Surgical stapler end effector with tapered distal end

• US 20080169333A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Application Number:
  US11/652,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169333A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

An end effector for a surgical stapler. Various embodiments include a channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein. A first tip portion is attached to or formed on a distal end of one of the channel and staple cartridge wherein the first tip portion may have a first upwardly extending curved outer surface. An anvil is movably coupled to the channel and is selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to the staple cartridge in response to opening and closing motions applied to the anvil. A second tip portion is attached to or formed on a distal end thereof. The second tip portion may have a second downwardly extending curved surface such that when the anvil is in the closed position, the second tip portion cooperates with the first tip portion to define a blunt end effector nose. In various embodiments, the end effector nose has a substantially paraboloid outer surface.

Claims

1. An end effector for a surgical stapler, comprising:

a channel configured for operably supporting a staple cartridge therein;

a staple cartridge supported within said channel;

a first tip portion on a distal end of one of said channel and said staple cartridge, said first tip portion having a first upwardly extending substantially curved outer surface; and

an anvil movably coupled to said channel and selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge in response to opening and closing motions applied to said anvil, said anvil having a second tip portion on a distal end thereof that has a second downwardly extending substantially curved outer surface, such that when said anvil is in said closed position, said second outer surface of said second tip portion cooperates with said first outer surface of said first tip portion to define a blunt end effector nose.

2. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said end effector nose has a substantially paraboloid outer surface.

3. The end effector of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second cartridge tip portions is fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of plastic and rubber.

4. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said first tip portion is attached to said distal end of one of said staple cartridge and said channel by snap features.

5. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said first tip portion is attached to said distal end of one of said staple cartridge and said channel by an adhesive material.

6. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said first tip portion is attached to said distal end of one of said staple cartridge and said channel by snap features and adhesive.

7. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said second tip portion is attached to said distal end of said anvil by snap features formed on at least one of said anvil and said second tip portion.

8. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said second tip portion is attached to said distal end of said anvil by an adhesive material.

9. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said second tip portion is attached to said distal end of said anvil by snap features formed on at least one of said anvil and said second tip portion and adhesive.

10. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said channel has a curved profile.

11. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, comprising:

obtaining one of the end effectors of claim 1;

sterilizing said end effector; and

storing said end effector in a sterile container.

12. A surgical stapling device comprising:

a channel configured for operably supporting a staple cartridge therein;

a staple cartridge supported within said channel;

a first tip portion on a distal end of one of said channel and said staple cartridge;

an anvil movably coupled to said channel and selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge in response to opening and closing motions applied to said anvil, said anvil having a second tip portion on a distal end thereof such that when said anvil is in said closed position, said second tip portion cooperates with said first tip portion to define an end effector nose having a substantially paraboloid outer surface; and

a member operably supported in said channel and coupled to a drive system for selectively driving said member from a proximal end of said channel to a distal end of said channel and return said member to said proximal end of said channel, said member cooperating with said staple cartridge to drive staples supported therein into forming contact with said anvil as said member is driven from said proximal end of said channel to said distal end of said channel.

13. The surgical stapling device of claim 12 wherein said anvil has a vertical slot inwardly open along a longitudinal axis of the anvil configured to receive a portion of said member therein as said member is driven in said channel.

14. The surgical stapling device of claim 13 wherein said second tip portion has a vertical tip slot therein that registers with said vertical slot in said anvil when said second tip portion is affixed to said distal end of said anvil.

15. The surgical stapling device of claim 12 wherein at least one of said first and second tip portions is fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of plastic and rubber.

16. The surgical stapling device of claim 12 wherein said channel has a curved profile.

17. A kit for use in connection with an end effector for a surgical stapling device that has a channel that operably supports a staple cartridge therein and an anvil that is movably coupled to the channel and is selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to the staple cartridge in response to opening and closing motions applied to the anvil, said kit comprising:

a first tip portion for attachment to a distal end of one of the channel and the staple cartridge; and

an second tip portion for attachment to a distal end of the anvil such that when the anvil is in the closed position, said second tip portion cooperates with said first tip portion to define an end effector nose having a substantially paraboloid outer surface.

18. The kit of claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second tip portions is fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of plastic and rubber.

19. The kit of claim 17 wherein said first tip portion is attachable to the distal end of one of the channel and the staple cartridge by snap features and wherein said second tip portion is attachable to the distal end of the anvil by other snap features.

20. The kit of claim 17 wherein said first tip portion is attachable to the distal end of one of the staple cartridge and channel by adhesive and wherein said second tip portion is attachable to the distal end of the anvil by the adhesive.