Powered stapling apparatus
First Claim
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1. A stapler, comprising:
- a handle assembly;
a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly;
a tool assembly configured to selectively couple to the shaft and including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, the cartridge assembly including a staple guide defining a tissue contacting surface and a plurality of staple retaining slots therein;
a resilient member operably positioned within the cartridge assembly and configured to bias the staple guide distally to provide a predetermined compressive force against tissue when the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly are approximated toward one another; and
a microcontroller configured to operably communicate with a motor and a power source configured to energize the motor, wherein the microcontroller is in operable communication with the cartridge assembly and configured to test a spring constant of the resilient member.
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Abstract
A stapler is provided. The stapler includes a handle assembly and a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly. A tool assembly is configured to selectively couple to the shaft and includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a staple guide defining a tissue contacting surface. A resilient member operably positioned within the cartridge assembly is configured to bias the staple guide distally to provide a predetermined compressive force against tissue when the cartridge assembly and anvil are approximated toward one another.
474 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A stapler, comprising:
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a handle assembly; a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly; a tool assembly configured to selectively couple to the shaft and including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, the cartridge assembly including a staple guide defining a tissue contacting surface and a plurality of staple retaining slots therein; a resilient member operably positioned within the cartridge assembly and configured to bias the staple guide distally to provide a predetermined compressive force against tissue when the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly are approximated toward one another; and a microcontroller configured to operably communicate with a motor and a power source configured to energize the motor, wherein the microcontroller is in operable communication with the cartridge assembly and configured to test a spring constant of the resilient member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for stapling tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a handle assembly; providing a tool assembly configured to operably couple to the handle assembly and including a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly and a resilient member, the resilient member operably positioned within the cartridge assembly and configured to bias a staple guide of the cartridge assembly distally to provide a predetermined compressive force against tissue; coupling the tool assembly to the handle assembly; performing a test stroke for testing a spring constant of the resilient member; adjusting an amount of current that is supplied to a motor of the handle assembly based on the tested spring constant of the spring; approximating the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly toward one another; and stapling tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification