Surgical stapler assembly with interchangeable heads

• US 6,402,008 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deborah A. Lucas
• Original Assignee: Deborah A. Lucas
• Inventors: Lucas, Deborah A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US09/553,906
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/19, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1157 applying the staples radially

Abstract

A surgical stapler assembly for joining a tubular prosthesis to an organic duct such as a blood vessel or artery is disclosed. The assembly has a handle and a set of interchangeable heads attachable to a distal end of the handle. Each head has a staple holder housing a plurality of radially arrayed staples, a plurality of anvils disposed concentrically opposite said staples and an annular gap between the staples and the anvils for receiving the prosthesis and an end of the organic duct. The annular gap of each head in the set has a different median diameter for use with prostheses and organic ducts of different diameters. Hammers are provided to eject the staples through the prosthesis and organic duct in the annular gap and onto the anvils. The heads can be replaceably attachable to the distal end of the handle. The annular gap can be enlarged to facilitate insertion and removal of the organic duct into and from the annular gap prior to and following ejection of the staples. The interchangeable heads can come with a pre-mounted tubular prosthesis having an inside diameter approximating an inside diameter of the annular gap.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler assembly for joining a tubular prosthesis to an organic duct, comprising:

a handle and a set of interchangeable heads attachable to a distal end of the handle;

each head comprising a staple holder, comprising a plurality of radially arrayed staples, an anvil disposed concentrically opposite said staples and an annular gap between said staples and said anvil for receiving the prosthesis and an end of the organic duct;

the annular gap of each head in the set having a different median diameter for use with prostheses and organic ducts of different diameters.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the heads are replaceably attachable to the distal end of the handle.

3. The assembly of claim 1 comprising a plurality of hammers for ejecting the staples through the prosthesis and organic duct in the annular gap and onto the anvils.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the annular gap is enlargeable to facilitate insertion and removal of the organic duct into and from the annular gap prior to and following ejection of the staples.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the handle includes a proximal end operable for controlling ejection of the staples.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the interchangeable heads is premounted with a tubular prosthesis having an inside diameter approximating an inside diameter of the annular gap.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each head comprises an inner tubular member housing the staples and an outer member carrying the anvil.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the inner and outer members are secured together at a proximal end of the annular gap.

9. A method for joining a tubular prosthesis to an organic duct with the surgical stapler assembly of claim 1, comprising:

determining the approximate diameter of the duct;

selecting a head having an annular gap with a median diameter approximating that of the duct;

attaching the selected head to a distal end of the handle;

receiving the prosthesis and the organic duct in the annular gap adjacent the staple holder;

ejecting the staples from the staple holder through the tubular prosthesis and organic duct and onto the anvil to staple the prosthesis and organic duct together;

disengaging the stapled tubular prosthesis and organic duct from the annular gap.