Patent Grant
10722234
The present disclosure relates to a surgical apparatus having a buttress material incorporated therewith. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a surgical stapling apparatus including a detachable surgical buttress and/or an endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus that includes a detachable surgical buttress.
Surgical devices for grasping or clamping tissue between opposing jaw structure and then joining tissue by surgical fasteners are well known in the art. In some instruments a knife is provided to cut the tissue which has been joined by the fasteners. The fasteners are typically in the form of surgical staples but two-part polymeric fasteners can also be utilized.
Instruments for this purpose can include two elongated jaw members which are respectively used to capture or clamp tissue. In certain surgical staplers, one of the jaw members carries a staple cartridge which houses a plurality of staples arranged in at least two lateral rows while the other jaw member has an anvil that defines a surface for forming the staple legs as the staples are driven from the staple cartridge. The stapling operation is effected by cam members that travel longitudinally through the staple cartridge, with the cam members acting upon staple pushers to sequentially eject the staples from the staple cartridge. A knife can travel between the staple rows to longitudinally cut and/or open the stapled tissue between the rows of staples. Such instruments are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,079,606 and 3,490,675.
Another stapler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,591 also applies a double row of staples on each side of the incision. This patent discloses a surgical stapler that has a disposable loading unit in which a cam member moves through an elongate guide path between two sets of staggered staple carrying grooves. Staple drive members are located within the grooves and are positioned in such a manner so as to be contacted by the longitudinally moving cam member to effect ejection of the staples from the staple cartridge of the disposable loading unit. Other examples of such staplers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,429,695 and 5,065,929.
Each of the instruments described above is designed for use in surgical procedures in which surgeons have direct manual access to the operative site. However, in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures, surgery is performed through a small incision or through a narrow cannula inserted through small entrance wounds in the skin. In order to address the specific needs of endoscopic and/or laparoscopic surgical procedures, endoscopic surgical stapling devices have been developed and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,715 (Green, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,976 (Olson, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,023 (Green, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,221 (Green, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,013 (Green, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,142 (Robinson, et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,139 (Milliman et al.), the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Tyco Healthcare Group, LP, the assignee of the present application, has manufactured and marketed endoscopic stapling instruments, such as the Multifire ENDO GIA™. 30 and Multifire ENDO GIA™. 60 instruments, for a number of years. These instruments include a surgical stapling apparatus and a loading unit. Typically, the loading unit is attached to the apparatus immediately prior to surgery. After use, the loading unit can be removed from the apparatus and a new loading unit can be fastened to the apparatus to perform additional stapling and/or cutting operations. These instruments have provided significant clinical benefits. Nonetheless, improvements to these instruments are still desirable.
When stapling relatively thin or fragile tissues, it is important to effectively seal the staple line against air or fluid leakage. Additionally, it is often necessary to reinforce the staple line against the tissue to prevent tears in the tissue or pulling of the staples through the tissue. One method of preventing tears or pull through involves the placement of a biocompatible fabric reinforcing material, or “buttress” material, between the staple and the underlying tissue. In this method, a layer of buttress material is placed against the tissue and the tissue is stapled in conventional manner. In another method, the buttress material is positioned on the stapling instrument itself prior to stapling the tissue. An exemplary example of this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,594 to McKean et al., the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. In McKean et al., a tube of buttress material is slipped over the jaw of the stapler. The stapler is then actuated to staple the subject tissue and secure the buttress material between the tissue and staple line to reinforce the tissue and staple line.
Buttress materials which are either pre-loaded or are an after-market add-on, for endomechanical or open mechanical surgical stapling apparatus, may shift in position relative to a stapler reload cartridge assembly and anvil assembly to which they are attached during grasping and manipulation of tissue by the surgical stapling apparatus. If the shifting of the buttress material is pronounced and is not corrected by the surgeon before firing the surgical stapling apparatus, then staples may form outside the perimeter or width of the buttress material thereby reducing the benefits of having the entire staple line reinforced by the buttress material.
Accordingly, a need exists to systems and methods for securing a buttress material to the tissue contacting/facing surface of a cartridge assembly and/or anvil assembly of a surgical stapling apparatus, whereby the buttress material remains secured in place over top of the staple retaining slots and/or staple forming pockets, along an entire length thereof.
