DEVICES AND METHODS FOR INTRODUCING A SURGICAL CIRCULAR STAPLING INSTRUMENT INTO A PATIENT

• US 20110114700A1
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Abbott, Daniel J., Hunt, John V., Baxter, Chester O. III, Wiley, Jeffrey P., Franer, Paul T., Schulte, John B., Silkaitis, Danius P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,899,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/13 the drapes entering the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/17 closed at the distal end

Abstract

Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise cover members that are applied over a stapling head portion of the circular stapler. In some embodiments, the cover members are fabricated from a flexible stretchable material and have a bumper portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal face of the stapling head. The staples may be fired through the cover member and the balance of the cover member is withdrawn from the patient with the stapling head. Other cover embodiments are selectively movable from a position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is covered and other positions wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed.

Claims

1. An introducer for introducing a surgical circular stapler having a stapling head supporting an annular staple cartridge therein into a patient, said introducer comprising a hollow sheath having an open proximal end sized to be inserted over at least a distal portion of the stapling head and a distal end defining a circumferentially extending bumper portion covering a distal face of the annular staple cartridge and extending above a plane formed by the distal face of the staple cartridge.

2. The introducer of claim 1 wherein the annular staple cartridge defines an open central area and wherein said sheath has a central portion extending inwardly from said circumferentially-extending bumper portion to enclose the open central area.

3. The introducer of claim 1 wherein said bumper portion has at least one hollow area formed therein.

4. The introducer of claim 2 wherein said at least one hollow area is filled with air or liquid.

5. The introducer of claim 1 wherein said sheath is fabricated from elastomeric material.

6. The introducer of claim 1 wherein the annular staple cartridge defines an open central area and wherein a portion of said circumferentially extending bumper portion extends below said plane and into the open central area.

7. An introducer for introducing a surgical circular stapler having a stapling head into a patient, said introducer comprising a cover member having a body portion sized to be installed on a portion of the stapling head of the circular stapler, said body portion having a plurality of flexible fingers that protrude distally from said body portion such that a distal tip of each said finger converges toward each other to cover a distal face of the stapling head when said body portion is installed thereon.

8. The introducer of claim 7 wherein said body portion is sized relative to the stapling head to enable said body portion to slide proximally on the stapling head upon application of a retraction motion thereto to cause said plurality of converging flexible fingers to flex open to receive the stapling head therebetween and thereby expose the distal face of the stapling head.

9. The introducer of claim 8 wherein said body portion has a retraction member formed on at least a portion of a proximal end thereof.

10. The introducer of claim 7 wherein said body portion is a substantially C-shaped and sized to be snapped onto a portion of the stapling head of the circular stapler.

11. An introducer for introducing a surgical circular stapler having a stapling head and an axially movable trocar into a patient, said introducer comprising a cover member having a centrally-disposed hub configured to be engaged by a distal end portion of the trocar when the cover member is installed on the stapling head and the distal end portion of the trocar is advanced distally beyond a distal face of the stapling head, said centrally-disposed hub having at least three fingers protruding therefrom, each said finger having a proximal end portion configured to retainingly engage the stapling head.

12. The introducer of claim 11 wherein each said finger is fabricated from rigid material and the proximal end of each said finger is oriented to snapping engage the stapling head.

13. The introducer of claim 11 wherein the proximal end of each said finger has a retention portion formed thereon to engage an internal wall portion of the stapling head.

14. The introducer of claim 11 further comprising a retaining member extending around and attached to each of said fingers to substantially enclose a distal end of said cover member.

15. The introducer of claim 14 wherein said fingers are fabricated from flexible material such that when the distal end of the trocar is in engagement with said hole in said centrally-disposed end and the distal end portion of the trocar is retracted proximally into the stapling head, said fingers flex distally such that portions of each said finger extend distally beyond a distal tip of the trocar.

16. An introducer for introducing a surgical circular stapler having a stapling head into a patient, said introducer comprising:

a strip member forming a ring-like base portion sized to engage a distal end portion of the stapling head and being wound from said base portion in a spirally wound closed-ended configuration to substantially cover a distal face of the stapling head;

a retainer member retaining the strip member in the spiral wound closed-ended configuration and said base portion in retaining engagement with the distal end portion of the stapling head; and

a release member coupled to a portion of said strip member such that upon application of a release motion to said release member, said strip member unwinds from engagement with the distal portion of the stapling head.

17. The introducer of claim 16 wherein said retainer member comprises a shrink wrap material applied around at least a portion of the spirally wound close ended configuration.

18. The introducer of claim 16 wherein said release member comprises a suture attached to said strip member.

19. An introducer for introducing a surgical circular stapler having a stapling head into a patient, said introducer comprising:

a base portion sized to engage a distal end portion of the stapling head;

at least three flexible segment portions extending distally from said base portion such that a distal tip of each said flexible segment portion converge toward each other to a closed position to cover a distal face of the stapling head when said base portion is installed thereon;

a retainer releaseably retaining the at least three flexible segment portions in said closed position; and

a release member cooperating with said retainer such that, upon application of a release motion to said release member, said retainer permits said at least three segment members to flex open as the introducer is advanced proximally over the stapling head to thereby expose the distal face of the stapling head.

20. The introducer of claim 19 wherein said retainer comprises shrink wrap material encapsulating at least a portion of the introducer.

21. The introducer of claim 19 wherein said retainer comprises a radially extending tab member attached between at least two said flexible segment portions.

22. A method of introducing a surgical circular stapler having a handle assembly, an elongated shaft protruding from the handle assembly, a stapling head coupled to the elongated shaft, and a removably attachable anvil into a patient, said method comprising:

removing the anvil from the stapler;

installing a removable cover member onto a portion of the stapling head such that a portion of the removable cover member protrudes distally beyond a distal face of the stapling head;

inserting the stapling head and cover into the patient; and

removing the cover from the stapling head.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said removable cover member completely encloses the distal face of the stapling head, but does not cover the elongated shaft.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said removing the cover member from the stapling head comprises:

engaging the cover member with a trocar in the stapler to disengage the cover member form the stapling head; and

removing the cover member from the patient without removing the stapler from the patient.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said removing the cover member from the stapling head comprises:

attaching the anvil to the stapler;

firing the stapler to drive staples through the cover member; and

removing unstapled portions of the cover member from the patient.