Surgical stapling apparatus

• US 6,877,647 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Palmer, Mitchell J., Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/668,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/178
• 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 fastener applying assembly comprising:

an anvil member;

a cartridge assembly movably positioned in relation to the anvil member between open and approximated positions, the cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples, wherein the cartridge assembly is pivotal in relation to the anvil member from the open position to the approximated position;

a staple ejecting assembly associated with the cartridge assembly, the staple ejecting assembly including at least one cam member, the at least one cam member being configured to translate from a position adjacent a distal end of the staple cartridge towards the proximal end of the staple cartridge to sequentially eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge; and

an approximation link connected to the cartridge assembly by a pivot pin and to the anvil member by a cam pin.

2. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 1, wherein the staple ejecting assembly includes a knife blade adapted to translate with the at least one cam member to divide stapled tissue.

3. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 2, further including a shank positioned distally of the at least one cam member, the shank being adapted to translate with and behind the at least one cam member.

4. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 3, wherein the knife blade is mounted upon the shank.

5. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one cam member includes a plurality of cam members.

6. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 1, further including a draw bar extending through the cartridge assembly, the draw bar having a distal end operably associated with the at least one cam member and being proximally movable to effect translation of the at least one cam member.

7. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 1, wherein the staple cartridge includes at least one track, the at least one cam member translating along the at least one track.

8. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cam member includes a plurality of cam members and the at least one track includes a plurality of tracks.

9. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 1, wherein the approximation link is rotatably mounted about the pivot pin and includes a cam slot for receiving the cam pin, the approximation link being pivotable about the pivot pin to urge the cam pin through the cam slot to move the anvil member in relation to the cartridge assembly from the open position to the approximated position.

10. A fastener applying assembly according to claim 9, wherein the approximation link includes a universal ball joint fitting adapted to be connected to an approximation cable.