Electrosurgical stapling apparatus

• US 7,762,445 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heinrich, Russell, Viola, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash; Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/491,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/19, 227/180.1, 227/178.1, 606/8, 606/144, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing

Abstract

An electrosurgical stapling apparatus is provided which uses thermogenic energy as well as surgical fasteners or staples for strengthening tissue, providing hemostasis, tissue joining or welding. The thermogenic energy also strengthens tissue in proximity to a staple line and knife cut line and provides hemostasis along the staple and cut lines formed by the staples and a knife blade during surgical stapling. The use of thermogenic energy provides short-term hemostasis and sealing, and reduces or prevents staple line and cut line bleeding, while the stapling features provide short and long-term tissue strength and hemostasis. The stapling apparatus further substantially reduces or prevents knife cut line bleeding by energizing a knife blade for cauterizing tissue while it is being cut. In one embodiment, energy is applied to the anvil to energize the staples as they make contact with the anvil.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

an anvil member having a plurality of staple-forming recesses defined therein for deforming a corresponding plurality of surgical staples thereagainst, the anvil includes an electrically insulative material disposed on a tissue contacting surface thereof, wherein at least one of the plurality of staple-forming recesses is coated with the electrically insulative material, wherein the electrically insulative material is selectively removable, and wherein the electrically insulative material is selectively removed from the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member during a firing of the surgical stapler;

a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge defining a tissue contact surface and configured to retain a plurality of electrically conductive surgical staples;

an electrical conduit adapted for connection to a surgical generator; and

an actuator operatively connected to the cartridge assembly for deploying the plurality of surgical staples from the staple cartridge against the anvil member, the actuator being movable within the cartridge assembly and coupled to the electrical conduit, the actuator including an electrically conductive actuation sled and an electrically conductive knife blade, wherein the electrical conduit is configured for transmitting a thermogenic energy to the knife blade and to the staples through the actuation sled.

2. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of staple-forming recesses includes no electrically insulative material disposed thereon.

3. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of staple-forming recesses is formed of an electrically conductive material.

4. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the thermogenic energy transmitted is selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, thermal, and resistive heating.

5. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the staple cartridge includes a longitudinal slot wherein the knife blade traverses through said longitudinal slot, and wherein the knife blade delivers at least a portion of the thermogenic energy to tissue along at least one cut line during a firing of the surgical stapler.

6. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the actuation sled defines a shank, and wherein the actuation sled traverses through a longitudinal slot of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge.