Surgical stapler

• US 6,817,509 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wilson, Jon, Geiste, Robert J., Palmer, Mitchell J., Heaton, Lisa W., Savage, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/714,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/178.1, 227/175.1
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/005 with a lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A surgical stapler is disclosed including a first body portion supporting an anvil plate defining a fastener forming surface, and a second body portion releasably mating with the first body portion. A disposable loading unit is removably supported in the second body portion and includes a cartridge defining a plurality of slots, a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in the slots, a plurality of ejectors positioned adjacent the surgical fasteners, and a wedged actuator for sequentially interacting with the ejectors. An elongated actuation member is mounted for longitudinal movement within the second body portion and is releasably engageable with the wedged actuator. A locking mechanism having a locking member and a biasing member is included in the second body portion.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a first body portion having an anvil defining a fastener forming surface;

a second body portion configured to releasably mate with the first body portion, the second body portion including a retention channel having a window defined at a proximal portion thereof;

a disposable loading unit removably supported in the second body portion, the disposable loading unit including;

a cartridge having a tissue contacting surface and defining a plurality of slots therein;

a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in the slots of the cartridge;

a plurality of ejectors positioned adjacent the surgical fasteners; and

an actuator configured to translate through the cartridge to sequentially interact with the ejectors, the actuator having an engagement structure;

an elongated actuation member mounted for longitudinal movement within the cartridge through a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including a first proximal position, a first distal position, and a second proximal position, the elongated actuation member having an engagement member releasably coupled to the engagement structure to enable pushing and pulling of the actuation member to effect movement of the actuator in distal and proximal directions, respectively; and

a locking mechanism including a biasing member and a locking member positionable between first and second positions, the biasing member biasing the locking member to its first position when the actuation member is in its first proximal position and the locking member being biased to the second position for engaging the window of the retention channel when the actuation member is in its second proximal position.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the biasing member moves from a proximal portion of the retention channel to a distal portion of the retention channel as the actuation member moves from its first proximal position to its first distal position.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 2, wherein the biasing member biases the locking member to its first position when the biasing member is in the proximal portion of the retention channel.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the retention channel includes complementary engagement structures for releasably securing the disposable loading unit therein.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further including an elongated knife slot extending through the tissue contacting surface.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further including a protective housing dimensioned to enclose a knife blade.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 6, wherein the protective housing is formed adjacent a proximal end of the disposable loading unit.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the disposable loading unit is composed of a liquid crystal polymer material.

9. A surgical stapler comprising:

first and second body portions configured to releasably mate with one another wherein the second body portion includes a retention channel, the retention channel defining at least one window in a proximal region thereof;

a disposable loading unit removably supported in the second body portion, the disposable loading unit including a cartridge and an actuator, the actuator including an engagement structure wherein the actuator is configured to translate through the cartridge;

an elongated actuation member mounted for longitudinal movement within the disposable loading unit through a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including first and second proximal positions, the elongated actuation member having an engagement member releasably coupled to the engagement structure to enable pushing and pulling of the actuation member to effect movement of the actuator in distal and proximal directions, respectively; and

a locking mechanism including a biasing member and a locking member, the locking member positionable between first and second positions wherein the biasing member engages the locking member and biases the locking member to its first unlocking position when the actuation member is in its first proximal position.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the locking member is biased to its second position for engaging the at least one window of the retention channel when the actuation member is in its second proximal position.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 10, wherein the plurality of positions further includes a first distal position.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 11, wherein the biasing member moves from a proximal region of the retention channel to a distal region of the retention channel as the actuation member moves from its first proximal position to its first distal position.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 12, wherein the biasing member biases the locking member to its first unlocking position when the biasing member is in the proximal region of the retention channel.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 10, wherein the actuation member is distal of its first proximal position, and the biasing member is not engaged with the locking member and is in an unlocking position with respect to the locking member.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the retention channel includes complementary engagement structures for releasably securing the disposable loading unit therein.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 9, further including an elongated knife slot extending through a tissue contacting surface of the disposable loading unit.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 9, further including a protective housing dimensioned to enclose a knife blade.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein the protective housing is formed adjacent a proximal end of the disposable loading unit.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the disposable loading unit is composed of a liquid crystal polymer material.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the elongated actuation member is retained in its second proximal position when the locking member in its locking second position.

21. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the first position of the locking member is an unlocking position and the second position of the locking member is a locking position.