Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display

• US 7,870,989 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heinrich, Russell, Soltz, Michael A., DeSantis, Robert J., Holsten, Henry E., Krehel, Gregg, Viola, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/178,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.2, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 173/20, 606/139, 606/219, 606/143, 606/151, 606/9, 606/127
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• 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 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• 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 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• 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

Abstract

A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.

Claims

1. A surgical tool comprising:

a handle assembly including a trigger;

a cartridge configured to contain at least one fastener;

an actuation member associated with the handle assembly and movable to urge the at least one fastener from the cartridge; and

a controller delaying movement of the actuation member for a predetermined time period after activation of the trigger.

2. The surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising an override switch located on the handle assembly and configured to interrupt operation of the controller.

3. The surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising a dampening device, the dampening device modulating movement of the actuation member for the predetermined time period.

4. The surgical tool of claim 3, further comprising:

an anvil pivotally mounted in relation to the cartridge, the anvil being mounted for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position; and

a drive assembly including a body having a working end and a cam member, the cam member being positioned to translate relative to the anvil to maintain the anvil in the closed position during movement of the at least one fastener.

5. The surgical tool of claim 4, wherein the dampening device delays movement of the actuation member such that tissue disposed between the anvil and the cartridge transitions from an uncompressed state to a compressed state.

6. The surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to control movement of the actuation member, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor and delay the actuation member from urging the at least one fastener from the cartridge into tissue.

7. The surgical tool of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to slow operation of the motor to provide for the delay.

8. The surgical tool of claim 7, further comprising a geared assembly, the controller configured to actuate the geared assembly to slow the operation of the motor to provide for the delay to compress the tissue.

9. A surgical tool comprising:

a support body;

a pair of jaws, the pair of jaws operably connected to the support body and at least one jaw is movable towards the other jaw;

an approximation mechanism mounted to the support body and is configured for moving the at least one jaw;

a drive mechanism; and

a controller configured to control the drive mechanism, the controller delaying movement of the drive mechanism for a predetermined time period after actuation of the approximation mechanism.

10. The surgical tool of claim 9, further comprising at least one fastener movable by the drive mechanism.

11. The surgical tool of claim 9, further comprising a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured to contain a plurality of fasteners.

12. The surgical tool of claim 9, further comprising an elongate body extending distally from the support body and defining a longitudinal axis.

13. The surgical tool of claim 9, further comprising an override switch, the override switch being on the support body and configured to disengage operation of the controller.

14. The surgical tool of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time period allows compression of tissue located between the pair of jaws to transition from a first state to a second state.

15. The surgical tool of claim 14, wherein the tissue is uncompressed in the first state and compressed in the second state.

16. The surgical tool of claim 9, further comprising a dampening device, the dampening device modulating movement of the approximation mechanism for the predetermined time period.

17. The surgical tool of claim 9, further comprising a motor configured to control the drive mechanism and the controller configured to control the motor and delay the drive mechanism from moving at least one fastener into tissue.

18. The surgical tool of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to slow operation of the motor to provide for the delay.

19. The surgical tool of claim 18, further comprising a geared assembly, the controller configured to actuate the geared assembly to slow the operation of the motor to provide for the delay.