Indicator for surgical stapler

• US 8,714,430 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Natarajan, Anandram, Selvaraj, Srinivasan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/953,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/120, 227/19, 227/175.1, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical stapler for visually indicating to a user the stage of operation of the stapler. The surgical stapler includes a body, a stapling assembly positioned on a distal end of the body including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, and a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body. The thrust bar is configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position during approximation of the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly and advance further to a second advanced position to cause the release of staples from the cartridge assembly. An indicator member is connected to the thrust bar and configured to provide visual indication to a user upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a body;

a stapling assembly positioned on a distal portion of the body, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly;

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position during approximation of the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly and advance further to a second advanced position to cause the release of staples from the cartridge assembly; and

at least one indicator member connected to the thrust bar and configured to provide visual indication to a user upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly, wherein the at least one indicator member includes a base and a pair of extensions extending from the base, the extensions including a visual indicator to provide the visual indication to the user, wherein the extensions extend laterally beyond the thrust bar.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the thrust bar is configured for operable engagement with the stapling assembly to cause the ejection of staples from the cartridge assembly during the release of staples from the cartridge assembly.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the body includes at least one window for viewing the indicator member.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the indicator member is further configured to indicate that the cartridge assembly is ready to be approximated towards the anvil assembly.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the indicator member is slidably mounted within the body.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the indicator member is rotatably mounted within the body.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the indicator member includes a first symbol to indicate completion of the approximation stroke and a second symbol to indicate the release of staples from the cartridge assembly.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the indicator member is rotatably mounted with respect to the thrust bar.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising a rack operably connected to the thrust bar and having a pair of toothed extensions, the toothed extensions being operably engaged with the indicator member and advancement of the thrust bar causes rotation of the indicator member.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the rack extends from a base positioned distal of the indicator member, the base being mounted to the thrust bar.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the rack extends from a base positioned distal of the indicator member, the base being mounted to the thrust bar.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the indicator member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thrust bar.

13. A surgical stapler comprising;

a body;

a stapling assembly positioned on a distal portion of the body, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly;

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position;

an indicator member including a first symbol configured to provide visual indication to a user upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly and a second symbol configured to provide visual indication to the user upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly; and

a rack operably connected to the thrust bar and having a toothed extension, the toothed extension being operably engaged with the indicator member, wherein advancement of the thrust bar causes rotation of the indicator member.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein the indicator member is further configured to indicate the stapler is ready to be approximated.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein the indicator member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the thrust bar.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein the body defines a window configured to permit viewing of the first symbol on the indicator member upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and to permit viewing of the second symbol upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein the body defines a window configured for individual viewing of the first symbol and the second symbol.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein only one of the first symbol and the second symbol is viewable through a window defined by the body at one time.

19. A surgical stapler comprising:

a body;

a stapling assembly positioned on a distal portion of the body, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly;

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position during approximation of the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly and advance further to a second advanced position to cause the release of staples from the cartridge assembly;

an indicator member connected to the thrust bar, the indicator member including a first symbol configured to provide visual indication to a user upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and a second symbol configured to provide visual indication to the user upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly, wherein the indicator member is rotatably mounted with respect to the thrust bar; and

a rack operably connected to the thrust bar and having a toothed extension, the toothed extension being operably engaged with the indicator member,

wherein advancement of the thrust bar causes rotation of the indicator member.