Surgical stapling apparatus

• US 6,619,529 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bryan, Graham W., Milliman, Keith, Sienkiewicz, Henry R., Ratcliff, Keith, Green, David T., Palmer, Mitchell J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/096,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/178.1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used

Abstract

An endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes a frame portion, an elongated portion extending from the frame portion, and an articulating fastener applying assembly associated with a distal end of the elongated portion. The fastener applying assembly includes a base portion, a staple cartridge housing, and an anvil member which has a forming surface thereon against which surgical fasteners are driven as they are ejected from the cartridge housing. A first mechanism is provided for effectuating the rotation of the fastener applying assembly about an axis defined by the body portion, a second mechanism is provided for effectuating the articulation of the fastener applying assembly, and a third mechanism is provided for independently rotating the cartridge housing and anvil member relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the base position to increase the range of operability of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a distal portion mounting a remotely actuated tool assembly;

an elongated tubular body portion extending proximally from the distal portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated tubular body portion and the distal portion configured and dimensioned for introduction through a cannula (small incision, natural orifice);

an actuator mechanism for actuating the tool assembly, the actuator mechanism having a distal end operably connected to the tool assembly and a proximal end disposed at least partially within said elongated tubular body portion; and

a manually actuated nonmanual power source operably engageable with the proximal portion of the actuator mechanism for remotely operating the tool assembly.

2. A surgical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the tool assembly is configured for motion off the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body portion.

3. A surgical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the tool assembly comprises an anvil and a cartridge housing surgical fasteners.

4. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the surgical fasteners are fired sequentially.

5. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the anvil and cartridge are mounted in the distal portion and are movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body portion.

6. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a closure mechanism for approximating the anvil and cartridge.

7. A surgical apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising a lockout mechanism which disables the manually actuated nonmanual power source unless the anvil and cartridge are approximated.

8. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the tool assembly further comprises a knife for severing tissue.

9. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the anvil and cartridge extend longitudinally from the elongated tubular body.

10. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the surgical fasteners are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows.

11. A surgical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the manually actuated nonmanual power source is mounted in a frame connected to a proximal portion of the elongated tubular body portion.

12. A surgical apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the manually actuated nonmanual power source is self contained in the frame.