Surgical device with expandable member

• US 7,001,408 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Knodel, Bryan D., Knodel, Timothy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/247,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 606/207, 606205-206, 606/219, 606/142, 606191-195, 606/198, 227/175.2, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1
• US Class Current: 606/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads

Abstract

A surgical device for manipulating tissue. The device includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end extending therefrom. There is also an elongated end effector having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the shaft, a distal end extending therefrom. The end effector has first and second opposing jaws which are movable with respect to each other from an open position, wherein the jaws are spaced apart, to a closed position wherein the jaws are in close approximation to one another. At least one of the jaws has an expandable member disposed thereon for selectively increasing the size of the jaw in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so as to increase the rigidity of the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling device for stapling tissue with a plurality of staples, said stapling device comprising:

a. an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end extending therefrom, and an elongated end effector having a proximal end attached to said distal end of said shaft, a distal end extending therefrom and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

b. said end effector comprising a first jaw having a plurality of staples therein and a second jaw, opposing said first jaw, having an anvil thereon said jaws movable with respect to each other from an open position, wherein the jaws are spaced apart, to a closed position wherein the jaws are in close approximation to one another;

c. at least one of said jaws having an expandable member on a back side thereof for selectively increasing a height of said at least one jaw.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1 wherein said expandable member is sized such that when it expands it increases an area moment of inertia of a cross-section of said second jaw.

3. The surgical device of claim 1 wherein said device further includes an expander actuator for selectively expanding said expandable member, said actuator being proximal to said end effector.

4. The surgical device of claim 1 wherein said expandable member is substantially rigid.

5. The surgical device of claim 1 further including a handle attached to said proximal end of said shaft.