Apparatus for applying surgical fastners to body tissue

• US 7,624,903 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bolanos, Henry, Mastri, Dominick L., Young, Wayne, DeFonzo, Stephan A., McGarry, Richard A., Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash; Brian D
• Application Number:
  US10/753,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20040173659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/19, 227/179.1
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2837 with a locking ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• 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: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/902 Surgical clips or staples

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for endoscopic application of surgical staples adapted to attach surgical mesh to body tissue in laparoscopic hernia surgery. The apparatus includes a frame, and a generally elongated endoscopic section connected to the frame and extending distally therefrom. A staple storage cartridge is removably supported on a pivotal support system at the distal end portion of the endoscopic section with each staple being configured and adapted to attach the mesh to the body tissue. An elongated pusher system formed of several assembled components and extending from the frame to the endoscopic section is provided for individually advancing at least one staple at a time distally for positioning adjacent the surgical mesh and the body tissue. The pusher system also includes a trigger system to actuate the pusher. The trigger system is provided with perceptible tactile sensing means to indicate when the legs of the staple being advanced are exposed so as to be visible to the user for positioning and orientation purposes. Anvil means provides for individually closing each staple to encompass at least a portion of the surgical mesh and to penetrate the body tissue in a manner to attach the portion of the mesh to the body tissue. Projecting distally of the cartridge support system is a pair of legs which are dimensioned and configured to engage the staple during closure to prevent unwanted roll or deformation outside of the plane of the staple.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying surgical fasteners comprising:

an elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and defining a longitudinal axis;

a staple storage portion attached to the distal portion of the elongated member and adapted for storing at least one surgical fastener, the staple storage portion being movable throughout a plurality of positions including a first position that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and a second position wherein the staple storage portion defines an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;

a control member spaced from the distal portion of the elongated member, wherein rotation of the control member about the longitudinal axis causes rotation of the staple storage portion and movement of the control member along the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position pivots the staple storage portion from its first position to its second position;

an advancing mechanism configured to advance the at least one surgical fastener distally through the staple storage portion, the advancing mechanism being operable to advance the at least one surgical fastener in each position of the plurality of positions; and

an anvil configured to close the at least one surgical fastener.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a frame, the frame having a handle portion having a stationary member and a handle member, the handle member being pivotable with respect to the stationary member and operatively associated with the advancing mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein pivotable movement of the handle member to a first position advances the at least one surgical fastener such that at least a portion of the at least one surgical fastener exits the staple storage portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein pivotable movement of the handle member to a second position advances the at least one surgical fastener such that the at least one surgical fastener engages the anvil thereby forming a closed surgical fastener.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the staple storage portion includes a staple cartridge and a staple support member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the staple cartridge is removably attached to the staple support member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control member'"'"'s second position is longitudinally spaced from the control member'"'"'s first position.

8. An apparatus for applying surgical fasteners comprising:

an elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and defining a longitudinal axis;

a staple storage portion attached to the distal portion of the elongated member and adapted for storing at least one surgical fastener, the staple storage portion being movable throughout a plurality of positions including a first position that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and a second position wherein the staple storage portion defines an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;

a control member located in the proximal portion of the elongated member, wherein rotation of the control member causes rotation of the elongate member and movement of the control member along the longitudinal axis between first and second positions pivots the staple storage portion throughout the plurality of positions;

an advancing mechanism configured to advance the at least one surgical fastener distally through the staple storage portion, the advancing mechanism being operable to advance the at least one surgical fastener in each position of the plurality of positions; and

an anvil configured to close the at least one surgical fastener.