Surgical stapler

• US 9,636,113 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wenchell, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/534,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20150060522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821, 227 19, 606219
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners, an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue therebetween. The first and second cam members are movable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners. A cam member supporting member fixed within the cartridge section has an upper surface on which the cam members are slidable. The upper surface of the cam member supporting member has a first upper surface portion on a first plane and a second lower surface portion in a different substantially parallel second plane such that the first and second cam members slide in offset planes on the upper surface to fire the fasteners.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge assembly including;

a plurality of fasteners; and

a plurality of fastener pushers engageable with the plurality of fasteners;

an anvil assembly operatively coupled to the cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly configured to engage the plurality of fasteners upon ejection from the cartridge assembly;

a plurality of cam bars movable through the cartridge assembly to facilitate displacement of the plurality of fastener pushers and ejection of the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge assembly; and

a supporting member housed within the cartridge assembly, the supporting member having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces of the supporting member being positioned at different heights, wherein the plurality of cam bars are slidable along the first and second surfaces of the supporting member, and wherein prior to an actuation of the surgical fastener applying apparatus, the plurality of fastener pushers are spaced apart from the first and second surfaces of the supporting member to facilitate engagement with the plurality of cam bars.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cam bars include a first cam bar and a second cam bar, the first cam bar being slidable along the first surface of the supporting member and the second cam bar being slidable along the second surface of the supporting member.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners include a first set of fasteners defining a first length, and a second set of fasteners defining a second length.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the supporting member defines a first height, and the second surface of the supporting member defines a second height, the first height being greater than the second height.

5. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 2, further including a third cam bar slidable along the first surface of the supporting member and a fourth cam bar slidable along the second surface of the supporting member such that the second cam bar and the fourth cam bar are positioned radially outward of the first cam bar and the third cam bar.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cartridge assembly includes a longitudinal track defining opposite sides and extending therethrough, the longitudinal track configured and dimensioned to accommodate movement of a cutting member, the first and third cam bars being positioned on the opposite sides of the longitudinal track, and the second and fourth cam bars being positioned on the opposite sides of the longitudinal track.

7. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cam bars define equivalent heights.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cam bars are configured such that the plurality of pushers are displaced transversely in relation to a direction of movement of the plurality of cam bars.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first cam bar defines a first camming surface and the second cam bar defines a second camming surface, the first camming surface extending transversely in relation to the first surface of the supporting member and the second camming surface extending transversely in relation to the second surface of the supporting member.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second cam bars each include a distally tapered configuration such that a distance defined between the first camming surface and the first surface of the supporting member decreases in a distal direction, and a distance defined between the second camming surface and the second surface of the supporting member decreases in the distal direction.

11. A cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying apparatus, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a first fastener defining a first length;

a second fastener defining a second length;

a first fastener pusher operatively coupled to the first fastener;

a second fastener pusher operatively coupled to the second fastener, the first and second fastener pushers defining an equivalent height;

a first cam bar movable through the cartridge assembly to facilitate displacement of the first fastener pusher and ejection of the first fastener from the cartridge assembly;

a second cam bar movable through the cartridge assembly to facilitate displacement of the second fastener pusher and ejection of the second fastener from the cartridge assembly; and

a supporting member housed within the cartridge assembly, the supporting member including a first surface having a first height and a second surface having a second height, the first cam bar slidable along the first surface into engagement with the first fastener pusher and the second cam bar slidable along the second surface into engagement with the second fastener pusher.

12. The cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein the first fastener includes a plurality of first fasteners and the second fastener includes a plurality of second fasteners.

13. The cartridge assembly of claim 12, further including a longitudinal track defining opposite sides, the longitudinal track extending therethrough and configured to accommodate movement of a cutting member.

14. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of first fasteners are arranged into first and second rows positioned on the opposite sides of the longitudinal track, and the plurality of second fasteners are arranged into first and second rows positioned on the opposite sides of the longitudinal track.

15. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, further including a third cam bar slidable along the first surface of the supporting member and a fourth cam bar slidable along the second surface of the supporting member, wherein the first cam bar and the third cam bar engages the plurality of first fasteners on the opposite sides of the longitudinal track and the second cam bar and the fourth cam bar engages the plurality of second fasteners on the opposite sides of the longitudinal track.

16. The cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein the first cam bar and the second cam bar define equivalent heights.

17. The cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second cam bars are configured and dimensioned such that the first and second fastener pushers are displaced transversely in relation to a direction of movement of the first and second cam bars.

18. The cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein the first cam bar defines a first camming surface and the second cam bar defines a second camming surface, the first camming surface extending transversely in relation to the first surface of the supporting member, and the second camming surface extending transversely in relation to the second surface of the supporting member.

19. The cartridge assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second cam bars each include a distally tapered configuration such that a distance defined between the first camming surface and the first surface of the supporting member decreases in a distal direction, and a distance defined between the second camming surface and the second surface of the supporting member decreases in the distal direction.

20. The cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein the first cam bar is connected to the second cam bar such that the first and second cam bars move as a single unit.

21. A cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying apparatus, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a plurality of fasteners;

a plurality of fastener pushers engageable with the plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fastener pushers defining an equivalent height;

a first cam bar translatable along a first surface of the cartridge assembly to engage the plurality of fastener pushers to eject of the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge assembly; and

a second cam bar translatable along a second surface of the cartridge assembly to engage the plurality of fastener pushers to eject the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge assembly, wherein the first surface of the cartridge assembly has a first height and the second surface of the cartridge assembly has a second height, and wherein prior an actuation of the surgical fastener applying apparatus, the plurality of fastener pushers are spaced apart from the first and second surfaces of the cartridge assembly to facilitate engagement with the first and second cam bars.