End-to-end anastomosis instrument and method for performing same

• US 6,769,594 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Orban, Joseph P. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/160,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/19, 606/153, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• 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 17/1152 applying the staples on the outside of the lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1157 applying the staples radially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots

Abstract

A surgical instrument for performing an end-to-end anastomosis of first and second luminal structures includes a housing having an actuator attached thereto and a selectively removable loading unit attached to a distal end of the housing which supports any array of surgical fasteners at a distal end thereof. The surgical fasteners are simultaneously deformable upon activation of the actuator such that a distal end of each surgical fastener secures each end of each luminal structure to complete the end-to-end anastomosis wherein the resulting eversion is exterior to the luminal structures.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for performing an end-to-end anastomosis of first and second luminal structures, comprising:

a housing having an actuator attached thereto;

a selectively removable loading unit attached to a distal end of the housing, the loading unit having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and including a distal end having an anvil portion and a plurality of elongated channels for supporting a corresponding plurality of surgical fasteners in an array-like and substantially uniform manner along a plane normal to the longitudinal axis, the surgical fasteners being simultaneously deformable upon activation of the actuator such that a distal end of each of the surgical fasteners secures each end of each luminal structure to complete the end-to-end anastomosis.

2. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the loading unit includes the corresponding plurality of surgical fasteners and the elongated channels are positioned such that the distal ends of the surgical fasteners penetrate at least one of the ends of one of the luminal structures.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the loading unit includes the corresponding plurality of surgical fasteners and the surgical fasteners include a convexity and a base leg which cooperate after deformation of the surgical fasteners to securely retain the two luminal structures in close abutment with one another.

4. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the loading unit includes the corresponding plurality of surgical fasteners, the surgical fasteners include a base leg and a proximal portion, and the surgical fasteners are supported in an angular manner relative to the longitudinal axis extending through the loading unit such that, upon deformation, the base legs of the surgical fasteners deform at an angle relative to the proximal portions of the surgical fasteners.

5. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the loading unit is comprised of two halves which are pivotable relative to one another.

6. A surgical instrument according to claim 5 wherein the two halves of the loading unit when closed form an elongated aperture for receiving the first luminal structure therethrough.

7. A surgical instrument according to claim 6 wherein prior to actuation of the actuator, the two halves of the loading unit are pivotally secured relative to one another and upon actuation of the actuator, the two halves are unsecured allowing the halves to pivot relative to one another to release the first luminal structure from within the aperture.

8. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the anvil portion is for retaining the distal ends of the surgical fasteners and supports an everted end of the first luminal structure.

9. A surgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein the anvil includes an angled surface which causes the distal end of the surgical fasteners to deform proximally during firing.

10. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the loading unit is disposable.

11. A surgical instrument for performing an end-to-end anastomosis of first and second luminal structures, comprising:

a housing having an actuator attached thereto;

a selectively removable loading unit attached to a distal end of the housing, the loading unit supporting any array of surgical fasteners at a distal end thereof, the surgical fasteners including distal and proximal ends, the surgical fasteners being simultaneously deformable upon activation of the actuator such that a distal end of each of the surgical fasteners secures each end of each luminal structure to complete the end-to-end anastomosis;

wherein a distal end of the loading unit includes a plurality of elongated channels for supporting the surgical fasteners, each of the plurality of elongated channels including a distal end and a proximal end, each distal end of each elongated channel being radially offset from each proximal end of each elongated channel such that the proximal and distal ends of the surgical fasteners are supported in a radially offset manner.

12. A surgical instrument according to claim 11 wherein the elongated channels are disposed such that when the surgical fasteners are formed, the distal ends of the surgical fasteners are proximal of the proximal ends of the surgical fasteners.

13. A surgical fastener according to claim 11 wherein the loading unit includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and each of the plurality of the surgical fasteners includes a base leg and wherein the elongated channels are disposed such that the elongated channels support the base legs of the surgical fasteners along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the instrument.