Surgical stapler having a closure mechanism

• US 8,348,129 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bedi, James J., Measamer, John P., Baxter, Chester O. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/622,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/179.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A surgical stapler comprising a first handle portion comprising a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second handle portion comprising an anvil. The stapler further comprises a rotatable latch and a latch projection, wherein the latch is rotatably coupled to one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion and wherein the latch projection extends from the other of the first handle portion and the second handle portion. The latch is configured to engage the latch projection to move the first handle portion and the second handle portion toward one another. In various embodiments, the latch projection comprises a rotatable bearing wherein the latch is configured to contact the rotatable bearing when the latch engages the latch projection.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a latch rotatably coupled to said staple cartridge channel;

a second handle portion comprising;

a frame;

an anvil; and

a latch projection, wherein said first handle portion further comprises a recess configured to receive said latch projection, wherein said latch is configured to engage said latch projection and position said latch projection within said recess to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said latch projection comprises;

a shaft portion extending from said frame;

an enlarged portion extending from said shaft portion; and

a rotatable bearing comprising a bearing aperture, wherein said shaft portion extends through said bearing aperture, wherein said rotatable bearing is rotatable about said shaft portion, wherein said rotatable bearing is positioned intermediate said frame and said enlarged portion, and wherein said latch is configured to contact said rotatable bearing when said latch engages said latch projection; and

wherein said latch comprises a latch projection slot configured to receive said latch projection, wherein said latch projection slot comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is positioned opposite said second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is configured to apply a closing force to said bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said second sidewall is configured to apply an opening force to said bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion away from one another.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said bearing comprises an outer diameter, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall define a slot width therebetween, and wherein said outer diameter is slightly smaller than said slot width.

3. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a latch rotatably coupled to said staple cartridge channel;

a second handle portion comprising;

a frame;

an anvil; and

a latch projection, wherein said first handle portion further comprises a recess configured to receive said latch projection, wherein said latch is configured to engage said latch projection and position said latch projection within said recess to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another and wherein said latch projection comprises;

a shaft portion extending from said frame;

an enlarged portion extending from said shaft portion; and

a rotatable bearing comprising a bearing aperture, wherein said shaft portion extends through said bearing aperture, wherein said rotatable bearing is rotatable about said shaft portion, wherein said rotatable bearing is positioned intermediate said frame and said enlarged portion, and wherein said latch is configured to contact said rotatable bearing when said latch engages said latch projection; and

wherein said bearing aperture comprises a circular inner profile, wherein said shaft portion comprises a circular outer profile, and wherein said circular outer profile defines an outer diameter which is slightly smaller than an inner diameter defined by said circular inner profile of said bearing aperture.

4. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a latch rotatably coupled to said staple cartridge channel;

a second handle portion comprising;

a frame;

an anvil; and

a latch projection, wherein said first handle portion further comprises a recess configured to receive said latch projection, wherein said latch is configured to engage said latch projection and position said latch projection within said recess to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said latch projection comprises;

a shaft portion extending from said frame;

an enlarged portion extending from said shaft portion; and

a rotatable bearing comprising a bearing aperture, wherein said shaft portion extends through said bearing aperture, wherein said rotatable bearing is rotatable about said shaft portion, wherein said rotatable bearing is positioned intermediate said frame and said enlarged portion, and wherein said latch is configured to contact said rotatable bearing when said latch engages said latch projection; and

wherein said bearing aperture is defined by an aperture diameter, and wherein said enlarged portion is defined by a diameter which is larger than said aperture diameter.

5. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a second handle portion comprising an anvil;

a rotatable latch;

a latch projection, wherein said latch is rotatably coupled to one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion and wherein said latch projection extends from the other of said first handle portion and said second handle portion, wherein said latch is configured to engage said latch projection to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, wherein said latch projection comprises a rotatable bearing, and wherein said latch is configured to contact said rotatable bearing when said latch engages said latch projection; and

wherein said projection further comprises a shaft portion and an enlarged portion extending from said shaft portion, wherein said bearing comprises a bearing aperture, wherein said shaft portion extends through said bearing aperture, wherein said rotatable bearing is rotatable about said shaft portion, and wherein said enlarged portion is configured to retain said rotatable bearing on said shaft portion.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 5, wherein said bearing aperture comprises a circular inner profile, wherein said shaft portion comprises a circular outer profile, and wherein said circular outer profile defines an outer diameter which is slightly smaller than an inner diameter defined by said circular inner profile of said bearing aperture.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 5, wherein said bearing aperture is defined by an aperture diameter, and wherein said enlarged portion is defined by a diameter which is larger than said aperture diameter.

8. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a second handle portion comprising an anvil;

a rotatable latch;

a latch projection, wherein said latch is rotatably coupled to one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion and wherein said latch projection extends from the other of said first handle portion and said second handle portion, wherein said latch is configured to engage said latch projection to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, wherein said latch projection comprises a rotatable bearing, and wherein said latch is configured to contact said rotatable bearing when said latch engages said latch projection; and

wherein said latch comprises a latch projection slot configured to receive said latch projection, wherein said latch projection slot comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is positioned opposite said second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is configured to apply a closing force to said bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said second sidewall is configured to apply an opening force to said bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion away from one another.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein said bearing comprises an outer diameter, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall define a slot width therebetween, and wherein said outer diameter is slightly smaller than said slot width.

10. A stapler assembly, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a latch rotatably coupled to said staple cartridge channel;

a second handle portion comprising;

a frame;

an anvil;

a pivot; and

a rotatable bearing having a circular drive surface, wherein said rotatable bearing is rotatably mounted onto said pivot, wherein said latch is configured to capture said rotatable bearing and slide across said circular drive surface of said rotatable bearing to position said first handle portion and said second handle portion in a closed configuration relative to one another, and wherein said rotatable bearing is configured to rotate about said pivot as said latch slides across said circular drive surface.

11. The stapler assembly of claim 10, wherein said latch further comprises a slot configured to receive said rotatable bearing, wherein said slot comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is positioned opposite said second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is configured to apply a closing force to said rotatable bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said second sidewall is configured to apply an opening force to said rotatable bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion away from one another.

12. A stapler assembly, comprising:

a first handle portion comprising a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a second handle portion comprising an anvil;

a rotatable latch;

a pivot; and

a rotatable bearing having a circular drive surface, wherein said latch is rotatably coupled to one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion, wherein the other of said first handle portion and said second handle portion comprises said pivot and said rotatable bearing, wherein said rotatable bearing is rotatably mounted onto said pivot, wherein said latch is configured to catch said rotatable bearing and slide across said circular drive surface to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said rotatable bearing is configured to rotate about said pivot as said latch slides across said circular drive surface.

13. The stapler assembly of claim 12, wherein said latch further comprises a slot configured to receive said rotatable bearing, wherein said slot comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is positioned opposite said second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is configured to apply a closing force to said rotatable bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion toward one another, and wherein said second sidewall is configured to apply an opening force to said rotatable bearing in order to move said first handle portion and said second handle portion away from one another.