TILT TOP ANVIL WITH TORSION SPRING

• US 20130092720A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Williams, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 8,708,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/181.1
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work

Abstract

A tilt anvil assembly is disclosed which includes a center rod, a head assembly, and a torsion spring configured to pivot the head assembly relative to the center rod. The head assembly has a locking collar defining a locked position preventing pivotal movement of the head assembly, and an unlocked position allowing pivotal movement of the head assembly. The torsion spring selectively engages the locking collar to maintain the locking collar at either the locked or unlocked position.

Claims

1. A tilt anvil assembly comprising:

a center rod;

a head assembly including a housing, a locking collar, and an anvil plate having staple deforming pockets; and

a torsion spring configured to pivot the head assembly relative to the center rod.

2. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking collar has a locked position preventing pivotal movement of the head assembly, and an unlocked position allowing pivotal movement of the head assembly.

3. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking collar includes three tabs extending inwardly towards a central opening of the locking collar, and wherein two of the three tabs are placed diametrically opposed to each other, and a third tab is placed equidistant from the other two tabs.

4. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the torsion spring includes a coiled structure and at least one biasing member extending radially outwardly from the coiled structure.

5. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 4, wherein the two biasing members of the torsion spring have a normal configuration in which the two biasing members define an acute angle therebetween.

6. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 5, wherein the torsion spring comprises a resilient material such that the two biasing members have tendency to return to their normal configuration when biased.

7. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one biasing member includes a middle member having an arcuate profile.

8. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 7, wherein the middle member is configured to engage the locking collar to facilitate holding the locking collar at a locked position preventing pivotal movement of the head assembly.

9. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 7, wherein the middle member is configured to engage the locking collar to maintain the locking collar at an unlocked position preventing proximal movement of the locking collar and allowing pivotal movement of the head assembly.

10. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking collar has a tab to selectively engage the torsion spring.

11. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tab includes a first inclined internal wall and a second inclined internal wall.

12. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 4, wherein the post defines a transverse slot therein to accommodate the at least one biasing member of the torsion spring.

13. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 4, the torsion spring includes two biasing members.

14. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 1, the center rod defines a cavity therein to accommodate the torsion spring and the post of the head assembly.

15. A tilt anvil assembly according to claim 1, wherein the head assembly is pivotable between non-tilted and tilted positions relative to the center rod.

16. A method for pivoting an anvil head assembly of a surgical anvil assembly comprising the steps of:

providing an anvil assembly including

a rod,

a head assembly,

a locking collar, and

a torsion spring configured to pivot the head assembly relative to the rod, defining a normal configuration and a biased configuration; and

tilting the head assembly as the torsion spring transitions from the biased configuration to the original configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of locking the head assembly at a non-tilted position via the locking collar.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of unlocking the head assembly from the non-tilted position.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of firing the stapler to advance a knife blade into the locking collar, moving the locking collar from a locked position preventing pivotal movement of the head assembly to an unlocked position allowing pivotal movement of the head assembly.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of maintaining the locking collar at the unlocked position while extracting the knife blade from the locking collar.