Additionally, a need exists to design or modify the mechanical and physical properties of the buttress material to reduce the impact of material shifting on the stapler reload cartridge assembly and anvil assembly.
In accordance with the present disclosure a surgical stapling apparatus is provided including a housing; a handle supported by the housing; an elongated body extending distally from the housing; and a tool assembly at the distal end of the elongated body. The tool assembly has a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a tissue facing surface, a plurality of staple retaining pockets and a knife slot formed in the tissue facing surface thereof. The tool assembly also has a plurality of surgical fasteners loaded one each in the staple retaining pockets. The tool assembly additionally has an anvil assembly in juxtaposed relation to the cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly including an anvil plate having a tissue facing surface defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a knife slot therein, at least one of the cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.
The surgical stapling apparatus further includes a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly from a proximal position to a distal position, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor and to free the surgical buttress from the at least one of the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly.
The release assembly may grip the at least one anchor prior to an actuation of the drive assembly.
The at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may define a side slot for receiving an end of the at least one anchor therein.
The release assembly may include a first bar extending across the longitudinal slot prior to an actuation of the drive assembly; and a second bar, connected to and actuatable by the first bar, having an end extending at least partially into the side slot, prior to an actuation of the drive assembly.
In use, as the drive assembly is advanced to the distal position, the drive assembly may actuate the first bar of the release assembly which in turn may actuate the second bar of the release assembly to release the anchor disposed within the side slot.
Each of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may include a release assembly. Each of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may define a side slot for receiving the anchor of each surgical buttress.
Each release assembly may include a first bar extending across the longitudinal slot prior to an actuation of the drive assembly; and a second bar, connected to and actuatable by the first bar, having an end extending at least partially into the side slot, prior to an actuation of the drive assembly. In use, as the drive assembly is advanced to the distal position, the drive assembly may actuate the first bar of each release assembly which in turn may actuate the second bar of each release assembly to release the anchor disposed within the each side slot.
At least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may include a constricting, open-ended, side slot configured to grip an end of the anchor, and wherein the release assembly may push the end of the anchor out of the side slot, upon a distal advancement of the drive assembly.
The release assembly may include a pusher that is in operative association with the side slot retaining the end of the anchor. The pusher may be actuatable by a distally advancing drive member to push the end of the anchor out of the side slot.
The pusher of the release assembly may be one of pivotally connected to and slidably supported in at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly.
The anchor may be a suture engaging the surgical buttress and the at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. The anchor may be an extension of the surgical buttress and engages the at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.
According to another aspect of the present application, a loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly including a cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and an anvil assembly, at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly, wherein the anvil assembly includes an anvil plate and, wherein each of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge define an elongate longitudinal slot; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly from a proximal position to a distal position, the drive assembly actuating the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the at least one of the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly.
The release assembly may grip the at least one anchor prior to an actuation of the drive assembly.
At least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may define a side slot for receiving an end of the at least one anchor therein.
The release assembly may include a first bar extending across the longitudinal slot prior to an actuation of the drive assembly; and a second bar, connected to and actuatable by the first bar, having an end extending at least partially into the side slot, prior to an actuation of the drive assembly.
In use, as the drive assembly is advanced to the distal position, drive assembly actuates the first bar of the release assembly which in turn actuates the second bar of the release assembly to release the grip on the end of the at least one anchor disposed within the side slot.
Each of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may include a release assembly.
At least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may include a constricting, open-ended, side slot configured to grip an end of the anchor disposed therein, and wherein the release assembly may push the end of the anchor out of the side slot, upon a distal advancement of the drive assembly.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a housing; a handle supported by the housing; an elongated body extending distally from the housing; and a tool assembly at the distal end of the elongated body. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly including a cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and an anvil assembly in juxtaposed relation to the cartridge assembly, at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly. The anvil assembly includes an anvil plate defining a pair of opposed distal side slots for receiving an end of an anchor and a pair of opposed proximal side slots for receiving an end of an anchor. The anvil plate includes at least one of the following: at least one of the pair of distal side slots is keyhole-shaped; and at least one of the pair of proximal side slots is keyhole-shaped. The surgical stapling apparatus further includes a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly from a proximal position to a distal position, the drive assembly actuating the release assembly to thereby release the anchor and to free the surgical buttress from the at least one of the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided. The loading unit comprises a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly including a cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and an anvil assembly in juxtaposed relation to the cartridge assembly, at least one of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly. The anvil assembly includes an anvil plate defining a pair of opposed distal side slots for receiving an end of an anchor and a pair of opposed proximal side slots for receiving an end of an anchor. The anvil plate includes at least one of the following: at least one of the pair of distal side slots is keyhole-shaped; and at least one of the pair of proximal side slots is keyhole-shaped. The loading unit further includes a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly from a proximal position to a distal position, the drive assembly actuating the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the at least one of the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly.
Each of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge may define an elongate longitudinal slot.
The cartridge assembly may define at least one side slot for receiving an end of the at least one anchor therein.
Each of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may include a release assembly.
Each of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may define a side slot for receiving the anchor associated with each surgical buttress.
At least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly may include a keyhole-shaped side slot.
The anchor may be a suture that is in engagement with the surgical buttress and the at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.
Additional advantages will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein:
Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical stapling apparatus and loading unit 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.
In the drawings and in the description that follows, the term “proximal”, as is traditional, will refer to the end of the stapling apparatus which is closest to the operator, while the term “distal” will refer to the end of the apparatus which is furthest from the operator.
Surgical stapling apparatus 10 is an endoscopic apparatus and includes a handle assembly 12 and an elongated body 14 extending from handle assembly 12. A loading unit 16 is releasably secured to the distal end of elongated body 14. Furthermore, the present disclosure contemplates surgical stapling apparatus that have a replaceable cartridge that is received in the jaws of the apparatus.
Loading unit 16 includes a tool assembly 17 having a cartridge assembly 18 housing a plurality of surgical fasteners or staples 84 (see
A rotatable member 28 is mounted on the forward end of barrel portion 26 to facilitate rotation of elongated body 14 and attached loading unit 16 with respect to handle assembly 12. An articulation lever 30 is also mounted on the forward end of barrel portion 26 adjacent rotatable member 28 to facilitate articulation of tool assembly 17. Preferably, a pair of knobs 32 are movably positioned along barrel portion 26. Knobs 32 are advanced distally to approximate or close cartridge and/or anvil assembly 18, 20, and retracted proximally to unapproximate or open cartridge and/or anvil assembly 18, 20.
Loading unit 16 is desirably selectively removably couplable to elongated body 14. Loading unit 16 includes a housing portion 36 having a proximal end adapted to releasably engage the distal end of elongated body 14. A mounting assembly 38 is pivotally secured at “P” to the distal end of housing portion 36, and is configured to receive the proximal end of tool assembly 17 such that pivotal movement of tool assembly 17 about an axis at “P”, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of housing portion 36, effects articulation of tool assembly 17.
With general reference to
Proximal end 56 of drive beam 52 of drive assembly 50 includes a pair of resilient engagement fingers that receive a pusher. The pusher is dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage a drive member, e.g., a drive rod or control rod (not shown) when the proximal end of loading unit 16 is engaged with elongated body 14 of surgical stapling apparatus 10. The control rod functions to impart axial movement of drive assembly 50 from handle assembly 12.
Distal end 54 of drive beam 52 of drive assembly 50 includes a head 60 with a laterally extending upper portion 64a, a laterally extending lower portion 64b, and a central wall portion 62. A distal edge of central wall portion 62 defines a knife blade or the like 66.
As seen in
With continued reference to
As used herein the term anchor is understood to include and is not limited to sutures, threads, tethers, straps, bands, lines, wires, cables, fasteners, tacks or any other material suitable for the intended purpose disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the anchor is an extension of the staple line reinforcement material discussed below. The anchor may comprise an integral part of the staple line reinforcement material, or may be formed from the same or a similar material and attached to the staple line reinforcement material.
As seen in
Surgical anvil buttress “B1” includes a proximal pair of notches formed in side edges aligned with the proximal pair of recesses 70d of anvil plate 70, a distal pair of notches formed in side edges thereof aligned with the distal pair of recesses 70e of anvil plate 70, and a proximal notch formed in a proximal edge thereof aligned with longitudinal slot 70b when surgical anvil buttress “B1” is secured to anvil assembly 20. Surgical anvil buttress “B1” further includes a tongue or tab extending from a distal edge thereof to facilitate with the attachment of surgical anvil buttress “B1” to anvil assembly 20 during the assembly process. It is contemplated that the tongue is removed from surgical anvil buttress “B1” following securement of surgical anvil buttress “B1” to anvil assembly 20 and prior to packaging or shipment.
As seen in
Release assembly 74 further includes a lock or anchor bar 76 pivotally connected to anvil plate 70 (as seen in
Suture release assembly 74 further includes an anchor bar actuation member 77 pivotally connected to anvil plate 70 (as seen in
As seen in
As seen in
Suture release assembly 74 is used by a manufacturer during the assembly process of surgical stapling apparatus 10 to secure, with a surgical suture or tether, a surgical anvil buttress “B” to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil plate 70, and by the end user of surgical stapling apparatus 10 to automatically release or free the surgical anvil buttress “B” from the tissue contacting surface of the anvil plate 70 upon a complete firing of the surgical stapling apparatus 10.
With reference to
With the second end of the surgical suture “S1” disposed in the pair of distal recesses 70e, and with the surgical suture “S1” pulled taught across the surgical anvil buttress “B”, a tool (not shown) is inserted through arcuate slot 75a of guide plate 75 and engaged with an opening provided in the pin 77d of release bar 77c. With reference to
In operation, with surgical anvil buttress “B1” secured against the lower surface of anvil plate 70, during firing of surgical stapling apparatus 10, as drive assembly 50 is advanced (i.e., moved from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position), knife blade 66 slices through a central section of the proximal suture “S2”, thereby freeing the proximal end of the surgical anvil buttress “B1” from anvil assembly 20. During use, as the firing stroke of surgical stapling apparatus 10 is nearing completion and as drive assembly 50 approaches a distal end of knife slot 70b of anvil plate 70, as seen in
As seen in
A central longitudinal slot 82c is formed in and extends along the length of staple cartridge 82 to facilitate passage of central wall portion 62 of head 60 therethrough. During operation of surgical stapler 10, actuation sled 90 translates through longitudinal slots 82b of staple cartridge 82 to advance cam wedges 90a into sequential contact with pushers 92, to cause pushers 92 to translate vertically within retention slots 82a and urge fasteners 84 (e.g., staples) from slots 82a into the staple forming cavities 70a of anvil plate 70 of anvil assembly 20.
With continued reference to
As seen in
In one particular embodiment, a first end of each anchor “S” includes a knot, stop or the like (not shown) sized so as to not pass through one recess of the proximal pair of recesses 82e and a second end of each anchor “S” passes over, and transversely across, surgical cartridge buttress “B2”, at least once, and back through the other recess of the proximal pair of recesses 82e. For example, the second end of each anchor “S” may be pinched or cinched in the other recess of the proximal pair of recesses 82e so as to anchor the second end of the anchor “S” and secure the surgical cartridge buttress “B2” against the tissue contacting surface of staple cartridge 82. Similarly, an anchor “S3” is used to extend transversely across surgical cartridge buttress “B2” and into engagement with the distal pair of recesses 82f.
In a further embodiment, the release assembly is arranged to cut the suture “S.” The arcuate slot 75a on the guide plate 75 extends in the opposite direction so that it is arranged to drive the anchor bar 95 toward the suture “S.” The surface of the anchor bar 76 that faces the suture S includes a sharpened edge and cuts the suture when actuated by the drive assembly.
Surgical cartridge buttress “B2” includes a proximal pair of notches formed in side edges aligned with the proximal pair of recesses 82e of staple cartridge 82, a distal pair of notches formed in side edges thereof aligned with the distal pair of recesses 82f of staple cartridge 82, and a proximal notch formed in a proximal edge thereof aligned with longitudinal slot 82c when surgical cartridge buttress “B2” is secured to staple cartridge 82. Surgical cartridge buttress “B2” further includes a tongue or tab extending from a distal edge thereof to facilitate with the attachment of surgical cartridge buttress “B2” to staple cartridge 82 during the assembly process. It is contemplated that a width of surgical cartridge buttress “B2” may be reduced in a proximal portion thereof. It is further contemplated that the tongue is removed from surgical cartridge buttress “B2” following securement of surgical cartridge buttress “B2” to staple cartridge 82 and prior to packaging or shipment.
As seen in
Release assembly 94 further includes an anchor bar actuation member 97 pivotally connected to anchor bar 95 (as seen in
In operation, rotation of actuation member 97 in a first direction, about its pivot point, results in second cam surface 97b pressing against a surface 82g (see
As seen in
As seen in
Suture release assembly 94 is used by a manufacturer during the assembly process of surgical stapling apparatus 10 to secure, with an anchor, surgical suture, or tether “S”, a surgical cartridge buttress “B2” (see
With reference to
As seen in
In operation, with surgical cartridge buttress “B1” secured against the tissue contacting surface of staple cartridge 82, during firing of surgical stapling apparatus 10, as drive assembly 50 is advanced (i.e., moved from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position), knife blade 66 slices through a central section of the proximal suture “S4”, thereby freeing the proximal end of the surgical cartridge buttress “B2” from staple cartridge 82. During use, as the firing stroke of surgical stapling apparatus 10 is nearing completion and as drive assembly 50 approaches a distal end of central longitudinal slot 82c of staple cartridge 82, as seen in
As drive assembly 50 is advanced from the proximal position to the distal position, knife blade 66 thereof slices or cuts longitudinally through both surgical anvil buttress “B1” and surgical cartridge buttress “B2”, thereby dividing the buttresses “B1, B2” substantially in half. Additionally, as drive assembly 50 is advanced from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position, upstanding cam wedges 90a of actuation sled 90 actuates pushers 92, to cause pushers 92 to translate vertically within retention slots 82a and urge fasteners 84 from slots 82a. As fasteners 84 (e.g., staples) are urged from slots 82a of staple cartridge 82, legs of fasteners 84 penetrate and pass through both surgical anvil buttress “B1” and surgical cartridge buttress “B2”, through any tissue (not shown) interposed between surgical anvil buttress “B1” and surgical cartridge buttress “B2”, and are formed against or within staple forming cavities 70a of anvil plate 70 of anvil assembly 20. Buttresses “B1, B2” preferably include perforations that divide the buttresses and facilitate removal of the apparatus from the tissue.
According to the present disclosure, surgical anvil buttress “B1” and/or surgical cartridge buttress “B2” is pre-loaded (i.e., from the manufacturer) onto anvil assembly 20 or cartridge assembly 18, respectively, of the loading unit 16. After the loading unit is fired, an additional unfired loading unit, with or without buttresses “B”, can be loaded onto the surgical apparatus. In certain embodiments, the replaceable loading unit is a removable cartridge that can be inserted into support channel of carrier 80. A buttress and release assembly may be pre-loaded onto the removable cartridge and means for the user of the surgical apparatus to load a buttress onto the anvil assembly can be provided. For example, a buttress having an adhesive can be used. Additional or replacement buttresses “B” for anvil assembly 20 and/or cartridge assembly 18 may be secured to either anvil assembly 20 or cartridge assembly 18 as needed or desired.
In a further embodiment, the release assembly may be arranged to cut the suture “S.” The cam surface 97b on the actuation member 97 may be arranged to cam the anchor bar 95 toward the suture “S.” The surface of the anchor bar 97 that faces the suture “S” may include a sharpened edge and may cut the suture when actuated by the drive assembly.
Turning now to
As seen in
Release assembly 174 further includes a pusher bar 177 pivotally connected to link arm 175 and slidably disposed between anvil plate 170 and cover plate 172. Pusher bar 177 includes a body portion 177a having a substantially rectangular configuration and a head 177b, extending from a corner of body portion 177a, and having a substantially circular or rounded configuration. Head 177b of pusher bar 177 is configured and dimensioned for pivotable and/or rotatable connection in pocket 175c of link arm 175.
As seen in
As seen in
With reference to
In operation, with a surgical anvil buttress (not shown) secured against the lower surface of anvil plate 170, during firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, as drive assembly 150 is advanced (i.e., moved from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position), knife blade 166 slices through a central section of the proximal suture (not shown), thereby freeing the proximal end of the surgical anvil buttress (not shown) from anvil assembly 120. During use, as the firing stroke of the surgical stapling apparatus is nearing completion and as drive assembly 150 approaches a distal-most end of knife slot 170b of anvil plate 170, as seen in
As seen in
Release assembly 194 further includes a pusher member 196 having a head portion 196a pivotally connected to boss 195b of retainer 195. Pusher member 196 further includes a first leg member 196b extending from head portion 196a and a second leg member 196c connected to a free end of first leg member 196b via a living hinge connection 196d. Pusher member 196 further includes piston 196e connected to a free end of second leg member 196c via a living hinge connection 196f. Piston 196e is slidably disposed and translatable within recess 195c of retainer 195. In certain other embodiments, the pusher is a linkage assembly having a first link pivotably connected to the cartridge at one end. The other end of the first link is pivotably connected to a first end of a second link. The opposite, second, end of the second link is confined in the recess of the retainer.
As seen in
As seen in
With reference to
In operation, with surgical cartridge buttress (not shown) secured against the tissue contacting surface of staple cartridge 182, during firing of surgical stapling apparatus 10, as drive assembly 150 is advanced (i.e., moved from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position), knife blade 166 slices through a central section of a proximal suture (not shown), thereby freeing the proximal end of the surgical cartridge buttress from staple cartridge 182. During use, as the firing stroke of surgical stapling apparatus 10 is nearing completion and as drive assembly 150 approaches a distal end of central longitudinal slot 182c of staple cartridge 182, as seen in
Turning now to
As seen in
Release assembly 274 further includes a pusher 277 slidably disposed between anvil plate 270 and cover plate 272. As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
In operation, with an surgical anvil buttress (not shown) secured against the lower surface of anvil plate 270, during firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, as drive assembly 250 approaches a distal-most end of knife slot 270b of anvil plate 270, drive assembly 250 contacts pusher 277, thus driving pusher 277 distally. As pusher 277 is driven distally, as seen in
Turning now to
As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
In operation, with a surgical anvil buttress (not shown) secured against the lower surface of anvil plate 370, during firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, as drive assembly 350 approaches a distal-most end of knife slot 370b of anvil plate 370, as seen in
In a further embodiment, the driving head portion may include a sharpened edge instead of cam surface 374c. As the driving head portion is moved distally, the suture “S1” is caught between the sharpened edge of the driving head portion and the side of the distal recess 370e, severing the suture “S1.”
Turning now to
As seen in
Release assembly 494 further includes a cam member 496 having a head portion 496a pivotally connected to boss 495b of retainer 495. Cam member 496 further includes a body portion 496b extending from head portion 496a. Body portion 496b defines a first cam surface 496c and a second cam surface 496d each extending substantially tangentially to an axis of rotation of cam member 496.
Release assembly 494 further includes a sled 497 slidably disposed within channel 495c of retainer 495. Sled 497 includes a body portion 497a defining a cam surface 497b oriented to operatively engage second cam surface 496d of cam member 496, and a side wall 497c in registration with the one of the pair of distal recesses 482f of staple cartridge 482 that is in registration with recess 495c of retainer 495.
As seen in
As seen in
With reference to
In operation, with a surgical cartridge buttress (not shown) secured against the tissue contacting surface of staple cartridge 482, during firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, as drive assembly 450 approaches a distal end of central longitudinal slot 482c of staple cartridge 482, as seen in
As drive assembly 450 is further advanced distally, drive assembly 450 presses against first cam surface 496c of cam member 496, causing cam member 496 to rotate. As cam member 496 is rotated, second cam surface 496d thereof contacts and presses against cam surface 497b of sled 497 thus causing sled 497 to translate in recess 495c of retainer 495. As sled 497 is translated through recess 495c, side wall 497c of sled 497 engages the second end of suture “S3” and urges suture “S3” out of the distal recess 482f that is registration therewith to release the second end of suture “S3” therefrom. With the second end of surgical suture “S3” released or free from distal recess 482f, the distal end of the surgical cartridge buttress is free to separate from the tissue contacting surface of staple cartridge 482.
