Indicators for surgical staplers

• US 8,561,871 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rajappa, Ranjit, Perumal, Sekar
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/953,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/4, 227/19, 227/182.1, 340/540, 340/542, 704/32, 200/61.62, 200/61.71
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical stapler including one or more visual indicators is provided. The surgical stapler includes a body and a stapling assembly positioned at a distal portion of the body. The stapling assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. An alignment pin is mounted on the stapling assembly and configured to engage the anvil assembly. A visual indicator of engagement of the alignment pin with the anvil assembly, clamping and/or stapling can be provided.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a body;

a stapling assembly positioned at a distal portion of the body, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly;

an alignment pin mounted on the stapling assembly and configured to engage the anvil assembly; and

a pin receiving mechanism positioned on the anvil assembly and configured to illuminate a first visual indicator upon engagement of the alignment pin with the anvil assembly.

2. The stapler of claim 1, wherein the pin receiving mechanism is an alignment mechanism and includes an alignment cap mounted on an end of the anvil assembly and an opening therein for receiving the alignment pin, and a switch assembly mounted within the alignment cap configured to effect illumination of the first visual indicator upon reception of the alignment pin in the opening in the alignment cap.

3. The stapler of claim 1, wherein the first visual indicator includes an LED mounted on the body.

4. The stapler of claim 1, further comprising:

a clamp slide member slidably disposed within the body, the cartridge assembly supported adjacent a distal portion of the clamp slide member, the clamp slide member being movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to approximate the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly; and

a clamping indicator mechanism configured to illuminate a second visual indicator upon approximation of the cartridge assembly.

5. The stapler of claim 4, wherein the clamping indicator mechanism is operably mounted between the body and the clamp slide member.

6. The stapler of claim 5, wherein the clamping indicator mechanism includes an actuator mounted to the clamp slide member and a switch assembly mounted to the body and configured to be engaged by the actuator and the actuator is configured to engage the switch assembly upon complete distal advancement of the clamp slide member.

7. The stapler of claim 4, wherein the second visual indicator includes an LED mounted on the body.

8. The stapler of claim 4, further comprising:

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and operably connected to the cartridge assembly to cause the release of staples therefrom upon distal advancement of the thrust bar; and

a stapling indicator mechanism being configured to illuminate a stapling visual indicator upon release of the staples from the cartridge assembly.

9. The stapler of claim 1, further comprising:

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and operably connected to the cartridge assembly to cause the release of staples therefrom upon distal advancement of the thrust bar; and

a stapling indicator mechanism being configured to illuminate a stapling visual indicator upon release of the staples from the cartridge assembly.

10. The stapler of claim 9, wherein the stapling indicator mechanism is operably mounted between the body and the thrust bar.

11. The stapler of claim 9, wherein the stapling indicator mechanism includes an actuator mounted to the thrust bar and a switch assembly mounted to the body and configured to be engaged by the actuator.

12. The stapler of claim 11, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the switch assembly upon complete distal advancement of the thrust bar.

13. The stapler of claim 12, wherein the stapling visual indicator includes an LED mounted on the body.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the alignment pin is actuatable independent of the cartridge assembly.

15. A surgical stapler comprising:

a body;

a stapling assembly positioned at a distal portion of the body, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly;

an alignment pin mounted on the stapling assembly and configured to engage the anvil assembly;

a pin receiving mechanism positioned on the anvil assembly and configured to actuate a first visual indicator upon engagement of the alignment pin with the anvil assembly;

a clamp slide member slidably disposed within the body, the cartridge assembly supported adjacent a distal portion of the clamp slide member, the clamp slide member being movable from a retracted position to an advanced positioned to approximate the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly; and

a clamping indicator mechanism operably mounted between the body and the clamp slide member.

16. The stapler of claim 15, wherein the clamping indicator mechanism includes an actuator mounted to the clamp slide member and a switch assembly mounted to the body and configured to be engaged by the actuator.

17. The stapler of claim 15, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the switch assembly upon complete distal advancement of the clamp slide member.

18. The stapler of claim 15, further comprising:

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and operably connected to the cartridge assembly to cause the release of staples therefrom upon distal advancement of the thrust bar;

a stapling indicator mechanism being configured to illuminate a stapling visual indicator upon release of the staples from the cartridge assembly;

wherein the stapling indicator mechanism is operably mounted between the body and the thrust bar.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein the alignment pin is actuatable independent of the cartridge assembly.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein the clamping mechanism is configured to illuminate at least one of the first visual indicator or a second visual indicator upon complete advancement of the clamp slide member.

21. A stapler comprising:

a body;

a stapling assembly positioned at a distal portion of the body, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly;

an alignment pin mounted on the stapling assembly and configured to engage the anvil assembly;

a pin receiving mechanism positioned on the anvil assembly and configured to activate a first visual indicator upon engagement of the alignment pin with the anvil assembly;

a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and operably connected to the cartridge assembly to cause the release of staples therefrom upon complete distal advancement of the thrust bar; and

a stapling indicator mechanism operably mounted between the body and the thrust bar.

22. The stapler of claim 21, wherein the stapling visual indicator includes an LED mounted on the body.

23. The stapler of claim 21, wherein the stapling indicator mechanism includes an actuator mounted to the thrust bar and a switch assembly mounted to the body and configured to be engaged by the actuator, and wherein the actuator is configured to engage the switch assembly upon complete distal advancement of the thrust bar.

24. The stapler of claim 21, wherein the alignment pin is actuatable independent of the cartridge assembly.

25. The stapler of claim 21, wherein the stapling indicator mechanism is configured to illuminate at least one of the first visual indicator or a second visual indicator upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly.