Endoscopic stapler

• US 6,302,311 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Main, Lauren O., Swaffar, Scott E., Adams, Ronald David, Pugsley, Charles H. Jr., Gordon, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US09/633,113
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/19, 227/175.1
• 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 adapted to extend from a proximal end of the endoscope to said moveable part, said transmission mechanism including a gear connected to a distal end of a 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. An endoscopic stapler for use with an endoscope, said stapler comprising:

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;

means for coupling said stapling head to the endoscope; and

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

said movable part and said stationary part are coupled to each other by a shaft that engages said gear.

4. A stapler according to claim 3, wherein:

said torsionally rigid wire is adapted to be coupled at a proximal end of the endoscope to means for twisting said torsionally rigid wire.

5. An endoscopic stapling system comprising:

a stapling head adapted to be coupled to a distal end of an 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 gear connected to a distal end of a flexible shaft adapted to extend between a proximal end of the endoscope and said moveable part.

6. An endoscopic stapling system comprising:

a stapling head adapted to be coupled to a distal end of a flexible endoscope, said 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 coupled together and movable relative to one another, and

a transmission mechanism extending between a proximal end of the endoscope and said stapling head, said transmission system including a gear connected to a distal end of a flexible shaft adapted to extend from said stapling head to the proximal end of the endoscope.

7. The endoscopic stapling system according to claim 6, wherein said transmission system, in an operative configuration, is adapted to transmit force from the proximal end of the endoscope to said stapling head to move said anvil member and said staple firing mechanisms between a stapling position and a tissue receiving position.

8. The endoscopic stapling system according to claim 6, wherein said shaft is flexible.