Expanding parallel jaw device for use with an electromechanical driver device

• US 7,537,602 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Power Medical Interventions, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitman, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/542,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/19, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/181.1, 606/219, 606/139, 606/142, 606/167
• US Class Current: 606/219
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A cutting and stapling device for use as an attachment to an electromechanical device driver comprises an upper jaw and a lower jaw which separate and close against one another in a continuously parallel alignment. The upper jaw includes a series of staple guides corresponding to one or more staples in a removable staple tray disposed within a lower jaw, whereby a blade and wedge having a threaded bore travel upon a matching threaded shaft in a channel disposed in the lower jaw below the staple tray, such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes movement of the wedge through the channel while a sloped surface of the wedge contacts the staples to push the staples against the staples guides, closing the staples.

Claims

1. A method for cutting and fastening a section of tissue, comprising:

moving a first jaw relative to a second jaw from an open position to a closed position to secure the section of tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;

maintaining a parallel relationship between the first jaw and the second jaw between the open position and the closed position;

alerting an operator, in response to completion of a sensor circuit by sensor electrodes disposed on the jaws, that the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position; and

selectively driving a blade to cut the tissue and to drive a linear array of fasteners through the section of tissue, the blade and fasteners driven independently of the moving step and after the alerting step.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw is moved in the moving step in accordance with rotation of at least one rotatable shaft.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first jaw moving step includes the substep of rotating the at least one rotatable shaft by activating at least one motor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw is moved in the moving step in accordance with rotation of a first rotatable shaft, and the blade is driven in the driving step in accordance with rotation of a second rotatable shaft.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first jaw moving step includes the substep of rotating the first rotatable shaft by a motor arrangement, and the blade driving step includes the substep of rotating the second rotatable shaft by the motor arrangement.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first rotatable shaft is rotated in the first rotatable shaft rotating step by a first motor of the motor arrangement.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second rotatable shaft is rotated in the second rotatable shaft rotating step by a second motor of the motor arrangement.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second rotatable shaft is rotated in the second rotatable shaft rotating step by a second motor of the motor arrangement.