Tool assembly for a surgical stapling device

• US 8,061,577 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Lee Ann, Beardsley, John W., Emmons, Clifford L., Racenet, David C., Roy, Philip, Stearns, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand; Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez; Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/900,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/181.1, 227/19, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical stapling device including an independently rotatable tool assembly is disclosed. The tool assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge assembly which are movable in relation to each other between spaced and approximated positions.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling device, comprising:

a tool assembly, including;

an anvil;

a cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples;

a dynamic clamping member, the dynamic clamping member having an upper flange for engaging the anvil and a lower flange for engaging the cartridge assembly, the anvil and cartridge assembly being movable in relation to each other between open and clamped positions;

a sled slidably positioned to translate through the cartridge assembly to eject the staples from the cartridge assembly, the dynamic clamping member being positioned proximally of the sled in engagement therewith and translatable through the cartridge assembly;

a clamp ring movable from a retracted position to an advanced position encircling proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly from exceeding a predetermined distance;

a drive mechanism for advancing the clamp ring and dynamic clamping member;

wherein the drive mechanism includes a flexible member attached to the dynamic clamping member and movable distally to advance the dynamic clamping member distally through the cartridge assembly and a sheath positioned about the flexible member, the sheath being connected to the clamp ring.

2. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the dynamic clamping member includes a knife blade for cutting tissue.

3. The surgical stapling device of Claim 1, wherein the dynamic clamping member includes a recess for receiving a distal end of the flexible member.

4. The surgical stapling device of claim 3, wherein the distal end of the flexible member is shaped to conform to the recess.

5. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly has a cam surface and the lower flange engages the cam surface to pivot the cartridge assembly from the spaced position to the approximated position.

6. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the tool assembly is mounted for articulation about a pivot axis.

7. The surgical stapling device of claim 6, further comprising a pivot member at the pivot axis.

8. The surgical stapling device of claim 7, further comprising an articulation link attached to the tool assembly at a location offset from the pivot member.

9. The surgical stapling device of claim 8, further comprising a collar, the pivot member being connected to the collar.

10. The surgical stapling device of claim 9, wherein the anvil and cartridge assembly are rotatable in relation to the collar.

11. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the clamp ring remains positioned around the proximal end of the anvil and the proximal end of the cartridge assembly while the dynamic clamping member moves to eject the staples from the cartridge.

12. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, further comprising an endoscopic body portion, the tool assembly being supported at a distal end of the endoscopic body portion.

13. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly for actuating the tool assembly.