Tissue tension detection system

• US 8,529,599 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Holsten, Henry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stout, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US12/857,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/561, 606/219, 227/175.1
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

An apparatus for indicating the amount of tension applied to separate internal organ sections includes a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, and a fastener applier. The fastener applier is supported on the shaft. The fastener applier includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is positionable between first and second positions relative to the cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly include a tissue detection device positioned to contact separate internal organ sections to generate a signal indicative of an amount of tension between the organ sections as the anvil assembly moves between the first and second positions. The tissue detection device is operably coupled to a gauge configured and dimensioned to generate an output based upon the signal. The output indicates the amount of tension between the organ sections.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating the amount of tension applied to separate internal organ sections comprising:

a housing;

a shaft extending from the housing; and

a fastener applier supported on the shaft, the fastener applier including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly being positionable between first and second positions relative to the cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly including a tissue detection device positioned to contact separate internal organ sections to generate a signal indicative of an amount of tension between the organ sections as the anvil assembly moves between the first and second positions, the tissue detection device being operably coupled to a gauge configured and dimensioned to generate an output based upon the signal, the output indicating the amount of tension between the organ sections, the tissue detection device including a contact supported on one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly, the contact being selectively movable relative to the respective anvil or cartridge assembly upon which the contact is supported.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tension detection device includes a first contact supported on the anvil assembly and a second contact supported on the cartridge assembly, the first contact being selectively movable relative to the anvil assembly and the second contact being selectively movable relative to the cartridge assembly.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact is positioned to extend through at least one opening formed in one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis that extends distally through the shaft, wherein the contact is selectively movable between extended and retracted positions in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the contact extends or retracts through the at least one opening in response to movement of the anvil assembly between the first and second positions.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a switch that extends and retracts the contact upon the actuation of the switch.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact is connected to the gauge by at least one wire.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anvil assembly is configured to move a first organ section towards a second organ section as the anvil assembly moves between the first and second positions such that an amount of tension is generated between the first and second organ sections.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the first position, the anvil assembly is spaced apart from the cartridge assembly, and in the second position, the anvil assembly is in close cooperative alignment with cartridge assembly.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gauge is supported within the fastener applier.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gauge is a strain gauge.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gauge is operably coupled to an indicator supported on the housing, the indicator displaying the output.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the indicator displays the output in real time.

14. A method for detecting an amount of tension applied to organ sections, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus including;

a housing;

a shaft extending from the housing; and

a fastener applier supported on the shaft, the fastener applier including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly having a tissue detection device, the tissue detection device being operably coupled to a gauge;

selectively moving a contact supported on one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly relative to the respective anvil assembly or cartridge assembly upon which the contact is supported;

positioning the anvil assembly between first and second positions relative to the cartridge assembly such that a first organ section moves towards a second organ section;

applying tension to the organ sections; and

generating an output that indicates an amount of tension between the organ sections.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

causing the tissue tension device to generate a signal indicative of the amount of tension between the organ sections; and

causing the gauge to generate the output based upon the signal.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of:

causing an indicator that is operably coupled to the gauge to display the output.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the tissue detection device includes a pair of contacts, the method further comprising the step of:

moving at least one of the contacts in response to movement of the anvil assembly between the first and second positions.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of moving at least one of the contacts between extended and retracted positions relative to at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly.