SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH PARALLEL JAW CLOSURE
A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an anvil, a cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil between open and clamped positions, a drive member, and a biasing mechanism or member. The biasing mechanism or member is configured to urge the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly to its fully open position to provide access to tissue during a surgical procedure.
This technology is generally related to stapling devices and, more particularly, to surgical stapling devices with parallel jaw closure.
BACKGROUNDSurgical stapling devices for simultaneously cutting and stapling tissue are known in the art and are commonly used during surgical procedures to reduce the time required to perform the surgical procedure and to facilitate endoscopic access to a surgical site. Performing a surgical procedure endoscopically reduces the amount of trauma inflicted on a patient during the surgical procedure to minimize patient discomfort and reduce patient recovery times.
Typically, endoscopic stapling devices include a tool assembly having a first jaw, and a second jaw that can pivot in relation to the first jaw between an open or spaced position and a closed or clamped position. One of the first or second jaws supports a cartridge assembly that includes a plurality of staples and the other of the first or second jaws supports an anvil assembly that includes an anvil having staple deforming pockets that receive and form legs of the staples when the staples are ejected from the cartridge assembly.
In surgical procedures that require a stapling device including a tool assembly having jaws of an extended length, e.g., bariatric procedures and procedures involving the bowel or lungs, the surgical site is confined by the anatomy of the patient. This confinement may make it difficult to move the jaws of the tool assembly to a fully open position to receive and treat tissue.
SUMMARYIn aspects, this disclosure generally relates to a surgical stapling device including an anvil, a cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil between open and clamped positions, a drive member, and a biasing mechanism or member. The biasing mechanism or member is configured to urge the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly to its fully open position to provide access to tissue during a surgical procedure.
One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a tool assembly including an anvil, a cartridge assembly, a biasing mechanism, and a drive member. The anvil includes a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The body defines a central knife slot and includes a staple forming surface. The proximal portion of the body includes spaced side walls that define an anvil cavity. At least one of the side walls supports a boss that extends into the anvil cavity. The cartridge assembly includes a channel member and a staple cartridge. The channel member includes side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge. At least one of the side walls of the channel member defines a slot that extends through a portion of the respective side wall. The cartridge assembly is movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position. The biasing mechanism includes at least one spiral spring and a roller including a toothed portion. The roller is rotatably supported between the side walls of the anvil. The at least one spiral spring includes a coil portion and a first end. The coil portion of the at least one spiral spring is supported on the boss on the at least one side wall of the anvil in a position between the anvil and the channel member. The at least one spiral spring extends through the slot in the at least one side wall of the channel member. The first end of the at least one spiral spring is connected to the roller. The drive member includes a beam portion and a working end. The drive member is movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly. The beam portion includes a toothed rack that is engaged with the toothed portion of the roller such that movement of the drive member from its retracted position towards its advanced position causes rotation of the roller to wind the at least one spiral spring about the roller and move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an elongate body, and a tool assembly. The handle assembly includes a stationary handle. The elongate body has a proximal portion coupled to the handle assembly and a distal portion. The tool assembly is supported on the distal portion of the elongate body and includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly, a biasing mechanism, and a drive member. The anvil includes a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The body defines a central knife slot and includes a staple forming surface. The proximal portion of the body includes spaced side walls that define an anvil cavity. At least one of the side walls supports a boss that extends into the anvil cavity. The cartridge assembly includes a channel member and a staple cartridge. The channel member includes side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge. At least one of the side walls of the channel member defines a slot that extends through a portion of the respective side wall. The cartridge assembly is movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position. The biasing mechanism includes at least one spiral spring and a roller including a toothed portion. The roller is rotatably supported between the side walls of the anvil. The at least one spiral spring includes a coil portion and a first end. The coil portion of the at least one spiral spring is supported on the boss on the at least one side wall of the anvil in a position between the anvil and the channel member. The at least one spiral spring extends through the slot in the at least one side wall of the channel member. The first end of the at least one spiral spring is connected to the roller. The drive member includes a beam portion and a working end. The drive member is movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly. The beam portion includes a toothed rack that is engaged with the toothed portion of the roller such that movement of the drive member from its retracted position towards its advanced position causes rotation of the roller to wind the at least one spiral spring about the roller and move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position.
