Surgical Stapling Apparatus

• US 20110297731A1
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Aranyi, Ernie, Mozdzierz, Patrick, Olson, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/07207 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 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly that are movable in relation to one another; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly between proximal and distal positions, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A surgical fastening apparatus, comprising:

a tool assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly;

at least one surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly, the at least one surgical buttress secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one connecting member, the at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly configured to receive a portion of the at least one connecting member;

a drive assembly translatable through the tool assembly;

a release assembly operatively associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly, at least one surface of the release assembly engaging a portion of the at least one connecting member to maintain the at least one buttress secured to the tissue contacting surface of the at least one anvil assembly and cartridge assembly; and

the drive assembly configured to actuate the release assembly, wherein the release assembly and at least one connecting member disengage upon actuation of the release assembly and, wherein the at least one buttress is releasable from the respective tissue contacting surface.

22. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 21, wherein the release assembly and at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly exerts a compressive force on the at least one connecting member prior to actuation by the drive assembly.

23. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one connecting member extends through the tissue contacting surface of the at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly.

24. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly includes a slot for the receipt of the at least one connecting member.

25. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one connecting member is a suture.

28. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one anchor member extends through the tissue contacting surface of the at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly.

26. A surgical fastening apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly configured to be approximated toward each other;

at least one surgical buttress releasably secured against at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly by at least one anchor member;

a release assembly in mechanical communication with the at least one anchor member to maintain the at least one surgical buttress secured against the at least one cartridge assembly and anvil assembly;

a drive assembly translatable toward the release assembly, wherein upon contact with the releasable assembly the drive assembly urges the release assembly away from the at least one anchor member to release the at least one surgical buttress from the respective tissue contacting surface.

27. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 26, wherein the release assembly and at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly exerts a compressive force on the at least one anchor member prior to actuation by the drive assembly.

29. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly includes a slot for the receipt of the at least one anchor member.

30. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one anchor member is a suture.

31. A surgical fastening apparatus, comprising;

an instrument housing;

an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly disposed on opposing surfaces of the instrument housing;

at least one surgical buttress removably attached to at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly with at least one securing member, wherein the at least one securing member extends through the tissue contacting surface of the at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly

a release assembly in mechanical communication with the at least one securing member to maintain the at least one surgical buttress secured against the at least one cartridge assembly and anvil assembly;

wherein in a first condition the at least one securing member is compressed by the release assembly, and in a second condition the at least one securing member is substantially free from compression by the release assembly, and actuation of the surgical fastening apparatus transitions the release assembly between the first and second conditions.

32. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 31, wherein the release assembly and at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly exerts a compressive force on the at least one securing member prior to actuation by the surgical fastening apparatus.

33. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one securing member extends through the tissue contacting surface of the at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly.

34. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 31, wherein at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly includes a slot for the receipt of the at least one securing member.

35. The surgical fastening apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one securing member is a suture.