Anvil for surgical stapler

• US 6,053,390 A
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sienkiewicz, Henry R., Bolanos, Henry, Leahy, Patrick, Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHLEY, BOYER DOLINGER
• Application Number:
  US09/309,027
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/179.1
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• 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 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1125 Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head

Abstract

A detachable anvil assembly for use with an apparatus for performing circular anastomosis of tubular organs includes an elongated anvil rod having proximal and distal end portions and an anvil head mounted to the distal end portion of the anvil rod. The distal end portion is pivotally mounted and is adapted to pivot approximately plus or minus ninety degrees relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the rod. An elongated delivery member detachably receives the anvil assembly and facilitates delivery of the anvil assembly to the operative site. The pivoting feature of the distal end reduces the transverse profile of the assembly which consequently facilitates introduction and advancement of the anvil assembly within the tubular organ.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling apparatus having an elongate shaft, a handle assembly connected to a proximal end of the elongate shaft, a fastener retainer connected to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the fastener retainer having a circular array of fasteners, and an anvil assembly detachably mountable to a distal end of the apparatus, the anvil assembly having an anvil rod having a proximal end portion having a longitudinal axis, a distal end portion and a substantially circular anvil head mounted to the distal end portion of the anvil rod, the improvement comprising:

the anvil rod distal end portion being pivotally secured to the anvil rod proximal portion, wherein the anvil rod distal end portion is pivotable from a first position to a second position relative to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis of the anvil rod proximal end portion.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anvil rod distal end portion is pivotable up to about 90°

with respect to at least one side of the longitudinal axis of the anvil rod proximal end portion.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin, the pivot pin at least partially securing the anvil rod proximal end portion to the anvil rod distal end portion.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anvil head is detachably mounted to the distal end portion of the anvil rod.

5. In combination, a surgical stapler apparatus having a circular array of fasteners disposed at a distal end thereof and an anvil assembly for use with the apparatus, the anvil assembly being movable towards and away from the circular array of fasteners and having a generally circular anvil head and an anvil rod having first and second portions, the anvil head being mounted to a distal end of the anvil rod first portion, the improvement comprising:

providing a pivot pin for pivotably mounting a distal end of the anvil rod second portion to a proximal end of the anvil rod first portion, wherein the anvil head and anvil rod first portion are pivotable about said pivot pin and pivotable relative to the anvil rod second portion.

6. The anvil assembly according to claim 5, wherein the proximal end of the anvil rod first portion has at least one projection having an aperture and the distal end of the anvil rod second portion has at least one projection having an aperture and wherein the pivot pin passes through each of the apertures.

7. The anvil assembly according to claim 5, wherein the anvil head is detachably mounted to the distal end of the anvil rod first portion.

8. A surgical stapling apparatus having an elongate shaft, a handle assembly connected to a proximal end of the elongate shaft, a fastener retainer connected to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the fastener retainer having a circular array of fasteners, and an anvil assembly detachably mountable to a distal end of the apparatus and movable towards and away from the circular array of fasteners, the anvil assembly having an anvil rod, the anvil rod having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis, and a substantially circular anvil head mounted to the distal end of the anvil rod, the anvil head having a generally flat staple forming surface in general perpendicular alignment with the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod, the improvement comprising:

the anvil head being secured to the anvil rod distal end portion, wherein the anvil rod distal end portion is pivotable from a first position, wherein the anvil head staple forming surface is in general perpendicular alignment with the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod, to a second position, wherein the staple forming surface has pivotably moved from the first position.

9. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the anvil head is detachably mounted to the distal end of the anvil rod.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil head is pivotable up to about 90°

with respect to at least one side of the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the anvil rod has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and the proximal end portion is pivotably secured to the distal end portion by a pivot pin.

12. In combination, a surgical stapling apparatus having a circular array of fasteners disposed at a distal end thereof, and an anvil assembly adapted for use with the apparatus, the anvil assembly being movable towards and away from the circular array of fasteners and comprising an anvil rod having proximal and distal end portions and a substantially circular anvil head mounted to the distal end portion of the anvil rod, the anvil head having a generally flat staple forming surface and secured to the anvil rod distal end portion, wherein the anvil rod distal end portion and anvil are pivotable from a first position, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil head is in general perpendicular alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod proximal end portion, to a second position, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil head is angularly displaced by about 90°

from the first position.

13. The anvil assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a pivot pin, the pivot pin at least partially securing the anvil rod proximal portion to the anvil rod distal portion.

14. The anvil assembly according to claim 12, wherein the anvil head is pivotable up to about 90°

with respect to each side of the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod proximal end portion.

15. The anvil assembly according to claim 14, wherein when the anvil rod distal end portion is angularly displaced approximately 90°

relative to the longitudinal axis of the anvil rod proximal end portion, the anvil head staple forming surface is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod proximal end portion.

16. The anvil assembly according to claim 15, wherein the anvil head is detachably mounted to the distal end portion of the anvil rod.