Surgical stapler

• US 7,044,353 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Alesi, Thomas W. Jr., Wilson, Jon, Geiste, Robert J., Viola, Frank J., Mastri, Dominick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/011,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a) a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a pivotable handle mounted for manipulation through an actuating stroke;

b) an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

c) a staple cartridge supported adjacent the distal end of the elongated body and containing a plurality of staples;

d) an anvil pivotally mounted in relation to the cartridge adjacent the distal end of the elongated body, the anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon and being mounted for pivotal movement in relation to the cartridge between an open position having a distal end spaced from the staple cartridge and a closed position in close cooperative alignment with the staple cartridge;

e) an actuation sled supported within the cartridge, the actuation sled being movable to urge the plurality of staples from the cartridge;

f) a drive assembly including a body having a working end and a cam member supported on the working end, the cam member being positioned to translate relative to the anvil to maintain the anvil in the closed position during firing of the stapler, the pivotable handle being operably connected to the drive assembly such that manipulation of the pivotable handle through its actuating stroke effects manual translation of the cam member relative to the anvil;

g) a channel for supporting the staple cartridge; and

h) a flange member supported on the working end of the body of the drive assembly, the flange member being positioned to translate relative to an exterior surface of the channel to balance the clamping forces generated by the cam member as the anvil is progressively clamped.

2. A surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the actuation sled includes a plurality of cam wedges and is movable through the staple cartridge to urge the plurality of staples from the cartridge.

3. A surgical stapler according to claim 2, wherein the working end of the drive assembly is positioned to engage the actuation sled to effect translation of the actuation sled through the staple cartridge.

4. A surgical stapler according to claim 3, wherein the staple cartridge includes a plurality of spaced apart retention slots, each of the retention slots supporting one of the plurality of staples and a pusher.

5. A surgical stapler comprising:

a) a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a pivotable handle mounted for manipulation through an actuating stroke;

b) an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

c) a staple cartridge supported adjacent the distal end of the elongated body and containing a plurality of staples;

d) an anvil pivotally mounted in relation to the cartridge adjacent the distal end of the elongated body, the anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon and being mounted for pivotal movement in relation to the cartridge between an open position having a distal end spaced from the staple cartridge and a closed position in close cooperative alignment with the staple cartridge;

e) an actuation sled supported within the cartridge, the actuation sled being movable to urge the plurality of staples from the cartridge;

f) a drive assembly including a body having a working end and a cam member supported on the working end, the cam member being positioned to translate relative to the anvil to maintain the anvil in the closed position during firing of the stapler, the pivotable handle being operably connected to the drive assembly such that manipulation of the pivotable handle through its actuating stroke effects manual translation of the cam member relative to the anvil; and

g) an actuation member supported within the handle assembly and mounted for linear movement in response to movement of the pivotable handle through the actuation stroke, the drive assembly being operatively connected to the actuation member, the drive assembly being configured to move relative to the staple cartridge and the anvil to initially effectuate relative movement of the anvil and cartridge from the open position to the closed position and to subsequently effectuate sequential ejection of the staples from the cartridge in response to movement of the pivotable handle through the actuation stroke.

6. A surgical stapler according to claim 5, wherein the actuation member includes a toothed rack and the pivotable handle includes a spring biased pawl member configured to selectively engage the toothed rack to advance the actuation member in response to manipulation of the pivotable handle.

7. A surgical stapler according to claim 6, wherein the toothed rack has a particular rack length and the staple cartridge houses a staple line having a particular linear dimension which is less than or equal to the rack length of the toothed rack.

8. A surgical stapler according to claim 7, further comprising retracting means for effectuating manual retraction of the toothed rack in a proximal direction at any point in the actuating stroke to facilitate retraction of the actuator and movement of the anvil from the closed position to the open position.

9. A surgical stapler according to claim 8, wherein the retracting means comprises at least one retracting knob operatively associated with the handle assembly, and a release plate mounted adjacent the toothed rack and movable with respect thereto in response to initial proximal movement of the retracting knob for moving the pawl out of engagement with the toothed rack.

10. A surgical stapler according to claim 9, wherein the release plate includes a pair of spaced apart angled cam slots, and a pair of cam pins project laterally from the toothed rack to interact with the angled cam slots so as to facilitate relative movement of the release plate and the toothed rack.

11. A surgical stapler according to claim 10, further comprising a constant force spring disposed adjacent a proximal end of the handle assembly and operatively connected to the toothed rack for biasing the toothed rack in a proximal direction.