Articulating apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue

• US 5,901,895 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bachman, Alan B., McClure, Richard C., Milliman, Keith L., Palmer, Mitchell J., Heaton, Lisa W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/726,029
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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

Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue which includes a body having a proximal portion defining a central longitudinal axis and an articulating distal portion; a fastener cartridge containing at least one surgical fastener therein and positionable in the articulating distal portion; an anvil mounted adjacent the fastener cartridge and defining a fastener forming surface against which surgical fasteners are formed when ejected from the fastener cartridge; a fastener driving mechanism operatively associated with the fastener cartridge and actuatable from the handle to eject the at least one fastener from the fastener cartridge; a link member having a distal portion offset from the body central longitudinal axis and pivotably connected to the articulating distal portion at a point spaced from the body central longitudinal axis, the link member being movable between a proximal-most position to move the distal portion to an articulated condition away from the central longitudinal axis on a first side of the body and a distal-most position to move the distal portion to an articulated condition away from the central longitudinal axis on a second side of the body; and a control lever connected to the link member and pivotable about a point located along the body central longitudinal axis between a first position corresponding to the proximal-most position of the link member and a second position corresponding to the distal-most position of the link member.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, which comprises:

a) a body having a proximal portion defining a central longitudinal axis and an articulating distal portion;

b) a fastener cartridge containing at least one surgical fastener therein and positionable in the articulating distal portion;

c) an anvil mounted adjacent the fastener cartridge and defining a fastener forming surface against which surgical fasteners are formed when ejected from the fastener cartridge;

d) a fastener driving mechanism operatively associated with the fastener cartridge and actuable to eject the at least one fastener from the fastener cartridge;

e) a single, substantially rigid link member having a distal portion offset from the body central longitudinal axis and pivotably connected to the articulating distal portion at a point spaced form the body central longitudinal axis, the link member being movable between a proximal-most position and a distal-most position to move the distal portion from an articulated condition away from the central longitudinal axis on a first side of the body to an articulated condition away from the central longitudinal axis on a second side of the body, the ink member being movable to a central position wherein the articulating distal portion is aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the proximal portion; and

f) a control lever connected to the link member and pivotable about a point located along the body central longitudinal axis between a first position corresponding to the proximal-most position of the link member and a second position corresponding to the distal-most position of the link member.

2. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue according to claim 1, wherein the control lever defines a pivot point and includes an elongated portion extending from the pivot point, wherein when the control lever is positioned in the first position, the elongated portion is disposed to the first side of the body and when the control lever is positioned in the second position, the elongated portion is disposed to the second side of the body.

3. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue according to claim 1, wherein the articulating distal portion is moveable to an articulated condition up to 35 degrees from the central longitudinal axis.

4. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, which comprises:

a) a handle;

b) an elongated body extending from the handle and defining a central longitudinal axis;

c) a fastener cartridge housing pivotably connected to a distal end portion of the elongated body;

d) a fastener cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners and positionable in the cartridge housing;

e) an anvil mounted adjacent the cartridge housing and defining a fastener forming surface against which surgical fasteners are driven when ejected from the fastener cartridge;

f) a fastener driving mechanism operatively associated with the fastener cartridge and actuatable from the handle to eject fasteners from the fastener cartridge;

g) a single, substantially rigid link member having a distal portion offset from the elongated body central longitudinal axis and pivotably connected to the cartridge housing, the link member being movable between a proximal-most position and a distal most position to move the cartridge housing from an articulated condition extending from a first side of the elongated body central longitudinal axis to an articulated condition extending from a second side of the elongated body central longitudinal axis the link member being movable to a central position wherein the cartridge housing is aligned with the central longitudinal axis; and

h) a control lever connected to the handle and pivotable about a point located along the elongated body central longitudinal axis connected to the link and pivotable between a first position corresponding to the proximal-most position of the link member and a second position corresponding to the distal-most position of the link member.

5. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue according to claim 4, wherein the control lever defines a pivot point and includes an elongated portion extending from the pivot point, wherein when the control lever is positioned in the first position, the elongated portion is disposed to the first side of the elongated body and when the control lever is positioned in the second position, the elongated portion is disposed to the second side of the elongated body.

6. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue according to claim 4, wherein the fastener cartridge housing is moveable to an articulated condition up to 35 degrees from the central longitudinal axis.

7. Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue according to claim 4, wherein the elongated body is rotatably connected to the handle.