Surgical fastener applying apparatus

• US 9,451,959 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Patankar, Mangesh, Gupta, Arvind Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Citrin, Justin
• Application Number:
  US13/472,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20120312858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/176.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus for applying fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus includes a clamping lever including a cantilevered locking member for engaging a catch member positioned at the proximal portion of a cartridge receiving half-section of the apparatus to retain the clamping lever in a clamped position. The clamping lever can include a protrusion which is receivable in a depression on the cartridge receiving half-section. The apparatus includes a disposable firing assembly and cartridge.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising:

an anvil half-section including a distal anvil portion and a proximal handle portion;

a cartridge receiving half-section defining an elongated channel member, the elongated channel member having a distal portion dimensioned to releasably receive a cartridge and a proximal portion configured to support a firing assembly, the cartridge receiving half-section further including a pair of spaced sidewalls, one of the spaced sidewalls having an outwardly facing surface defining a depression; and

a clamping lever secured to the cartridge receiving half-section, the clamping lever having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a handle portion,

the clamping lever being operably associated with the anvil half-section and the cartridge receiving half-section and being movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position to releasably secure the anvil portion of the anvil half-section in close approximation with the cartridge, wherein the clamping lever further includes a pair of spaced sidewalls positioned in opposition to the spaced sidewalls of the cartridge receiving half-section, one of the spaced sidewalls of the clamping lever having an inwardly facing surface defining an inwardly extending protrusion that extends in a direction towards the other spaced sidewall of the clamping lever, the protrusion being positionable within the depression of the cartridge receiving half-section to prevent the clamping lever from moving to a position where the clamping lever could be disengaged from the cartridge receiving section.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping lever is mountable to the cartridge receiving half-section at a first angle and rotated toward a clamping position to move the protrusion within the depression.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping lever has a C-shaped recess and the cartridge receiving half-section has a pivot member having a flat surface.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the C-shaped recess has a width smaller than a diameter of the pivot member such that the pivot member needs to be slid into the recess along a surface of the flat surface.

5. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the clamping lever is inserted into engagement with the pivot member at an obtuse angle to a proximal portion of the cartridge receiving half-section.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the clamping lever is pivoted to an acute angle to the proximal portion of the cartridge receiving section.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping lever has a flange having a cutout dimensioned to receive a lateral support of the anvil half-section.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1, further including a spring member which is supported on the clamping lever and positioned to engage the cartridge receiving half-section to urge the clamping lever to the unclamped position.