Surgical fastener applying apparatus

• US 7,055,730 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Rethy, Csaba L., Ehrenfels, Karl H., Pedros, Roberto, Ivanko, David, Lehn, Randolph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/399,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/175.4, 227/176.1, 227/177.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/180
• US Class Current: 227/175.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

An improved surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section with the cartridge and anvil half-sections being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position. The apparatus includes a replaceable staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples and a pivotably mounted safety lock-out The safety lock-out is pivotable between an initial position in which a relative movement of the cartridge and anvil half-sections to the fully clamped position is permitted and a blocking position in which a relative movement of the cartridge and anvil half-sections to return them to their fully clamped position after the plurality of staples have been at least partially fired is prevented. The apparatus further includes a pivotably mounted firing lever for moving a pair of camming surfaces longitudinally. In addition, each of the presently disclosed cartridge and anvil half-sections of the fastener applying apparatus includes a clamping lever, which clamping levers are configured and adapted to enable the applying apparatus to be opened by either one of the cartridge half-section and the anvil half-section.

Claims

1. A replaceable staple cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying apparatus having a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position, wherein the staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a plurality of surgical staples abutting a plurality of staple pusher members; and

a safety lock-out, said safety lock-out being pivotable between an initial position permitting a relative movement of said cartridge half-section and anvil half-section to said clamped position and a blocking position preventing a relative movement of said cartridge half-section and anvil half-section from returning to said clamped position after said plurality of staples have been at least partially fired, wherein said safety lock-out is pivotably connected to said replaceable staple cartridge assembly, said safety lock-out includes a transverse horizontal surface formed on an underside thereof which transverse horizontal surface engages a hook formed on an upper edge surface of a knife thereby retaining said safety lock-out in said lock-out position, wherein said knife is slidably mounted within a slotted track formed in said cartridge assembly.

2. The replaceable staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said safety lock-out moves to said blocking position upon an opening of at least a partially fired cartridge assembly.

3. The replaceable staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge assembly further comprises:

finger grips formed along the upper sides and near a proximal end of said cartridge assembly.

4. The replaceable staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said cartridge assembly further comprises:

a pair of friction fingers disposed on either side near a proximal end of said cartridge assembly, said friction fingers creating a frictional engagement between said cartridge assembly and an inner surface of said cartridge half-section.

5. The replaceable staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein distal movement of said knife releases said safety lock-out to enable pivoting of the safety lock-out from the initial position to the blocking position.

6. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge half-section;

an anvil half-section, said cartridge and anvil half-sections being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position;

a replaceable staple cartridge assembly receivable in said cartridge half-section, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical staples abutting a plurality of staple pusher members and a pivotably mounted safety lock-out, wherein said safety lockout is pivotable between an initial position permitting a relative movement of said cartridge and anvil half-sections to said clamped position and a blocking position preventing relative movement of said cartridge and anvil half-sections from returning to said clamped position after said staples have been at least partially fired, wherein said safety lock-out pivotably connected to said replaceable staple cartridge assembly;

a pair of camming surface extensions extending from a cam bar arrangement and positioned within said cartridge half-section; and

a pivotably mounted firing lever operatively associated with said pair of camming surface extensions to move said pair of camming surface extensions longitudinally to thereby sequentially fire said plurality of surgical staples in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said pair of camming surface extensions, wherein the firing lever is pivotable to extend from a selected one of a right and a left side of the apparatus.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 6, which further comprises:

a rocker pivotably mounted to said cartridge half-section, said rocker including a downwardly extending blocking surface and being biased toward a locked-out position, wherein said blocking surface extends through an opening in said cam bar arrangement thereby preventing a longitudinal movement of said camming surface extensions.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said anvil half-section includes a downwardly extending leg formed on either side thereof, which downwardly extending legs are configured and adapted to bias against said cartridge half-section wherein a portion of said anvil half-section, proximal to said legs, urges said rocker to rotate due to a camming action between said anvil half-section and said rocker, wherein said blocking surface is removed from said opening in said cam bar arrangement thereby permitting a longitudinal movement of said camming surface extensions.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 6, further including a knife slidably mounted within a slotted track formed in said cartridge assembly.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said safety lock-out includes a transverse horizontal surface formed on an underside thereof which engages a hook formed on an upper edge surface of said knife thereby retaining said safety lock-out in said lock-out position.

11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 10, further including a shipping wedge removably coupled to said cartridge assembly which is configured and adapted to cover staple rows formed in said cartridge assembly and to cover said slotted track.

12. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shipping wedge further includes a post extending downwardly from the underside of a proximal end, which post is configured and adapted to be received in a complementary shaped opening formed in said cartridge assembly thereby blocking a distal movement of said knife.

13. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said shipping wedge further includes an abutment extending upwardly and proximally from an upper surface of said shipping wedge to thereby cover a distal edge of said knife.

14. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said safety lock-out moves to said blocking position upon an opening of at least a partially fired applying apparatus.

15. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said cartridge and anvil half-sections includes a clamping lever, which clamping levers are configured and adapted for operative movement to enable opening of the applying apparatus on either said cartridge half-section side or said anvil half-section side.

16. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a clamp latch configured and adapted to retain said clamp levers in a clamped orientation; and

a safety interlock assembly configured and adapted to prevent opening of either of said clamping levers after said firing lever has been moved distally.

17. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a distal clamp lever latch having a proximal ledge; and

a proximal interlock latch having a ledge formed thereon and being biased distally toward a latched position with said clamp lever latch, whereby when a firing slide block biases said interlock latch proximally, said ledge of said interlock latch is moved out of lateral alignment with said proximal ledge of said clamp lever latch thereby positioning said interlock latch in an unlatched position.

18. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 17, further includes a latch handle release member having spring biased finger pad portions configured and adapted to urge said clamp lever latch in a proximal direction such that a distal ledge of said clamp lever latch is moved out of lateral alignment with a blocking structure formed on said cartridge and anvil half-sections.

19. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said firing slide block is configured and adapted to move distally upon a distal movement of said firing lever thereby moving interlock latch ledge into lateral alignment with clamp lever latch ledge and preventing said clamp lever from being opened.

20. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a clamp lever latch mechanism configured and adapted to retain said clamp levers in a clamped orientation.

21. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said clamp lever latch mechanism comprises:

a distal clamp lever latch formed at a proximal end of each of said clamping levers; and

a latch handle release member operatively coupled to each of said clamping levers, each of said release members being proximally biased to engage a corresponding one of said lever latches, whereby when said release member is moved distally said release member and said lever latch disengage thereby releasing said clamping lever.

22. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each of said release members comprises:

a projection extending transversely from a proximal end thereof, said projection being structured and arranged to engage a guard formed at a proximal end of each of said levers, wherein said guard prevents inadvertent movement of said release member.

23. The surgical fastener applier apparatus of claim 6, wherein said staple cartridge assembly further comprises:

finger grips formed along the upper sides and near a proximal end of said cartridge assembly.

24. The surgical fastener applier apparatus of claim 6, wherein said cartridge assembly further comprises:

a pair of friction fingers disposed on either side near a proximal end of said cartridge assembly, said friction fingers creating a frictional engagement between said cartridge assembly and an inner surface of said cartridge half-section.

25. A surgical fastener applying apparatus having a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section, the cartridge half-section and anvil half-section being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position, wherein the cartridge half-section comprises:

a cam bar arrangement slidably coupled to said cartridge half-section, wherein said cam bar arrangement includes a pair of camming surface extensions; and

a rocker pivotably mounted to said cartridge half-section, said rocker including a downwardly extending blocking surface and being biased toward a lock-out position, wherein said blocking surface engages said cam bar arrangement to prevent a longitudinal movement of said cam bar arrangement and said camming surface extensions.

26. The surgical fastener applier apparatus of claim 25, wherein said anvil half-section includes a downwardly extending leg formed on either side thereof, which downwardly extending legs are configured and adapted to bias against said cartridge half-section, wherein a portion of said anvil half-section, proximal to said leg urges said rocker to rotate due to a camming action between said anvil half-section and said rocker, wherein said blocking surface is said cam bar arrangement thereby permitting a longitudinal movement of said camming surface extensions.

27. The surgical fastener applier apparatus of claim 25, wherein said rocker includes a downwardly extending leg formed along at least one side thereof and wherein a spring is disposed between said leg of said rocker and an end wall formed in said cartridge half-section, said spring biasing said rocker to said blocking position.

28. The surgical fastener applier apparatus of claim 25, wherein said rocker includes a recess formed on at least one side surface thereof, which recess defines a shoulder and a torsional spring having a first and a second leg, wherein said spring is disposed on a post projecting from said recess, said first leg of said spring abuts against said shoulder and said second leg of said spring abuts against an upper surface of said cartridge half-section, said torsional spring biasing said rocker to said blocking position.

29. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge half-section;

an anvil half-section, said cartridge and anvil half-sections being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position;

a replaceable staple cartridge assembly receivable in said cartridge half-section, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical staples abutting a plurality of staple pusher members;

a pair of camming surface extensions extending from a cam bar arrangement and positioned within said cartridge half-section; and

a pivotably mounted firing lever operatively associated with said pair of camming surface extensions to move said pair of camming surface extensions longitudinally to thereby sequentially fire said plurality of surgical staples in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said pair of camming surface extensions, wherein the firing lever is pivotable to extend from a selected one of a right and a left side of the apparatus.

30. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge assembly includes a pivotably mounted safety lock-out, wherein said safety lockout is pivotable between an initial position permitting a relative movement of said cartridge and anvil half-sections to said clamped position and a blocking position preventing relative movement of said cartridge and anvil half-sections from returning to said clamped position after said staples have been at least partially fired, wherein said safety lock-out is pivotably connected to said replaceable staple cartridge assembly.

31. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

a rocker pivotably mounted to said cartridge half-section, said rocker including a downwardly extending blocking surface and being biased toward a locked-out position, wherein said blocking surface extends through an opening in said cam bar arrangement thereby preventing a longitudinal movement of said camming surface extensions.

32. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said anvil half-section includes a downwardly extending leg formed on either side thereof, which downwardly extending legs are configured and adapted to bias against said cartridge half-section wherein a portion of said anvil half-section, proximal to said legs, urges said rocker to rotate due to a camming action between said anvil half-section and said rocker, wherein said blocking surface is removed from said opening in said cam bar arrangement thereby permitting a longitudinal movement of said camming surface extensions.

33. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 29, further including a knife slidably mounted within a slotted track formed in said cartridge assembly.

34. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said safety lock-out includes a transverse horizontal surface formed on an underside thereof which engages a hook formed on an upper edge surface of said knife thereby retaining said safety lock-out in said lock-out position.

35. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 34, further including a shipping wedge removably coupled to said cartridge assembly which is configured and adapted to cover staple rows formed in said cartridge assembly and to cover said slotted track.

36. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said shipping wedge further includes a post extending downwardly from the underside of a proximal end, which post is configured and adapted to be received in a complementary shaped opening formed in said cartridge assembly thereby blocking a distal movement of said knife.

37. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said shipping wedge further includes an abutment extending upwardly and proximally from an upper surface of said shipping wedge to thereby cover a distal edge of said knife.

38. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said safety lock-out moves to said blocking position upon an opening of at least a partially fired applying apparatus.

39. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 29, wherein each of said cartridge and anvil half-sections includes a clamping lever, which clamping levers are configured and adapted for operative movement to enable opening of the applying apparatus on either said cartridge half-section side or said anvil half-section side.

40. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a clamp latch configured and adapted to retain said clamp levers in a clamped orientation; and

a safety interlock assembly configured and adapted to prevent opening of either of said clamping levers after said firing lever has been moved distally.

41. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a distal clamp lever latch having a proximal ledge; and

a proximal interlock latch having a ledge formed thereon and being biased distally toward a latched position with said clamp lever latch, whereby when a firing slide block biases said interlock latch proximally, said ledge of said interlock latch is moved out of lateral alignment with said proximal ledge of said clamp lever latch thereby positioning said interlock latch in an unlatched position.

42. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 41, further including a latch handle release member having spring biased finger pad portions configured and adapted to urge said clamp lever latch in a proximal direction such that a distal ledge of said clamp lever latch is moved out of lateral alignment with a blocking structure formed on said cartridge and anvil half-sections.

43. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said firing slide block is configured and adapted to move distally upon a distal movement of said firing lever thereby moving interlock latch ledge into lateral alignment with clamp lever latch ledge and preventing said clamp lever from being opened.

44. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a clamp lever latch mechanism configured and adapted to retain said clamp levers in a clamped orientation.

45. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said clamp lever latch mechanism comprises:

a distal clamp lever latch formed at a proximal end of each of said clamping levers; and

a latch handle release member operatively coupled to each of said clamping levers, each of said release members being proximally biased to engage a corresponding one of said lever latches, whereby when said release member is moved distally said release member and said lever latch disengage thereby releasing said clamping lever.

46. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 45, wherein each of said release members comprises:

a projection extending transversely from a proximal end thereof, said projection being structured and arranged to engage a guard formed at a proximal end of each of said levers, wherein said guard prevents inadvertent movement of said release member.