Surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses

• US 7,234,624 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Geiste, Robert J., Milliman, Keith, Gresham, Richard D., Aranyi, Ernest, Manzo, Scott E., Jankowski, Bruce K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada; Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US11/208,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/181.1, 227/179.1
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible

Abstract

This application is directed to a surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses. The surgical stapling device includes a handle portion, an elongated body portion and a head portion including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The handle portion includes a rotatable approximation knob for approximating the anvil and shell assemblies and a firing trigger for actuating a firing mechanism for ejecting staples positioned within the shell assembly. The firing trigger forms one link of a two bar linkage provided to actuate the firing mechanism. The anvil assembly includes a tiltable anvil which will tilt automatically after firing of the device and unapproximating the anvil and shell assemblies. The head portion also includes a retractable trocar assembly which is slidably positioned within an anvil retainer and is automatically advanced and retracted upon attachment and detachment of the anvil assembly onto the anvil retainer. A lockout tube is provided and is positioned about an anvil retainer for releasably engaging an anvil assembly. The lockout tube prevents inadvertent detachment of the anvil assembly from the anvil retainer. The surgical stapling device also includes a firing lockout assembly which prevents actuation of the firing trigger until an anvil has been attached to the device and the anvil has been approximated. In one preferred embodiment, the firing lockout assembly includes a trigger lock and a safety bracket which prevents movement of the trigger lock from a locked to an unlocked position until an anvil has been attached to the device and approximated and returns the trigger lock to a locked position after the device has been fired. A tactile indication mechanism is also provided for notifying a surgeon that the device has been fired and for notifying a surgeon that the anvil head has been unapproximated a distance sufficient to permit the anvil head to tilt.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling device comprising:

an elongated pusher link including a body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, annular portions adjacent its respective proximal and distal ends, and an elongated curved intermediate portion between and in communication with the annular portions;

a firing actuator located proximally of and coupled to the proximal end of the pusher link;

a shell assembly operatively associated with the distal end of the pusher link, the shell assembly housing a plurality of staples and having and elongated member that is connectable to an anvil assembly;

an elongated tubular shaft having an elongated bore for housing the pusher link, and

a pair of elongated substantially flat extension members housed in and along a diameter of the tubular shaft;

wherein at least a portion of the curved intermediate portion of the pusher link has a substantially U-shaped configuration when viewed in vertical section taken transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pusher link, the U-Shaped configuration including a bottom wall disposed to one side of the diameter of the tubular shaft, each end of the bottom wall having an adjoining upstanding side wall that extends transversely through the diameter and along a portion of the interior surface of the bore of the tubular shaft, the bottom wall having a thickness that is less than half of the radius of the bore of the tubular shaft.