In aspects of the disclosure, the at least one spiral spring includes two spiral springs.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the toothed portion of the roller is centrally located on the roller and one of the two spiral springs is positioned on each side of the toothed portion of the roller.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, each of the side walls of the channel member defines a circular concavity and the coil of each of the two spiral springs is received within a respective one of the circular concavities on the side wall of the channel member.
In aspects of the disclosure, the anvil defines a longitudinal axis and supports spaced pins, and each of the spaced pins defines a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anvil.
In some aspects of the disclosure, each of the side walls of the channel member defines a bore, and each of the spaced pins of the anvil is received within one of the bores to maintain the anvil and the cartridge assembly in parallel alignment with each other as the tool assembly is moved between the open position and the clamped position.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the working end of the drive member includes a first beam, a second beam, and a vertical strut interconnecting the first and second beams.
In aspects of the disclosure, the first beam engages the anvil and the second beam engages the cartridge assembly to define a maximum tissue gap between the anvil and the cartridge assembly during firing of the tool assembly.
Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a tool assembly including an anvil, a cartridge assembly, and a drive member. The anvil includes a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The body defines a central knife slot and includes a staple forming surface. The proximal portion of the body includes spaced side walls that define an anvil cavity. Each of the side walls supports a distal pivot member and a proximal pivot member. The distal pivot member is longitudinally spaced from the proximal pivot member. The distal and proximal pivot members extend from the respective side walls of the channel member into the anvil cavity. The cartridge assembly defines a longitudinal axis and includes a channel member and a staple cartridge. The channel member includes side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge. Each of the side walls of the channel member has a proximal portion that defines first and second slots. The first and second slots define axes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge assembly. The first slots are longitudinally spaced from the second slots. Each of the first slots receives a respective one of the distal pivot members and each of the second slots receives a respective one of the proximal pivot members. The cartridge assembly is movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from its open position to its clamped position. The drive member includes a beam portion and a working end. The drive member is movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an intermediate position and subsequently to a clamped position to move the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil from the open position to the clamped position. The first and second slots are configured such that that movement of the drive member from the retracted position to the intermediate position pivots the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil into parallel alignment with the anvil and movement of the drive member from its intermediate position to its clamped position moves the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil to the clamped position while maintaining the cartridge assembly in parallel relation to the anvil.
In aspects of the disclosure, the first slots include an angled portion that allows the cartridge assembly to pivot in relation to the anvil as the drive member moves from its retracted position towards the intermediate position.
In some aspects of the disclosure, biasing members are supported between the proximal portion of the anvil and the proximal portion of the channel member, the biasing members urging the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil towards its clamped position.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the channel member supports a ramp and the working end of the drive member includes a first beam, a second beam, and a vertical strut interconnecting the first and second beams.
In aspects of the disclosure, the first beam engages the anvil and the second beam engages the ramp of the cartridge assembly as the drive member is moved from its retracted position to its clamped position to move the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil from its open position to its clamped position.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the biasing members include coil springs that are supported between the ramp of the cartridge assembly and the anvil.
Other features of the disclosure will be appreciated from the following description.
Various aspects of the disclosure are described herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
The disclosed surgical stapling device will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure described herein are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In addition, directional terms such as front, rear, upper, lower, top, bottom, distal, proximal, and similar terms are used to assist in understanding the description and are not intended to limit the disclosure.
