End-to-end anastomosis instrument and method for performing same

• US 7,059,510 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Orban, Joseph P. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/993,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1152 applying the staples on the outside of the lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1157 applying the staples radially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots

Abstract

A surgical instrument for performing an end-to-end anastomosis of first and second luminal structures includes a housing having an actuator attached thereto and a selectively removable loading unit attached to a distal end of the housing which supports any array of surgical fasteners at a distal end thereof. The surgical fasteners are simultaneously deformable upon activation of the actuator such that a distal end of each surgical fastener secures each end of each luminal structure to complete the end-to-end anastomosis wherein the resulting eversion is exterior to the luminal structures.

Claims

1. A method for creating an end-to-end anastomosis between first and second luminal structures, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical instrument which includes;

a housing having an actuator;

a disposable loading unit having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and removably mounted to the housing, the disposable loading unit being configured to releasably support a plurality of surgical fasteners at a distal end thereof in an array-like and substantially uniform manner along a plane normal to the longitudinal axis;

a retractable anvil being movable to simultaneously deform the surgical fasteners;

inserting an end of the first luminal structure into a passage defined within the loading unit;

everting the first luminal structure over the retractable anvil;

inserting a distal end of the disposable loading unit into an end of the second luminal structure such that a distal end of each of the plurality of fasteners and the first luminal structure are sufficiently inserted into the second luminal structure; and

activating the actuator to retract the anvil to simultaneously deform the surgical fasteners and complete the end-to-end anastomosis wherein the resulting eversion is exterior to the luminal structures.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surgical fasteners of the providing step further include distal ends which are configured to penetrate at least one end of at least one of the luminal structures.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surgical fasteners of the providing step further include a convexity and a base leg which cooperate after deformation of said surgical fasteners to securely retain the two luminal structures in close abutment with one another.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surgical fasteners of the providing step further include a base leg and a proximal portion, said surgical fasteners being supported in an angular manner relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the loading unit such that, upon deformation, the base leg of the surgical fasteners deform at an angle relative to the proximal portion of the surgical fasteners.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the retractable anvil of the providing step is configured to retain the distal ends of the surgical fasteners and to support an everted end of the first luminal structure.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the anvil includes an angled surface which causes the distal end of the surgical fasteners to deform proximally during firing.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of the loading unit of the providing step includes a plurality of elongated channels which support the corresponding plurality of surgical fasteners, the elongated channels including proximal and distal ends, each distal end of each channel being radially offset from each proximal end such that the proximal and distal ends of the surgical fasteners are supported in a radially offset manner.