Disposable loading unit and surgical instruments including same

• US 7,354,447 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Fugikawa, Leslie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez; Michelle
• Application Number:
  US11/271,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 227/180.1, 227/175.1, 227/19, 606/219, 606/205, 606/167, 606/75, 606/220, 606/221, 606/181, 606/182, 606/183, 604/19, 604/20, 604/22, 604/501
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A disposable loading unit. The disposable loading unit includes a housing assembly, a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly, and an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly. The agent cartridge houses a medical agent. The disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly.

Claims

1. A disposable loading unit, comprising:

a housing assembly;

a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly;

an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly, wherein the agent cartridge houses a medical agent, and wherein the disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly; and

at least one medical agent driver in contact with the agent cartridge, wherein the at least one medical agent driver comprises an electrically activated polymer.

2. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the knife assembly comprises a first surface that defines a first groove proximate the cutting surface, wherein the first groove is in fluid communication with the agent cartridge, and wherein the first groove is configured to deliver the medical agent from the agent cartridge proximate to the cutting surface.

3. The disposable loading unit of claim 2, wherein the knife assembly further comprises a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface defines a second groove proximate the cutting surface, wherein the second groove is in fluid communication with the agent cartridge, and wherein the second groove is configured to deliver the medical agent from the agent cartridge proximate to the cutting surface.

4. The disposable loading unit of claim 2, wherein the agent cartridge comprises:

a body; and

a first dispensing port defined by the body, wherein the first dispensing port is in fluid communication with the first groove.

5. The disposable loading unit of claim 4, wherein the knife assembly further comprises a second surface that defines a second groove proximate the cutting surface, and wherein the body further defines a second dispensing port in fluid communication with the second groove.

6. The disposable loading unit of claim 4, wherein the agent cartridge further comprises a first cavity configured to house the medical agent therein, and wherein the first cavity is at least partially defined by a first sealing member connected to the body.

7. The disposable loading unit of claim 6, wherein the agent cartridge further comprises a second cavity configured to house the medical agent therein, and wherein the second cavity is at least partially defined by a second sealing member connected to the body.

8. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a staple cartridge connected to the housing assembly; and

an anvil assembly connected to the housing assembly.

9. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one conductor configured to place the electrically activated polymer in electrical communication with a voltage source.

10. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the medical agent driver is expandable to dispense the medical agent from the agent cartridge when placed in electrical communication with a voltage source.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated body connected to the handle assembly; and

a disposable loading unit releasably connected to the elongated body, wherein the disposable loading unit comprises;

a housing assembly;

a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly;

an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly, wherein the agent cartridge houses a medical agent; and

at least one medical agent driver in contact with the agent cartridge, wherein the at least one medical agent driver comprises an electrically activated polymer, and wherein the disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the knife assembly comprises at least one surface that defines a groove proximate the cutting surface, wherein the groove is in fluid communication with the agent cartridge, and wherein the groove is configured to deliver the medical agent from the agent cartridge proximate to the cutting surface.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the agent cartridge comprises:

a body; and

at least one dispensing port defined by the body, wherein the at least one dispensing port is in fluid communication with the groove.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11, further comprising:

a staple cartridge connected to the housing assembly; and

an anvil assembly connected to the housing assembly.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11, further comprising at least one conductor configured to place the electrically activated polymer in electrical communication with a voltage source.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the electrically activated polymer is expandable to dispense the medical agent from the agent cartridge when placed in electrical communication with a voltage source.

17. An assembly for a surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

a cutting member relatively movable with respect to the housing, the cutting member having a cutting surface;

an agent cartridge connected to the housing, wherein the agent cartridge includes a cavity configured to house a medical agent therein; and

a driver engaged with the agent cartridge to dispense the medical agent from the agent cartridge, wherein the driver comprises an electrically activatable polymer.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a handle and an elongate body extending from the handle, and wherein the assembly is configured to be releasably connected to the elongate body.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the agent cartridge is directly connected to the housing.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the cutting member includes a groove proximate the cutting surface, wherein the groove is in fluid communication with the cavity of the agent cartridge, and wherein the groove is configured to deliver the medical agent from the cavity proximate to the cutting surface.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the agent cartridge comprises a body and at least one dispensing port defined by the body, and wherein the at least one dispensing port is in fluid communication with the cavity and the groove.

22. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a staple cartridge connected to the housing.

23. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising at least one conductor configured to place the electrically activatable polymer in electrical communication with a voltage source.

24. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the electrically activatable polymer is expandable to dispense the medical agent from the agent cartridge when placed in electrical communication with a voltage source.