Surgical stapler with suture locator

• US 8,281,974 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hessler, Thomas R., Wenchell, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/683,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 227/179.1, 227/175.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1142 Purse-string sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin

Abstract

An anvil assembly comprising an anvil shaft and an anvil head, the anvil head having anvil depressions for forming surgical staples, and the anvil head mounted to the anvil shaft. The anvil shaft has a longitudinal axis and a helical slot formed therein. A disc is movable along the slot to a selected position to selectively adjust the positioning of a purse string suture.

Claims

1. An anvil assembly comprising an anvil shaft and an anvil head, the anvil head having anvil depressions for forming surgical staples, the anvil head mounted to the anvil shaft, the anvil shaft having a longitudinal axis and a helical slot formed therein, and a rotatable disc, composed of two separate components, the two separate components being attachable about the anvil shaft such that the disc is movable along the slot to a selected position to selectively adjust the positioning of a purse string suture.

2. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the two components of the disc are attached by a pin and slot arrangement.

3. The anvil assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mounting structure on the anvil shaft for releasably mounting the anvil shaft to a stapling instrument.

4. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disc has a convex surface on a proximal side.

5. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disc has a convex surface on a distal side.

6. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein a distal surface and a proximal surface of the disc are angled.

7. A surgical stapler comprising;

a handle assembly;

an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly; and

a head portion disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions, the anvil assembly having an anvil head and an anvil shaft having a helical slot formed therein, a rotatable disc composed of two components attachable to each other about the anvil shaft such that the disc is movable along the slot to a selected position to adjust the amount of tissue drawn into the shell assembly by a purse string suture.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 7, wherein the rotatable disc has a convex surface on a proximal side.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 7, wherein the rotatable disc has a convex surface on a distal side.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the anvil shaft is removably mounted to an anvil retainer of the stapler.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 7, wherein a distal surface and a proximal surface of the disc are angled.