperture, and wherein said locking element includes a strip of resiliently deformable material having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said wall and said second end having a locking protuberance received in said aperture for engagement with said operating member to block movement thereof in a direction toward said cartridge.

18. An apparatus for emplacing a plurality of surgical staples into tissue comprising:

(a) an elongated supporting frame having walls defining an interior space;

(b) an anvil connected to said supporting frame;

(c) a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples, said staple cartridge being movable relative to said anvil;

(d) a pusher member positioned in said staple cartridge for moving said staples toward said anvil;

(e) at least one approximation element carried by said supporting frame for moving said staple cartridge toward said anvil;

(f) an operating member carried by said supporting frame for engagement with said pusher member to drive said staples into engagement with said anvil, said operating member comprising a bar slidably movable within said supporting frame from a first retracted position to a second staple driving position; and

(g) at least one locking element for preventing movement of said operating bar toward said second position after driving said staples into engagement with said anvil, said locking element movable from a first retracted position to a second locking position wherein said locking element will engage said operating bar to prevent movement thereof toward said second position, and wherein said approximation member further includes a wall having an aperture and in which said locking element includes an elongated spring having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said wall and said second end having a locking protuberance received in the aperture of said wall for engagement with said operating bar to block relative movement thereof.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said elongated spring continuously biases said protuberance in a direction inwardly of said aperture for blocking engagement with said operating bar upon movement of said operating bar into said second position, and wherein said locking protuberance of said locking element is provided with a sloping portion engageable by said pusher member when said staple cartridge and said pusher member are inserted into said supporting frame, said sloping portion being so constructed and arranged to move said locking protuberance outwardly relative to said aperature as said pusher member moves into said supporting frame.

20. An apparatus for simultaneously applying a plurality of surgical staples in tissue including:

a supporting frame;

a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples removably receivable into said frame;

an anvil mounted on said supporting frame for engagement by said staples;

an approximation member having a wall and an aperture, for moving said staple cartridge within said supporting frame from a retracted position to a clamping position proximate said anvil;

a pusher member connected to said staple cartridge and movable relative thereto into driving engagement with said staples;

an operating member movable within said supporting frame for advancement of said pusher member relative to said staples so as to drive said staples into engagement with said anvil; and

a locking mechanism for releasably locking said operating member against movement relative to said approximation member, said locking mechanism comprising at least one strip of resiliently deformable material having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said wall and said second end having a locking proturberance received in said aperture for engagement with said operating member for movement from a first position relative to said operating member to block movement thereof in a direction toward said staple cartridge.

21. An apparatus for simultaneously emplacing a plurality of surgical staples into tissues and organs comprising:

(a) an elongated supporting frame having walls defining an interior space;

(b) an anvil connected to said supporting frame;

(c) a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples removably receivable within said supporting frame, said staple cartridge being movable toward and away from said anvil;

(d) a pusher member carried by said staple cartridge for moving said staples simultaneously toward said anvil;

(e) an approximation member including an aperture and a wall, said approximation member carried by said supporting frame for moving said staple cartridge toward said anvil;

(f) an operating bar slidably movable within said supporting frame from a first retracted position to a second staple driving position; and

(g) a locking mechanism for preventing movement of said operating bar toward said second position after driving said staples into engagement with said anvil, said locking mechanism having an elongated spring having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said wall and said second end having a locking protuberance received in the aperture of said wall for engagement with said operating bar to block movement thereof in a direction toward said staple cartridge.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which said elongated spring continuously biases said protuberance in a direction inwardly of said aperture for blocking engagement with said operating bar upon movement of said operating bar into said second position, and wherein said locking protuberance of said locking element is provided with a sloping portion engageable by said pusher member when said staple cartridge and said pusher member are inserted into said supporting frame, said sloping portion being so constructed and arranged to move said locking protuberance outwardly relative to said aperature as said pusher member moves into said supporting frame.

23. A surgical apparatus for simultaneously applying a plurality of staples comprising:

a supporting frame;

an anvil disposed at a distal portion of the supporting frame;

a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and a pusher for driving the staples;

a handle mechanism disposed at a proximal portion of the frame, the handle mechanism actuable to advance an elongated firing member to fire the staples in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the firing member, wherein advancement of the firing member advances the pusher from a proximal position to fire the staples, the pusher remaining in a position distal of the proximal position after firing of the staples;

a locking mechanism cooperable with the staple cartridge, the locking mechanism movable between a first position to block movement of the firing member and a second position to allow advancement of the firing member, the pusher moving the locking mechanism to the second position when the pusher is in the proximal position.

24. A surgical apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a retaining pin slidable in a longitudinal direction to engage an aperture in the anvil.

25. A surgical apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the locking mechanism is biased in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the firing member.

26. A surgical apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an approximation mechanism to approximate the cartridge and anvil, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned on a portion of the approximation mechanism and moves with the approximation mechanism.

27. A surgical apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the handle mechanism is actuable to advance the staple cartridge towards the anvil.

28. A surgical apparatus for simultaneously applying a plurality of staples comprising:

a supporting frame;

an anvil disposed at a distal portion of the supporting frame;

a removable staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and a pusher for driving the staples, the staple cartridge movable towards the anvil to clamp tissue therebetween;

a handle mechanism at the proximal portion of the frame, the handle mechanism actuable to advance an elongated firing member to fire the staples in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the firing member, wherein advancement of the firing member advances the pusher from a proximal position to fire the staples, the pusher remaining in a position distal of the proximal position after firing of the staples; and

a locking mechanism positioned in the frame and movable from a first position when the cartridge loaded with staples is supported in the frame and a second position when the cartridge is devoid of staples and supported in the frame, the locking mechanism being normally in the second position to block movement of the firing member and movable to the first position by engagement by the pusher.

29. A surgical apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a retaining pin slidable in a longitudinal direction to engage an aperture in the anvil.

30. A surgical apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the locking mechanism is biased in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the firing member.

31. A surgical apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising an approximation mechanism to approximate the cartridge and anvil, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned on a portion of the approximation mechanism and moves with the approximation mechanism.

32. A surgical apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the pusher in the proximal position cams the locking member in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the firing member out of a way of the firing member.