Endoscopic stapler

• US 6,119,913 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Adams, Ronald David, Pugsley, Charles H. Jr., Main, Lauren O., Gordon, David P., Swaffar, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/662,659
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• 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 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres

Abstract

An endoscopic stapler includes a stapling head which is removably locatable on the distal end of an endoscope. The stapling head includes a stationary part which houses a removable staple cartridge and a movable part which includes an anvil for receiving and bending the ends of staples fired from the stationary part. The staple cartridge preferably houses two semi-circular rows of staples which are staggered relative to each other. The movable part is coupled to the stationary part by a threaded shaft which engages a worm gear in the stationary part and a first rotatable control wire is coupled to the worm gear. A substantially semi-circular firing cam is located proximal of the staple cartridge in the stationary part. The firing cam has an interior splined surface which is engaged by a spline gear coupled to a second rotatable control wire. In one embodiment, a knife is coupled to the firing cam so that tissue is cut subsequent to stapling. In another embodiment, laser-optical paths are provided for cutting tissue after stapling. The proximal end of the stapling head is coupled to a sleeve having lumen for the control wires and a lumen for a standard endoscope. In another embodiment, a modified endoscope is provided with lumena for the control cables. The modified endoscope is removably attached to the stapling head by either a screw connection or a snap connection.

Claims

1. An endoscopic stapling system comprising:

a stapling head adapted to be coupled to a distal end of a flexible endoscope, said stapling head having a stationary part and a movable part, said stapling head containing an anvil and a staple firing mechanism for firing staples into said anvil; and

a transmission mechanism including a flexible shaft extending from a proximal end which, when the device is in an operative position, remains outside a body of the patient, to a distal end coupled to said stapling head, said transmission mechanism including a gear connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft.

2. A stapler according to claim 1, wherein:

said staple firing mechanism is contained in said stationary part, and said anvil is contained in said moveable part.

3. A disposable endoscopic stapler for use with an endoscope, said stapler comprising:

(a) a stapling head having a stationary part and a moveable part, said stapling head containing an anvil and means for firing staples into said anvil, wherein the means for firing are contained in said stationary part and the anvil is contained in said movable part;

(b) means for coupling said stapling head to the endoscope; and

(c) means for moving said movable part relative to said stationary part, wherein said means for moving further includes a flexible torsionally rigid wire for turning a worm gear and wherein

said movable part and said stationary part are coupled to each other by a threaded shaft and said means for moving includes said worm gear which engages said threaded shaft.

4. A stapler according to claim 3, wherein:

said wire is coupled at a proximal end thereof to means for twisting said wire.

5. An endoscopic stapling system comprising:

a stapling head adapted to be coupled to a distal end of a flexible endoscope, said stapling head having a stationary part and a movable part, said stapling head containing an anvil and a staple firing mechanism for firing staples into said anvil, and

a transmission mechanism including a flexible torsionally rigid shaft extending between a proximal end which, when the device is in an operative position remains outside a body of the patient, and a distal end coupled to the stapling head via a gear.

6. An endoscopic stapling system comprising:

a stapling head adapted to be coupled to a distal end of a flexible endoscope, laid stapling head including an anvil member and a staple firing mechanism for firing staples into the anvil member, said anvil member and said staple firing mechanism being coupled together by a position adjusting mechanism so that said anvil member and said staple firing mechanism may be moved relative to one another between a stapling position in which said anvil and said staple firing mechanism are adjacent to each other and a tissue receiving position in which said anvil member and said staple firing mechanism are separated from one another by a predetermined distance, and

a transmission mechanism including a flexible shaft extending between a proximal end which, when the device is in an operative position, remains outside a body of a patient, and a distal end coupled to said stapling head via a gear.

7. The endoscopic stapling system according to claim 6, wherein said transmission system transmits force from the proximal end of the flexible shaft to said stapling head to move said anvil member and said staple firing mechanisms between said stapling position and said tissue receiving position.