Small diameter endoscopic stapler

• US 9,987,004 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2017
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kostrzewski, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Hemant M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Tanzim
• Application Number:
  US15/814,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical stapler is described herein which includes a shaft portion and a tool assembly supported on a distal end of the shaft portion. The too assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge body which rotatably supports a plurality of staples within notches. At least one firing cam is provided to sequentially to engage and rotate each of the staples to fire the staples from the cartridge body. In embodiments, the cartridge body includes two spaced legs which support two linear rows of staples. Each of the spaced legs of the cartridge body is supported within one of a first and a second cartridge channel. The cartridge channels are fixed to opposite sides of a pivot member which is pivotally supported at a distal end of the shaft portion between the shaft portion and the tool assembly such that translation of the first and second cartridge channels in opposite directions effects articulation of the tool assembly in relation to the shaft portion.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end;

first and second cartridge channels extending through the shaft portion, each of the first and second cartridge channels having a distal end defining a U-shaped member;

a pivot member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft portion, the pivot member being fixedly coupled to the first cartridge channel by a first post and fixedly coupled to the second cartridge channel by a second post; and

a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, the cartridge body having a first leg supported in the U-shaped member of the first cartridge channel and a second leg supported in the U-shaped member of the second cartridge channel;

wherein the first and second cartridge channels are movable axially in opposite directions to pivot the pivot member in relation to the shaft portion and effect articulation of the tool assembly.

2. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, further including a first articulation link having a distal end secured to a proximal end of the first cartridge channel and a second articulation link secured to a proximal end of the second cartridge channel, the first and second articulation links being axially movable to effect axial movement of the first and second cartridge channels in relation to each other to pivot the pivot member in relation to the shaft portion.

3. The surgical stapler according to claim 2, further including a pivotal articulation member interconnecting the first articulation link to the second articulation link such that movement of the first articulation link in one direction effects movement of the second articulation link in an opposite direction.

4. The surgical stapler according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of staples are rotatably supported in the cartridge assembly, and wherein the surgical stapler further comprises a first firing cam and a second firing cam.

5. The surgical stapler according to claim 4, wherein the staples have a shape of an open loop.

6. The surgical stapler according to claim 5, wherein the staples have two legs.

7. The surgical stapler according to claim 6, wherein the staples have a backspan that is positioned in a notch in the cartridge assembly.

8. The surgical stapler according to claim 6, wherein movement of the first firing cam and the second firing cam rotates the staples into engagement with the anvil and deforms the legs of the staples into a closed shape.

9. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

a shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first cartridge channel and a second cartridge channel extending through the shaft portion;

a pivot member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft portion, the pivot member being fixedly coupled to the first cartridge channel by a first post and fixedly coupled to the second cartridge channel by a second post; and

a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, the cartridge body having a first leg supported in the first cartridge channel and a second leg supported in the second cartridge channel;

wherein the first and second cartridge channels are movable axially in opposite directions to pivot the pivot member in relation to the shaft portion and effect articulation of the tool assembly.

10. The surgical stapling instrument according to claim 9, wherein each of the first and second cartridge channels have a distal end defining a U-shaped member.

11. The surgical stapling instrument according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of staples each have two legs and a backspan.

12. The surgical stapling instrument according to claim 11, wherein the staples are rotatably supported in the cartridge assembly for engagement with a first firing cam and a second firing cam.

13. The surgical stapling instrument according to claim 9, further including a first articulation link having a distal end secured to a proximal end of the first cartridge channel and a second articulation link secured to a proximal end of the second cartridge channel.