SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS WITH REPROCESSIBLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY

• US 20090206123A1
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Bret W., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Kelly, William D., Doll, Kevin R., Scheib, Charles J., Uth, Joshua R., Kolata, Ronald J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• 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 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2906 Multiple forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments

Abstract

A reusable surgical stapling apparatus that is configured for use with disposable loading units. Various embodiments include a first handle segment and a second handle segment that is detachably coupled to the first handle segment to form a handle housing. A firing assembly may be removably supported in the handle housing as a lift out removable unit for sterilization purposes. Various sterilization methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A reusable surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first handle segment;

a second handle segment detachably coupled to said first handle segment to form a handle housing;

a firing assembly removably supported in said handle housing as a lift out removable unit and comprising a movable handle and an actuation shaft mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of said movable handle; and

a control rod assembly having a proximal end removably interfacing with said firing assembly, said control rod assembly protruding outward from said handle housing and having a distal end configured to be operably attached to a disposable loading unit.

2. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said firing assembly comprises a lift out internal frame assembly movably supporting said actuation shaft therein and having said movable handle movably coupled thereto.

3. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said firing assembly operably supports a sensor link therein configured to interact with said control rod assembly such that when a disposable loading unit is not operably coupled to the distal end of the control rod assembly, said sensor link prevents the linear movement of said actuation shaft.

4. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3 wherein said firing assembly further comprises a firing lockout override assembly operably interfacing with said sensor link to selectively manipulate said sensor link to permit said actuation shaft to be moved by manipulating said movable handle when a disposable loading unit is not operably coupled to said distal end of said control rod assembly.

7. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lift out internal frame assembly has at least one opening therein to permit a cleaning medium to enter therein.

8. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lift out internal frame assembly has lubrication instructions thereon.

9. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second handle housing segment is detachably coupled to said first handle housing segment by at least one bayonet fastener.

10. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1;

removing the control rod assembly and the firing assembly from the handle housing;

sterilizing the control rod assembly, first and second handle segments, and the firing assembly; and

reinstalling the control rod assembly and the firing assembly in the handle housing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said sterilizing comprises applying a cleaning medium to the control rod assembly, the first and second housing segments and the firing assembly.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

drying the cleaning medium on the control rod assembly, the first and second housing segments and the firing assembly; and

applying a lubricant to the firing assembly prior to said reinstalling.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said sterilizing comprises applying radiation to the control rod assembly, the first and second housing segments and the firing assembly.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said sterilizing comprises applying at least one sterilization medium to components of said surgical stapling apparatus, the sterilization medium selected from the group of sterilization mediums consisting of:

Ethylene Oxide liquid, Ethylene Oxide vapor, Peroxide liquid, and Peroxide vapor.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said reinstalling comprises:

placing the first housing segment into a complementary-shaped cavity in an assembly member;

placing the firing system into the first housing segment;

coupling the control rod assembly to the firing assembly; and

coupling the second housing segment to the first housing segment.

16. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1;

removing the control rod assembly and the firing assembly from the handle housing;

repairing or replacing a portion of the surgical stapling apparatus;

sterilizing the control rod, first and second handle segments and firing assembly; and

reinstalling the control rod assembly and the firing assembly in the handle housing.

17. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical stapling apparatus of claim 4;

operating the firing lockout override assembly to cause the sensor link to move to an unlocked position;

manipulating the movable handle to cause the actuation shaft to drive a control rod in the control rod assembly distally such that a distal end of the control rod protrudes out of an outer casing portion of the control rod assembly; and

applying a cleaning medium to at least the portion of the control rod protruding from the outer casing portion.

5. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of clam 2 further comprising a retraction mechanism interfacing with said actuation shaft to enable said actuation shaft to be selectively moved to a retracted position within said internal frame assembly.

6. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 5 wherein said retraction mechanism comprises a connection rod that remains coupled to said actuation shaft when said firing assembly is lifted out of said handle housing.

18. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

removing the control rod assembly and the firing assembly from the handle housing;

sterilizing the control rod assembly, first and second handle segments, and the firing assembly; and

reinstalling the control rod assembly and the firing assembly in the handle housing.

19. A reusable surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first handle segment;

a second handle segment detachably coupled to said first handle segment by at least one quick disconnect fastener to form a handle housing;

a firing assembly sized to be removably supported within said handle housing and removed therefrom as a unit, said firing assembly comprising;

an internal frame assembly;

a movable handle operably coupled to said internal frame assembly;

an actuation shaft mounted for longitudinal movement within said internal frame assembly, said actuation shaft longitudinally movable in a distal direction in response to manipulation of said movable handle and a proximal direction in response to a retraction motion applied thereto;

a retraction mechanism coupled to said actuation shaft for selectively applying said retraction motion to said actuation shaft; and

a control rod assembly having a proximal end removably interfacing with said firing assembly, said control rod assembly protruding outward from said handle housing and having a distal end configured to be operably attached to a disposable loading unit.

20. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19 wherein said retraction mechanism comprises a connection rod that remains coupled to said actuation shaft when said firing assembly is lifted out of said handle housing.

21. The reusable surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19 wherein said internal frame assembly has at least one opening therein to permit a cleaning fluid to enter therein.

22. A reusable surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first handle segment;

a second handle segment;

means for detachably coupling said second housing segment to said first segment to form a handle housing;

a firing assembly sized to be removably supported within said handle housing and removed therefrom as a unit, said firing assembly comprising;

an internal frame assembly;

a movable handle operably coupled to said internal frame assembly;

an actuation shaft mounted for longitudinal movement within said internal frame assembly, said actuation shaft longitudinally movable in a distal direction in response to manipulation of said movable handle and a proximal direction in response to a retraction motion applied thereto;

means for selectively applying said retraction motion to said actuation shaft; and

a control rod assembly having a proximal end removably interfacing with said firing assembly, said control rod assembly protruding outward from said handle housing and having a distal end configured to be operably attached to a disposable loading unit.