Anvil assembly with improved cut ring

• US 20070181632A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Milliman, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/179.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

An anvil assembly for use with a surgical stapler is provided. The anvil assembly includes a cut ring assembly having a body and a cover. The cover has a first layer of material having a first hardness to allow penetration by a knife of a surgical stapler and at least one additional layer of material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness to minimize penetration of the cover by a knife of a surgical stapler.

Claims

1. An anvil assembly comprising:

a head assembly including a housing supporting an anvil plate having a plurality of staple deforming pockets and a cut ring assembly supported within the housing adjacent the anvil plate, the cut ring assembly including a body and a cover fastened to the body, the cover including a first layer formed of a first material having a hardness which allows penetration by a knife of a surgical stapler and at least one additional layer formed of a second harder material having a hardness to minimize penetration by a knife of a surgical stapler.

2. An anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover is fastened to the body by an adhesive.

3. An anvil assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first layer is fastened to the at least one additional layer by an adhesive.

4. An anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the anvil plate and the cut ring assembly are annular and the cut ring assembly is positioned within a recess defined by the anvil plate.

5. An anvil assembly according to claim 4, wherein the head assembly further includes a central post extending from the housing, the anvil plate and the cut ring assembly being positioned about the central post.

6. An anvil assembly according to claim 5, further including an anvil center rod extending outwardly from the central post.

7. A cut ring assembly for use with an anvil assembly comprising:

a body and a cover fastened to the body, the cover including a first layer formed of a first material having a first hardness to allow penetration of the cover by a knife of a surgical stapler and at least one additional layer formed of a second material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness to minimize penetration of the cover by a knife of a surgical stapler.

8. A cut ring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first layer of the cover is formed from polypropylene and the at least one second layer is formed from polyester.

9. A cut ring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first layer is about 0.001 inches in thickness and the at least one second layer is about 0.002 inches in thickness.

10. A cut ring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first and second layers are joined together using an adhesive.

11. A cut ring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cover is fastened to the body using an adhesive.

12. A cut ring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the body is formed from polyethylene.

13. An anvil assembly comprising:

a head assembly including a housing and an anvil plate, the anvil plate having a plurality of staple deforming pockets; and

a cut ring assembly supported within the housing, the cut ring assembly including a body and a cover, the cover fastened to the body such that the body is positioned between a distal wall of the housing and the cover, wherein at least a portion of the cover is formed of a material that is harder than the body.

14. An anvil assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cover is fastened to the body using an adhesive.

15. An anvil assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cover includes a first layer formed of a first material having a first hardness and at least one additional layer formed of a second material having a second hardness, the second material being harder than the first material.

16. An anvil assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first layer and the at least one additional layer are joined together using an adhesive.

17. An anvil assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first layer is formed from polypropylene and the at least one additional layer is formed from a polyester.

18. An anvil assembly according to claim 15, wherein the at least one additional layer includes a second layer and a third layer, the second and third layers being formed of the second harder material.

19. An anvil assembly according to claim 18, wherein the first layer is formed from polypropylene and the second and third layers are formed from polyester.

20. An anvil assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first layer is about 0.001 inches in thickness and at least one additional layer is about 0.002 inches in thickness.

21. An anvil assembly according to claim 13, wherein the anvil plate and the cut ring assembly are annular and the cut ring assembly is positioned within a recess defined by the anvil plate.

22. An anvil assembly according to claim 13, wherein the body is formed from polyethylene.

23. An anvil assembly according to claim 13, wherein the at least a portion the cover is formed from polyester.