Surgical stapling apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus including a first and a second jaw structure each having a forward portion, an intermediate portion and a rear portion where the first and second jaw structures are joined, the first and second jaw structures being hingedly connected at a connection region of the intermediate portion spaced distally from where the first and second jaw structures are joined, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a gauging element into a staple gap defined between the forward portions of a respective first and second jaw structure, the first and second jaw structures being operably coupled to one another;
adjusting the size of the staple gap by manipulating a gap adjustment member disposed between the first and second jaw structures at the intermediate portion of the respective first and second jaw structures adjacent the connection region, to approximate the size of the staple gap to the size of the gauging element; and
locking the gap adjustment member into position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to staple-gap adjustment members for use in surgical stapling apparatus and methods. A gap adjustment member includes one or more bearing portions sharing a common rotational axis and one or more cam surface portions having a periphery with at least two different points along the periphery, with each point along the periphery having a different radius from the rotational axis. The one or more cam surface portions can have a central axis parallel to and spaced a distance from the rotational axis of the one or more bearing portions.
460 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus including a first and a second jaw structure each having a forward portion, an intermediate portion and a rear portion where the first and second jaw structures are joined, the first and second jaw structures being hingedly connected at a connection region of the intermediate portion spaced distally from where the first and second jaw structures are joined, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a gauging element into a staple gap defined between the forward portions of a respective first and second jaw structure, the first and second jaw structures being operably coupled to one another; adjusting the size of the staple gap by manipulating a gap adjustment member disposed between the first and second jaw structures at the intermediate portion of the respective first and second jaw structures adjacent the connection region, to approximate the size of the staple gap to the size of the gauging element; and locking the gap adjustment member into position. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus comprising the steps of:
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providing a surgical stapling apparatus having a pair of jaw structures operably couple with one another, the pair of jaw structures defining a staple gap between opposed distal surfaces thereof; providing a gap adjustment member between the pair of jaw structures, the gap adjustment member including one or more bearing portions sharing a common rotational axis and one or more cam surface portions having a periphery with at least two different points along the periphery, with each point along the periphery having a different radius from the rotational axis; inserting a gauging element into the staple gap; manipulating the gap adjustment member in order to adjust the size of the staple gap; and locking the gap adjustment member into position. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus defining an intermediate portion, comprising the steps of:
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providing a surgical stapling apparatus having a jaw structure with an anvil receiving portion and a jaw structure with a cartridge receiving portion, the jaw structures being operatively couplable to one another to provide a staple gap between a respective forward portion of the anvil and cartridge receiving portions, one of the jaw structures having a pair of mounting members thereon for mounting the other of the jaw structures thereon, wherein the pair of mounting members are disposed at the intermediate portion of the surgical stapling apparatus spaced distally from a rear portion where the jaws structures are joined; positioning a rotatable gap adjustment member on the mounting members between the jaw structures to provide a desired gap between the forward portions of the anvil and cartridge receiving portions; and locking the gap adjustment member to the mounting members to-provide the desired staple gap. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification