Tissue acquisition arrangements and methods for surgical stapling devices

• US 8,783,543 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Willis, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/846,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 227/181.1, 606/151, 606/153, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• 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 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1125 Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1142 Purse-string sutures
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes an elongated shaft that defines defining a central axis. The elongated shaft may have a distal end portion that is configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein. A tissue acquisition shaft may be axially movable within the elongated shaft such that a distal end portion of the tissue acquisition shaft may be distally advanced beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. At least one tissue acquisition member may be pivotally attached to the distal end portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto. Various embodiments include an annular cutting member that is supported by the distal end of the elongated shaft for selective axial travel relative thereto.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft defining a central axis and having a distal end portion configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein;

a tissue acquisition shaft rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and having a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft; and

at least one tissue acquisition member pivotally attached to said distal portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that said at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is spaced from and substantially parallel to said central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising an annular cutting member that operably supported by said distal end portion of said elongated shaft for selective axial travel relative thereto.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a deployment member operably supported within said elongated shaft and operably interfacing with each said at least one tissue acquisition member, said deployment member configured to receive said deployment actuation motion to cause said at least one tissue acquisition member to move between said retracted and deployed positions.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said deployment member comprises a deployment shaft extending through said elongated shaft and being selectively rotatably movable relative thereto, said deployment shaft in meshing engagement with each of said tissue acquisition members such that rotation of said deployment shaft in one direction about the central axis causes said tissue acquisition members to pivot from said retracted position to a deployed position and rotation of said deployment shaft in an opposite direction about said central axis causes said tissue acquisition members to pivot from said deployed position to said retracted position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising at least one tissue acquisition pin protruding radially from said distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein each one of said at least one tissue acquisition members has a tissue-piercing tip.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein each said at least one tissue acquisition member has a tissue cutting edge formed thereon.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 further comprising a shear plate attached to said distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft and cooperating with said cutting edge of each said tissue acquisition member to shear tissue drawn therebetween.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue acquisition member comprises four tissue acquisition members that each have an arcuate shaped body such that when the tissue acquisition members are in the retracted position, said tissue acquisition members form a substantially continuous circular disc assembly at the distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft adjacent said shear plate.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft defining a central axis and having a distal end portion configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein;

a tissue acquisition shaft rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and having a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft;

at least one tissue acquisition member pivotally attached to said distal portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that said at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to said central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto; and

a deployment member operably supported within said elongated shaft and operably interfacing with each said at least one tissue acquisition member, said deployment member configured to receive said deployment actuation motion to cause said at least one tissue acquisition member to move between said retracted and deployed positions.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said deployment member comprises a deployment shaft extending through said elongated shaft and being selectively rotatably movable relative thereto, said deployment shaft in meshing engagement with each of said tissue acquisition members such that rotation of said deployment shaft in one direction about the central axis causes said tissue acquisition members to pivot from said retracted position to a deployed position and rotation of said deployment shaft in an opposite direction about said central axis causes said tissue acquisition members to pivot from said deployed position to said retracted position.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft defining a central axis and having a distal end portion configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein;

a tissue acquisition shaft rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and having a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft;

at least one tissue acquisition member pivotally attached to said distal portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that said at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to said central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto; and

at least one tissue acquisition pin protruding radially from said distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft and including a distal end that is configured to impale tissue.

13. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft defining a central axis and having a distal end portion configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein;

a tissue acquisition shaft rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and having a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft; and

at least one tissue acquisition member pivotally attached to said distal portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that said at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to said central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto and wherein each one of said at least one tissue acquisition members has a tissue-piercing tip.

14. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft defining a central axis and having a distal end portion configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein;

a tissue acquisition shaft rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and having a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft; and

at least one tissue acquisition member pivotally attached to said distal portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that said at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to said central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto and wherein each said at least one tissue acquisition member has a tissue cutting edge formed thereon.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 further comprising a shear plate attached to said distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft and cooperating with said cutting edge of each said tissue acquisition member to shear tissue drawn therebetween.

16. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft defining a central axis and having a distal end portion configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein;

a tissue acquisition shaft rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and having a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft;

a shear plate attached to said distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft; and

four tissue acquisition members pivotally attached to said distal portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that each said tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to said central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto, each said tissue acquisition member including an arcuate shaped body such that when the tissue acquisition members are in the retracted position, said tissue acquisition members form a substantially continuous circular disc assembly at the distal portion of said tissue acquisition shaft adjacent said shear plate and wherein each said tissue acquisition member has a tissue cutting edge formed thereon cooperating with said shear plate to shear tissue drawn therebetween.