Dissection tip and introducer for surgical instrument

• US 8,690,039 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Beardsley, John W., Kostrzewski, Stanislaw, Maffei, Frank C., Olson, Lee Ann, Shah, Sachin, Mayfield, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US13/727,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20130112729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/156, 606/139, 606/148, 606/191, 606/219, 606/151, 606/41, 606/207
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00946 malleable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 : Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320048 : Balloon dissectors

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends;

an end effector positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion; and

an introducer member having a proximal end, and a distal end including an elongate profile configured to facilitate atraumatic advancement of the introducer member through tissue, the proximal end of the introducer member including discrete first and second branches configured to receive a portion of the end effector such that the proximal end of the introducer member is releasably connectable to the end effector, the proximal end of the introducer member including attachment structure, the end effector including engagement structure, the attachment structure and the engagement structure corresponding in configuration to facilitate releasable connection of the introducer member to the end effector;

wherein the first branch of the introducer member includes a first pivot member, and the second branch of the introducer member includes a second pivot member, the first and second pivor members facilitating detachment of the introducer member from the end effector, the first and second pivot members being positioned distally of the attachment structure such that a force applied to the first and second branches of the introducer member adjacent the first and second pivot members directed radially inward towards the end effector causes portions of the first and second branches positioned proximally of the first and second pivot members to splay radially outward away from the end effector, thereby facilitating release of the attachment structure from the engagement structure, and separation of the introducer member from the end effector.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second branches of the introducer member are configured in a diverging arrangement such that the first and second branches define a space therebetween configured to receive the portion of the end effector.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the introducer member defines a Y-shaped configuration.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first branch of the introducer member includes a first attachment structure, and the second branch of the introducer member includes a second attachment structure.

5. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first attachment structure is configured as a first protrusion extending inwardly from the first branch towards the end effector, and the second attachment structure is configured as a second protrusion extending inwardly from the second branch towards the end effector.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 5, wherein the engagement structure includes a first recess extending inwardly from an outer surface of the end effector configured to receive the first protrusion, and a second recess extending inwardly from an outer surface of the end effector configured to receive the second protrusion.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end effector includes a first jaw movably coupled to a second jaw such that target tissue is positionable therebetween, one of the first and second jaws terminating in a dissector tip, the proximal end of the introducer member being configured for releasable connection to the dissector tip.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first jaw includes a cartridge assembly configured to retain a plurality of surgical fasteners, and the second jaw includes an anvil assembly with a plurality of pockets configured and dimensioned to form the plurality of surgical fasteners upon ejection from the cartridge assembly.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 8, wherein the engagement structure is formed on the cartridge assembly.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 8, wherein the engagement structure is formed on the anvil assembly.

11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material such that the proximal end of the introducer member splays resiliently outward, away from the end effector, during connection of the introducer member to the end effector.

12. An introducer member configured for use with a surgical fastener applying apparatus having an end effector, the introducer member comprising a proximal end, and a distal end including an elongate profile configured to facilitate atraumatic advancement of the introducer member through tissue, the proximal end of the introducer member including discrete first and second branches configured to receive a portion of the end effector such that the introducer member is releasably connectable to the end effector, the proximal end of the introducer member including attachment structure and the end effector including engagement structure, wherein the first branch and the second branch include a pivot structure facilitating detachment of the introducer member, the pivot structure being positioned distally of the attachment structure.

13. The introducer member of claim 12, wherein the first and second branches of the introducer member are configured in a diverging arrangement such that the first and second branches define a space therebetween configured to receive the portion of the end effector.

14. The introducer member of claim 13, wherein the proximal end of the introducer member defines a Y-shaped configuration.

15. The introducer member of claim 12, wherein the attachment structure corresponds in configuration to the engagement structure formed on the end effector to facilitate releasable connection of the introducer member to the end effector.

16. The introducer member of claim 15, wherein the first branch of the introducer member includes a first attachment structure, and the second branch of the introducer member includes a second attachment structure.