In this description, the term “proximal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is closer to a clinician, while the term “distal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is farther from the clinician. In addition, the term “endoscopic” is used generally used to refer to endoscopic, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, and/or any other procedure conducted through a small diameter incision or cannula. Further, the term “clinician” is used generally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, and support personnel. As used herein, the term “substantially parallel” includes true parallel as well as 10 degrees in either direction.
The handle assembly 12 of the stapling device 10 includes a stationary handle 20 and actuation buttons 22 that can be depressed to actuate the tool assembly 16, e.g., approximate the tool assembly 16, articulate the tool assembly 16, fire staples, etc. In aspects of the disclosure, batteries (not shown) are supported in the stationary handle 20 to power the handle assembly 12. It is envisioned that the stapling device 10 need not be powered but can also include a manually powered handle assembly such as described in the '139 patent.
The channel member 34 has a proximal portion including a base 44 that is defined by a proximal portion 36a (
The staple cartridge 32 is received within the channel cavity 40 and includes a cartridge body 54 that defines a central knife slot 56 and rows of staple pockets 58 on each side of the central knife slot 56. It is envisioned that two or more rows of staple pockets can be provided on each side of the central knife slot 56. It is also envisioned that the staple pockets 58 need not be aligned in rows but rather a variety of different arrays of staple pockets 58 can be defined on each side of the central knife slot 56. Each of the staple pockets 58 receives a staple and a pusher (not shown). For a more detailed description of the staple cartridge 32 including staples and pushers, see the '139 patent.
The proximal portion 60 of the anvil 26 includes a pair of spaced side walls 70 that defines an anvil cavity 72 that receives the base 44 of the channel member 34 when the tool assembly is in its clamped position. The anvil cavity 72 is defined in part by a base wall 74 of the anvil 26 which supports two spaced pins 76 that extend upwardly from the base wall 74 (as viewed in
The distal portion 88 of the drive member 30 supports a working end 90 that is movable through the anvil 26 and the cartridge assembly 28 to actuate the tool assembly 16. In aspects of the disclosure, the working end 90 of the drive member 30 includes a first beam 92, a second beam 94, and a vertical strut 96 that couples the first beam 92 to the second beam 94. The vertical strut 96 supports a distally facing knife blade 98 and extends through the knife slot 64 of the anvil 26 and the knife slots 42 and 56 of the channel member 34 and the staple cartridge 32. The first beam 92 is received within the internal channel (not shown) of the anvil 26 and the second beam 94 is engaged with the channel member 34 of the cartridge assembly 28 such that movement of the drive member 30 from its retracted position towards its advanced position defines a maximum tissue gap between the staple cartridge 32 and the staple forming surface 66 (
The elongate beam portion 31 of the drive member 30 includes a toothed rack 102. The toothed rack 102 is engaged with the toothed central portion 80a of the roller 80. When the drive member 30 is moved from its retracted position to its advanced position, engagement between the toothed central portion 80a of the roller 80 and the toothed rack 102 of the drive member 30 causes the roller 80 to rotate within the anvil cavity 72. Rotation of the roller 80 winds the spiral springs 82 about the roller 80 to move the coil portions 83 of the spiral springs 82 from an expanded condition (
It is envisioned that the cartridge assembly 28 could be fixedly secured to the elongate body 14 (
It is noted that the beam portion 100 of the drive member 30 immediately proximal of the toothed rack 100 includes a flat surface 112 (
The channel member 234 includes a ramp 255 that is supported between the proximal portion of the side walls 236. The ramp 255 defines a knife slot 255a that is aligned with the knife slot 242 (
The staple cartridge 232 is received within the channel cavity 240 of the channel member 234 and includes a cartridge body 254 that defines a central knife slot 256 and rows of staple pockets 257 on each side of the central knife slot 256. It is envisioned that two or more rows of staple pockets 257 can be provided on each side of the central knife slot 256. It is also envisioned that the staple pockets 257 need not be aligned in rows but rather a variety of different arrays of staple pockets 257 can be defined on each side of the central knife slot 256. Each of the staple pockets 257 receives a staple and a pusher (not shown). For a more detailed description of an exemplary staple cartridge 232 including staples and pushers, see the '139 patent.
