Surgical instrument with clamp

• US 7,997,468 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Farascioni, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/430,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.1, 227/180.1, 227/178.1
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle portion, an endoscopic portion, a pair of jaw members and a clamp. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle portion and defines a first longitudinal axis. The pair of jaw members is disposed adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and extends generally distally therefrom. At least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The clamp is disposed adjacent the jaw members and extends generally distally from the endoscopic portion. The clamp is movable between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue. The clamp is independently movable with respect to the jaw members.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling instrument for surgically joining tissue, comprising:

a handle portion;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis;

a pair of jaw members disposed adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and extending generally distally therefrom, at least one of the jaw members being movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween, the pair of jaw members comprising an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly housing a plurality of surgical staples arranged to be ejected in a direction transverse to the first longitudinal axis and toward the anvil assembly; and

a clamp disposed adjacent the jaw members and extending generally distally from the endoscopic portion, the clamp being movable between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue, and wherein the clamp is independently movable with respect to the jaw members.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein at least one portion of the clamp is pivotable with respect to the other portion about a pivot point disposed at a proximal portion of the clamp.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of jaw members is substantially parallel to the clamp.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pair of jaw members extends linearly along the first longitudinal axis.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pair of jaw members are configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pair of jaw members are curved with respect to the first longitudinal axis.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the clamp is curved with respect to the first longitudinal axis.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the clamp is disposed alongside a concave side of the pair of jaws.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the jaw members are part of a loading unit, the loading unit being attachable to the endoscopic portion.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pair of jaw members are rotatable with respect to the handle portion.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pair of jaw members defines a second longitudinal axis, the pair of jaw members being movable from a first position where the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position where the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis.

12. A loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a surgical instrument, the loading unit comprising:

a body portion defining a first longitudinal axis, a proximal portion of the body portion configured for releasable engagement with an endoscopic portion of the surgical instrument;

a pair of jaw members disposed distally of the body portion, at least one of the jaw members being movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween, the pair of jaw members comprising an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly housing a plurality of surgical staples arranged to be ejected in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and toward the anvil assembly; and

a clamp disposed adjacent the jaw members, the clamp being movable between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue, and wherein the clamp is independently movable with respect to the jaw members.

13. The loading unit of claim 12, wherein the clamp includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein at least one portion of the clamp is pivotable with respect to the other portion about a pivot point disposed at a proximal portion of the clamp.

14. The loading unit of claim 12, wherein each of the pair of jaw members is substantially parallel to the clamp.

15. The loading unit of claim 12, wherein the pair of jaw members extends linearly along the first longitudinal axis.

16. The loading unit of claim 12, wherein the pair of jaw members are configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.

17. The loading unit of claim 12, wherein the pair of jaw members are curved with respect to the first longitudinal axis.

18. The loading unit of claim 17, wherein the clamp is curved with respect to the first longitudinal axis.

19. The loading unit of claim 18, wherein the clamp is disposed alongside a concave side of the pair of jaws.