Surgical stapling device

• US 7,424,965 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Lee Ann, Beardsley, John W., Racenet, David C., Roy, Philip, Stearns, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand; Paul R
• Application Number:
  US11/652,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20070108252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 2271761-1801, 606/130
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms

Abstract

A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle portion, a central body portion and a SULU. The SULU includes a proximal body portion, an intermediate pivot member and a tool assembly. The intermediate pivot member is pivotally secured to the proximal body portion about a first pivot axis and the tool assembly is pivotally secured to the intermediate pivot member about a second pivot axis which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis. The SULU includes a plurality of articulation links which are operably connected to the tool assembly by non-rigid links. The articulation links are adapted to releasably engage articulation links positioned in the central body portion. The body portion articulation links are connected to an articulation actuator which is supported for omni-directional movement to effect articulation of the tool assembly about the first and second axes. The handle portion includes a spindle and barrel assembly drive mechanism for advancing and retracting a drive member positioned in the tool assembly. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling device comprising:

a handle portion with a pivotable articulation actuator;

an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion;

a pivot member connected to the body portion adjacent a distal end of the body portion so that the pivot member is pivotable about a first pivot axis;

a tool assembly pivotably connected to the pivot member for pivoting about a second pivot axis, the tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge; and

a first cable and a second cable connected to the articulation actuator, extending through the pivot member, and connected to the tool assembly, the articulation actuator being pivotable to pull on at least one of the first and second cables to pivot the tool assembly about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.

2. The surgical stapling device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly includes a carrier portion for receiving the staple cartridge.

3. The surgical stapling device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cable is connected to the carrier portion.

4. The surgical stapling device according to claim 2, wherein the cartridge assembly has second teeth.

5. The surgical stapling device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting member at the distal end of the body portion, the mounting member defining first teeth.

6. The surgical stapling device according to claim 5, wherein the pivot member has a first engagement member for engaging the first teeth to lock the angular position of the pivot member about the first pivot axis.

7. The surgical stapling device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot member has a first and a second pulley.

8. A surgical stapling device comprising:

a handle portion;

an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion;

a pivot member connected to the body portion adjacent a distal end of the body portion so that the pivot member is pivotable about a pivot axis;

a tool assembly connected to the pivot member, the tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge;

at least one cable connected to the handle portion, extending through the pivot member; and

a knife bar comprised of a knife blade, the knife bar having at least one hole for receiving that at least one cable to provide linear movement of the knife bar through the cartridge assembly.

9. The surgical stapling device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one cable includes a firing cable, and the tool assembly includes a guide cap at a distal end of the tool assembly for guiding the firing cable so that the knife bar is pulled distally through the tool assembly.

10. The surgical stapling device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one cable includes a retraction cable for pulling the knife bar proximally through the tool assembly.

11. The surgical stapling device according to claim 8, further comprising an actuation sled, the knife bar being positioned proximal to the actuation sled.

12. A surgical stapling device comprising:

a handle portion with a pivotable articulation actuator;

an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion;

a pivot member connected to the body portion adjacent a distal end of the body portion so that the pivot member is pivotable about a first pivot axis;

a tool assembly pivotably connected to the pivot member for pivoting about a second pivot axis, the tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge; and

a first cable and a second cable connected to the articulation actuator, extending through the pivot member, and connected to the tool assembly, the articulation actuator being pivotable to pull on at least one of the first and second cables to pivot the tool assembly about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis;

wherein the pivot member has a first and a second pulley and the first cable extends through the pivot member around the first pulley, through the cartridge assembly and then around the second pulley.

13. The surgical stapling device according to claim 12, wherein the first cable has a first end and a second end, and pulling on the first and second ends of the first cable pivots the tool assembly about the second pivot axis in a first direction.

14. The surgical stapling device according to claim 12, wherein the second cable extends through the pivot member around the first pulley, through the cartridge assembly and then through the second pulley.

15. The surgical stapling device according to claim 14, wherein the second cable has a first end and a second end, and pulling on the first and second ends of the second cable pivots the tool assembly about the second pivot axis in a second direction.

16. The surgical stapling device according to claim 15, wherein the first end, second end, third end and fourth end are attached to a pivoting actuator on the handle portion.

17. The surgical stapling device according to claim 15, wherein the pivot member has a third pulley and the first cable extends around the third pulley.

18. The surgical stapling device according to claim 17, wherein the pivot member has a fourth pulley and the second cable extends around the fourth pulley.

19. The surgical stapling device according to claim 18, wherein pulling on the first ends of the first and second cables pivots the pivot member around the first pivot axis in a first direction.

20. The surgical stapling device according to claim 19, wherein pulling on the second ends of the first and second cables pivots the pivot member around the first pivot axis in a second direction.

21. A surgical stapling device comprising:

a handle portion with a pivotable articulation actuator;

an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion;

a pivot member connected to the body portion adjacent a distal end of the body portion so that the pivot member is pivotable about a first pivot axis;

a tool assembly pivotably connected to the pivot member for pivoting about a second pivot axis, the tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge; and

a first cable and a second cable connected to the articulation actuator, extending through the pivot member, and connected to the tool assembly, the articulation actuator being pivotable to pull on at least one of the first and second cables to pivot the tool assembly about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis;

wherein the cartridge assembly includes a carrier portion for receiving the staple cartridge and second teeth; and

wherein the pivot member has a second engagement member for engaging the second teeth to lock the angular position of the tool assembly about the second pivot axis.