The proximal portion 260 of the anvil 226 includes a pair of spaced side walls 270 that defines an anvil cavity 272 that receives the proximal portion of the channel member 234. The anvil cavity 272 is defined in part by a base wall 274 of the anvil 226. The base wall 274 defines a continuation of the central knife slot 264 such that the central knife slot 264 extends through a proximal end of the base wall 274. The base wall 274 includes spring mounts 276 (
Although not shown, continued movement of the drive member 230 in relation to the anvil 226 and the cartridge assembly 228 towards its advanced position fires staples from the staple cartridge 232 of the cartridge assembly 228 into the gap defined between the staple forming surface 266 of the anvil 226 and the staple cartridge 232 of the cartridge assembly 228 and into the staple forming surface 266 of the anvil assembly 226. For a more detailed description of the operation and firing of an exemplary tool assembly, see the '139 patent.
Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary aspects of the disclosure. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure based on the above-described aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A tool assembly comprising:
- an anvil including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a central knife slot and including a staple forming surface, the proximal portion of the body including spaced side walls defining an anvil cavity, at least one of the side walls supporting a boss that extends into the anvil cavity;
- a cartridge assembly including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member including side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge, at least one of the side walls of the channel member defining a slot that extends through a portion of the respective side wall, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position;
- a biasing mechanism including at least one spiral spring and a roller including a toothed portion, the roller rotatably supported between the side walls of the anvil, the at least one spiral spring including a coil portion and a first end, the coil portion of the at least one spiral spring supported on the boss on the at least one side wall of the anvil in a position between the anvil and the channel member, the at least one spiral spring extending through the slot in the at least one side wall of the channel member, the first end of the at least one spiral spring connected to the roller; and
- a drive member including a beam portion and a working end, the drive member movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, the beam portion including a toothed rack that is engaged with the toothed portion of the roller, wherein movement of the drive member from its retracted position towards its advanced position causes rotation of the roller to wind the at least one spiral spring about the roller and move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position.
2. The tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one spiral spring includes two spiral springs.
3. The tool assembly of claim 2, wherein the toothed portion of the roller is centrally located on the roller and one of the two spiral springs is positioned on each side of the toothed portion of the roller.
4. The tool assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the side walls of the channel member defines a circular concavity, and the coil of each of the two spiral springs is received within a respective one of the circular concavities on the side wall of the channel member.
5. The tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the anvil defines a longitudinal axis and supports spaced pins, each of the spaced pins defining a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anvil.
6. The tool assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the side walls of the channel member defines a bore, and each of the spaced pins of the anvil is received within one of the bores to maintain the anvil and the cartridge assembly in parallel alignment with each other as the tool assembly is moved between the open position and the clamped position.
7. The tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the working end of the drive member includes a first beam, a second beam, and a vertical strut interconnecting the first and second beams, the first beam engaging the anvil and the second beam engaging the cartridge assembly to define a maximum tissue gap between the anvil and the cartridge assembly during firing of the tool assembly.
8. A surgical stapling device comprising:
- a handle assembly including a stationary handle;
- an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion coupled to the handle assembly; and
- a tool assembly supported on the distal portion of the elongate body, the tool assembly including: an anvil including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a central knife slot and including a staple forming surface, the proximal portion of the body including spaced side walls defining an anvil cavity, at least one of the side walls supporting a boss that extends into the anvil cavity; a cartridge assembly including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member including side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge, at least one of the side walls of the channel member defining a slot that extends through a portion of the respective side wall, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position; a biasing mechanism including at least one spiral spring and a roller including a toothed portion, the roller rotatably supported between the side walls of the anvil, the at least one spiral spring including a coil portion and a first end, the coil portion of the at least one spiral spring supported on the boss on the at least one side wall of the anvil in a position between the anvil and the channel member, the at least one spiral spring extending through the slot in the at least one side wall of the channel member, the first end of the at least one spiral spring connected to the roller; and a drive member including a beam portion and a working end, the drive member movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, the beam portion including a toothed rack that is engaged with the toothed portion of the roller, wherein movement of the drive member from its retracted position towards its advanced position causes rotation of the roller to wind the at least one spiral spring about the roller and move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position.
9. The surgical stapling device of claim 8, wherein the tool assembly forms part of a reload assembly, the reload assembly including a proximal body portion that is releasably coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body.
10. The surgical stapling device of claim 8, wherein the at least one spiral spring includes two spiral springs.
11. The surgical stapling device of claim 10, wherein the toothed portion of the roller is centrally located on the roller and one of the two spiral springs is positioned on each side of the toothed portion of the roller.
12. The surgical stapling device of claim 10, wherein each of the side walls of the channel member defines a circular concavity, and the coil of each of the two spiral springs is received within a respective one of the circular concavities on the side wall of the channel member.
13. The surgical stapling device of claim 8, wherein the anvil defines a longitudinal axis and supports spaced pins, each of the spaced pins defining a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anvil.
14. The surgical stapling device of claim 13, wherein each of the side walls of the channel member defines a bore, and each of the spaced pins of the anvil is received within one of the bores to maintain the anvil and the cartridge assembly in parallel alignment with each other as the tool assembly is moved between the open position and the clamped position.
15. The surgical stapling device of claim 8, wherein each of the side wall of the channel member defines a bore, each of the spaced pins of the anvil received within one of the bores to maintain the anvil and the cartridge assembly in parallel alignment with each other as the tool assembly is moved between the open position and the clamped position.
16. A tool assembly comprising:
- an anvil including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a central knife slot and including a staple forming surface, the proximal portion of the body including spaced side walls defining an anvil cavity, each of the side walls supporting a distal pivot member and a proximal pivot member, the distal pivot member longitudinally spaced from the proximal pivot member, the distal and proximal pivot members extending from the respective side walls of the channel member into the anvil cavity;
- a cartridge assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member including side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge, each of the side walls of the channel member having a proximal portion that defines first and second slots, the first and second slots defining axes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge assembly, the first slots being longitudinally spaced from the second slots, each of the first slots receiving a respective one of the distal pivot members, and each of the second slots receiving a respective one of the proximal pivot members, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position; and
- a drive member including a beam portion and a working end, the drive member movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an intermediate position and subsequently to a clamped position to move the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil from the open position to the clamped position, wherein the first and second slots are configured such that that movement of the drive member from the retracted position to the intermediate position pivots the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil into parallel alignment with the anvil and movement of the drive member from its intermediate position to its clamped position moves the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil to the clamped position while maintaining the cartridge assembly in parallel relation to the anvil.
17. The tool assembly of claim 16, wherein the first slots include an angled portion that allows the cartridge assembly to pivot in relation to the anvil as the drive member moves from its retracted position towards the intermediate position.
18. The tool assembly of claim 17, further including biasing members supported between the proximal portion of the anvil and the proximal portion of the channel member, the biasing members urging the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil towards its clamped position.
19. The tool assembly of claim 18, wherein the channel member supports a ramp, and the working end of the drive member includes a first beam, a second beam, and a vertical strut interconnecting the first and second beams, the first beam engaging the anvil and the second beam engaging the ramp of the cartridge assembly as the drive member is moved from its retracted position to its clamped position to move the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil from its open position to its clamped position.
20. The tool assembly of claim 19, wherein the biasing members include coil springs that are supported between the ramp of the cartridge assembly and the anvil.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2020
Publication Date: Dec 9, 2021
Inventors: Rajanikanth Mandula (Hyderabad), Roanit Fernandes (Hyderabad)
Application Number: 16/895,164