Circular stapling device including buttress release mechanism

• US 9,782,173 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mozdzierz, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stinson, Chelsea
• Application Number:
  US14/186,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20140252062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge

Abstract

A circular stapling device includes a handle assembly, an elongated body, an end effector, and one or more buttress members. The elongated body extends from the handle assembly. The end effector is mounted on a distal end of the elongate body and supports the one or more buttress members. A buttress release mechanism operatively coupled to the end effector selectively secures the one or more buttress members to the end effector.

Claims

1. A circular stapler comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongate body that extends from the handle assembly;

a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body and being movable relative to the distal end portion of the elongate body between a first position and a second position, the cartridge assembly being positioned adjacent to the distal end portion of the elongate body in the first position and spaced from the distal end portion of the elongate body in the second position, the cartridge assembly including a tissue engaging surface that extends to an annular edge;

a cartridge buttress member having a body portion and an extension portion that extends from the body portion of the cartridge buttress member so that when the cartridge assembly is disposed in the first position, the body portion is supported on the tissue engaging surface of the cartridge assembly and the extension portion extends over the annular edge of the tissue engaging surface so that the extension portion is secured between the elongate body and the cartridge assembly to maintain the buttress member supported on the cartridge assembly; and

a spring assembly secured between the cartridge assembly and the distal end portion of the elongate body, the spring assembly adapted to pull the cartridge assembly toward the distal end portion of the elongate body to maintain the cartridge assembly in close approximation with the distal end portion of the elongate body when the cartridge assembly is disposed in the first position, the spring assembly including at least one spring that provides a spring force sufficient to trap the extension portion of the cartridge buttress member between the elongate body and the cartridge assembly when the cartridge assembly is disposed in the first position, the at least one spring being movable with the cartridge assembly to release the extension portion of the cartridge buttress member from between the elongate body and the cartridge assembly when the cartridge assembly is moved toward the second position.

2. The circular stapler of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly includes at least one pusher that drives the cartridge assembly toward the second position upon the firing of the circular stapler and against the spring force of the at least one spring, wherein the cartridge assembly moves to the second position and releases the extension portion of the cartridge buttress member from between the elongate body and the cartridge assembly, and wherein the body portion of the cartridge buttress member separates from the tissue engaging surface of the cartridge assembly upon the formation of fasteners supported in fastener retaining slots defined in the tissue engaging surface of the cartridge assembly.

3. The circular stapler of claim 1, further comprising an anvil assembly that is selectively movable relative to the cartridge assembly between an approximated position and an unapproximated position.

4. The circular stapler of claim 3, further comprising an anvil buttress member supported on a tissue engaging surface of the anvil assembly.

5. The circular stapler of claim 4, wherein the anvil buttress member has a body portion and an extension portion that extends from the body portion thereof, the anvil assembly including a clamping assembly that secures the extension portion of the anvil buttress member to the anvil assembly so that the body portion of the anvil buttress member is supported over a tissue engaging surface of the anvil assembly.

6. The circular stapler of claim 5, wherein the clamping assembly includes a clamp that is spring loaded to maintain the extension portion of the anvil buttress member secured to the anvil assembly.

7. The circular stapler of claim 6, further comprising a knife assembly including a knife, the clamp including a lockout assembly that retains the clamp in a locked arrangement to maintain the extension portion of the anvil buttress member secured to the anvil assembly, the knife being movable to position the lockout assembly in an unlocked arrangement so that the spring force from the spring loaded clamp moves the clamp to release the extension portion of the anvil buttress member.

8. A circular stapler comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongate body that extends from the handle assembly;

an end effector mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, the end effector including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly being selectively movable relative to the cartridge assembly between an approximated position and an unapproximated position; and

an anvil buttress member supported on the anvil assembly, the buttress member having a body portion and an extension portion that extends from the body portion, the anvil assembly including a spring loaded clamp that secures the extension portion of the anvil buttress member to the anvil assembly so that the body portion of the anvil buttress member is supported over a tissue engaging surface of the anvil assembly, the spring loaded clamp including a lockout assembly that retains the spring loaded clamp in a locked arrangement to maintain the extension portion of the anvil buttress member secured to the anvil assembly.

10. The circular stapler of claim 8, wherein the cartridge assembly is movable relative to the distal end portion of the elongate body between a first position and a second position, the cartridge assembly being positioned adjacent to the distal end portion of the elongate body in the first position and spaced from the distal end portion of the elongate body in the second position.

11. The circular stapler of claim 10, wherein the cartridge assembly supports a cartridge buttress member that is secured between the elongate body and the cartridge assembly when the cartridge assembly is disposed in the first position, wherein a movement of the cartridge assembly to the second position releases the cartridge buttress member from between the elongate body and the cartridge assembly.

12. The circular stapler of claim 8, wherein the lockout assembly includes a clamp engaging finger and the spring loaded clamp defines a recess configured to retain the clamp engaging finger to selectively lock the spring loaded clamp in a locked arrangement.

13. The circular stapler of claim 12, wherein the recess of the spring loaded clamp is configured to frictionally engage the clamp engaging finger to retain the clamp engaging finger therein.

14. The circular stapler of claim 13, wherein axial movement of the clamp engaging finger disengages the clamp engaging finger from the recess of the spring loaded clamp and positions the spring loaded clamp in an unlocked arrangement such that the extension portion of the anvil buttress member is released from the anvil assembly.

9. A circular stapler comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongate body that extends from the handle assembly;

an end effector mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, the end effector including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly being selectively movable relative to the cartridge assembly between an approximated position and an unapproximated position;

an anvil buttress member supported on the anvil assembly, the buttress member having a body portion and an extension portion that extends from the body portion, the anvil assembly including a spring loaded clamp that secures the extension portion of the anvil buttress member to the anvil assembly so that the body portion of the anvil buttress member is supported over a tissue engaging surface of the anvil assembly; and

a knife assembly including a knife, the spring loaded clamp including a lockout assembly that retains the spring loaded clamp in a locked arrangement to maintain the extension portion of the anvil buttress member secured to the anvil assembly, the knife being movable to position the lockout assembly in an unlocked arrangement, the spring loaded clamp being configured to release the extension portion of the anvil buttress member when the lockout assembly is disposed in the unlocked arrangement.