Powered surgical stapling device

• US 7,422,136 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/724,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 606/142, 606/46, 606/169, 606/205
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• 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 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00181 Means for setting or varying the pulse energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion

Abstract

A surgical stapler which includes a tool assembly having a pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces for deforming a plurality of surgical fasteners through and fastening tissue is disclosed. The surgical stapler includes a housing having a fixed handle and a movable handle mounted to the housing and selectively movable relative to the fixed handle from a first position to a second position to actuate the clamping of tissue. The stapler further includes a drive assembly including a motor, a power source and a coupling member. The motor engages the coupling member, wherein movement of the movable handle to the second position activates the motor, which advances a firing shaft and forces a firing piston into the tool assembly to deform the surgical fasteners through and fasten tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler including a tool assembly having a pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces for deforming a plurality of surgical fasteners through and fastening tissue, the tool assembly being attached at a distal end of the surgical stapler, the surgical stapler comprising:

a housing having a fixed handle;

a movable handle mounted to said housing and selectively movable relative to said fixed handle from a first position in spaced relation relative to said fixed handle to a second position closer to said fixed handle to actuate the clamping of tissue;

a drive assembly including a power source and a motor which engages a coupling member, the coupling member being operatively coupled to the movable handle, wherein movement of the movable handle to a third position activates the motor, the motor being arranged with the coupling member so that activation of the motor advances the coupling member which in turn advances a firing shaft to deploy and deform the surgical fasteners, the drive assembly including a controller, such that the rate at which the motor advances the coupling member is variably controlled in response to the force exerted on the movable handle during movement thereof to the third position.

2. A surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member advances the firing shaft to actuate said tool assembly to initially clamp tissue between opposing tissue engaging surfaces of said tool assembly.

3. A surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes a variable resistor coupled in series with the motor and the power source.

4. A surgical stapler according to claim 3, wherein the variable resistor regulates amount of voltage supplied to the motor as a function of the force exerted on the movable handle during movement thereof to the second position.

5. A surgical stapler according to claim 4, wherein the drive assembly further includes a spring which compresses the coupling member to maintain the movable handle in the first position.

6. A surgical stapler according to claim 3, wherein the variable resistor is selected from the group consisting of a potentiometer and a rheostat.

7. A surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes a switch coupled in series with the motor and the power source, wherein the switch is closed by moving the movable handle to the second position.

8. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated member attached to the housing;

a tool assembly attachable to a distal end of the elongated member, said tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly each having an opposing tissue engaging surface, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical fasteners;

a selectively activatable drive assembly including a power source and a motor which engages a coupling member, the coupling member is operatively coupled to a movable handle, wherein upon actuation the motor advances the coupling member which advances a firing shaft to deploy and deform the surgical fasteners, the selectively activatable drive assembly also including a controller configured to variably control the rate at which the motor advances the coupling member in response to the force exerted on the movable handle.

9. A surgical stapler according to claim 8, wherein the coupling member advances the firing shaft to actuate said tool assembly to initially clamp tissue between opposing tissue engaging surfaces of said tool assembly.

10. A surgical stapler according to claim 8, wherein the drive assembly includes a variable resistor coupled in series with the motor and the power source.

11. A surgical stapler according to claim 10, wherein the variable resistor regulates amount of voltage supplied to the motor as a function of the force exerted on the movable handle during movement thereof to the second position.

12. A surgical stapler according to claim 11, wherein the drive assembly further includes a spring which compresses the coupling member to allow for selective actuation of the drive assembly upon application of sufficient force.

13. A surgical stapler according to claim 11, wherein the variable resistor is selected from the group consisting of a potentiometer and a rheostat.

14. A surgical stapler according to claim 8, wherein the drive assembly includes a switch coupled in series with the motor and the power source, wherein the switch is closed by moving the movable handle to the second position.