Apparatus for forming variable height surgical fasteners

• US 9,597,073 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sorrentino, Gregory, Viola, Frank J., Cunningham, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALLOW, EYAMINDAE CHOSSAN
• Application Number:
  US13/778,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20130233905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1754, 2271761-1821
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• 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 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members

Abstract

A surgical device for applying a plurality of surgical staples is provided. The device includes a staple fastening assembly attached to a surgical instrument. The staple fastening assembly includes a pair of cooperating jaws, a jaw operating mechanism, and a gap sensor. A staple magazine having a plurality of staples and an anvil member having a plurality of staple pockets are attached to the jaws. The staple magazine includes a staple crimping cam and a staple dimpling cam that are operatively coupled to the surgical instrument. The jaw operating mechanism is operatively connected to a drive assembly in the surgical instrument for moving the jaws for automatically setting a tissue gap between the cooperating jaws. The gap sensor cooperates with the jaw operating mechanism for controlling staple formation.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a first jaw including a plurality of retention slots;

a second jaw including a plurality of grooves;

a plurality of fasteners disposed in the plurality of retention slots, each fastener including first and second legs, wherein each groove is configured to direct the legs of the fastener towards each other resulting in a formed portion and an unformed portion in each leg, and wherein the formed portion of the first leg at least partially overlaps the unformed portion of the second leg;

a first driving mechanism configured to urge the fastener towards the groove and including a first sled and an ejector, and wherein distal longitudinal movement of the first sled through the first jaw causes movement of the ejector towards the second jaw and urges the fastener towards the groove; and

a second driving mechanism including a second sled and a movable member, wherein distal longitudinal movement of the second sled through the first jaw causes movement of the movable member towards the second jaw, the moveable member of the second driving mechanism operable to deform a backspan of the fastener when a distance between the first and second jaws is less than a predetermined value.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein each groove is configured to direct the first leg and the second leg of the fastener towards each other while maintaining lateral separation of the legs.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the formed portion of the first leg includes a section substantially parallel to the unformed portion of the second leg.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the formed portion of the second leg at least partially overlaps the unformed portion of the first leg.

5. The surgical apparatus of claim 4, wherein the formed portion of the second leg includes a section substantially parallel to the unformed portion of the first leg.