Surgical stapling apparatus having a wound closure material applicator assembly

• US 20050145671A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,431,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

This disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined. The apparatus includes a staple anvil, a staple cartridge, a driving member for driving the surgical staples from individual staple slots in the staple cartridge and against the staple anvil, and a wound closure material applicator assembly. The applicator assembly includes at least one conduit extending along at least a length of the driving member, anvil and/or cartridge and at least one reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one conduit, the reservoir containing a wound closure material therein. The staples can be coated with a wound closure material.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined, the surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a staple anvil positioned on a distal end of the stapling apparatus and having a working surface;

a staple cartridge positioned adjacent a distal end of the stapling apparatus and juxtaposable relative to the staple anvil, the staple cartridge including;

a working surface;

one or more rows of individual staple slots formed in the working surface; and

a plurality of surgical staples individually disposed within the individual staple slots;

a driving member for firing the surgical staples from the individual staple slots and against the staple anvil; and

a wound closure material applicator assembly operatively associated with the stapling apparatus, the applicator assembly including;

at least one conduit extending along at least a length of the driving member; and

at least one reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one conduit, the reservoir being for containing a wound closure material therein, and the conduit having at least one opening and being adapted to provide wound closure material therethrough to an area between the working surface of the staple anvil and the staple cartridge.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit includes a plurality of openings formed therein for dispensing the wound closure material therefrom.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein longitudinal translation of the driving member causes longitudinal translation of the at least one conduit across at least some of the individual staple slots, such that at least one of the plurality of openings is in communication with at least one of the staple slots.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one reservoir is compressible, and wherein compression of the at least one reservoir causes the wound closure material to be dispensed from the at least one opening of the at least one conduit.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wound closure material is at least one of an adhesive, a hemostat and a sealant.

12. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the plurality of surgical staples is coated with the wound closure material.

13. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a knife blade operatively connected thereto, wherein the knife blade is coated with the wound closure material.

5. A disposable loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined, the surgical stapling apparatus being of the type having a frame, a first shaft having a distal end, and an actuation mechanism to drive a drive member distally through the shaft, the disposable loading unit comprising:

an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end adapted to be operably connected to the distal end of the first shaft;

a staple anvil positioned on a distal end of the elongated shaft and having a working surface;

a staple cartridge positioned adjacent a distal end of the elongated shaft and juxtaposable relative to the staple anvil, the staple cartridge including;

a working surface;

one or more rows of individual staple slots formed in the working surface; and

a plurality of surgical staples individually disposed within the individual staple slots; and

at least one conduit extending along at least a length of the staple cartridge in proximity to the working surface.

6. The disposable loading unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one conduit is adapted to be in fluid communication with at least one reservoir, the reservoir being for containing a wound closure material, wherein the at least one conduit includes at least one aperture formed along a length thereof.

7. The disposable loading unit as claimed in any of claims 5 to 6, wherein the reservoir is formed of a compressible material, wherein compression of the reservoir will dispense the wound closure material from the at least one aperture formed in the at least one conduit.

8. The disposable loading unit as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the working surface is provided with a series of apertures formed along a length thereof and wherein the wound closure material is dispensed through the apertures formed in the length of the working surface.

9. A surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined, the surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a staple anvil positioned on a distal end of the stapling apparatus, the staple anvil including;

a working surface;

a longitudinal cavity formed in the working surface;

a plurality of staple forming recesses formed in the working surface; and

a wound closure material retained in at least a length of the staple anvil for dispensing wound closure material into or onto the body tissue.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the wound closure material is retained in the longitudinal cavity.