Turning now to
As seen in
Release assembly 574 further includes a pusher bar 577 pivotally connected to link arm 575 and slidably disposed between anvil plate 570 and cover plate 572. Pusher bar 577 includes a body portion 577a having a substantially rectangular configuration and a head 577b, extending from a corner of body portion 577a, and having a substantially circular or rounded configuration. Body portion 577a of pusher bar 577 defines an arcuate distal surface or wall 577c configured to ride against a surface 570f of anvil plate 570. Head 577b of pusher bar 577 is configured and dimensioned for pivotable and/or rotatable connection in pocket 575c of link arm 575. Head 577b of pusher bar 577 includes a stop member 577d projecting from a side edge thereof and into arcuate relief 575e of pocket 575c of link arm 575. A relative distance of rotation of pusher bar 577 relative to link arm 575 is determined by a relative length of arcuate relief 575e and a relative width of stop member 577d.
Turning now to
In particular, as seen in
As seen in
In this manner, the sutures will reside in the enlarged head portions of the proximal pair of recesses 570d and the distal pair of recesses 570e, and the reduced width portions thereof will inhibit the sutures form sliding/walking out of the recesses without application of an external force thereto. By way of example, it is envisioned that width W1 is about 0.009-0.011 inches, width W2 is about 0.014-0.016 inches, and the sutures have a diameter of about 0.0165-0.0185 inches.
Turning now to
As seen in
Keyhole-shaped slots or recesses 570d, 570e, 572b facilitate the insertion and/or release of a suture “S” (not shown) therefrom, as compared to recesses 70d, 70e of anvil plate 70 and recess 72b of cover plate 72, as described above.
It is further contemplated that a keyhole-shaped slot or recess may be provided in place of any of the side slots defined in any of the anvil assemblies and/or cartridge assemblies disclosed herein.
In further embodiments, recesses 570d, 570e, 572b are provided with differently-shaped slots and configurations to facilitate the insertion and/or release of a suture “S” (not shown) in a variety of circumstances. While the following embodiments illustrate a recess on the distal end of cover plate 572, it is contemplated that these configurations may be applied equally to recesses on the anvil plate 570.
Referring now to
Turning now to
Referring to
Turning to
In use, the pair of steppes 572h3a,3b serve to trap suture “S” (not shown) within elongated head portion 572h3 to prevent/inhibit distal motion of the suture “S” (not shown) or withdrawal of suture “S” from recess 572h. Suture “S” (not shown) is trapped along a path defined by the internal wall of recess 572h and steppes 572h3a,3b. If suture “S” (not shown) is provided with barbs on its outer surface, steppes 572h3a,3b may serve to engage the barbs on suture “S” (not shown) to further inhibit motion of sutures “S”. Thus, steppes 572h3a,3b work in conjunction with barbs 572h1a to keep suture “S” (not shown) disposed in a substantially fixed position within the elongated head portion 572h3 during operation of the anvil assembly 520.
According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, it is contemplated that buttresses “B” may be provided or formed with integral wings or tabs extending therefrom for insertion and/or receipt into distal and/or proximal recesses of anvil assembly and/or cartridge assembly. It is further contemplated that sutures “S” may be affixed to, embedded in or other wise connected to buttresses “B.”
Exemplary surgical buttresses “B” for use with the surgical stapling devices disclosed herein are shown and described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,594; 5,908,427; 5,964,774; and 6,045,560, and commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 12/579,605, filed on Oct. 15, 2009 (now U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0092710, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,151), commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 11/241,267, filed on Sep. 30, 2005 (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0085034, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,307), and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/248,846, filed on Oct. 12, 2005 (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0135992, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,823,592), the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Surgical buttresses “B” may be fabricated from a suitable biocompatible and bioabsorbable material. Surgical buttresses “B” may be fabricated from a non-absorbent material which does not retain fluid. Surgical buttresses “B” may be fabricated from “BIOSYN” made from GLYCOMER 631 (a block copolymer), a synthetic polyester composed of glycolide, dioxanone and trimethylene carbonate.
One block of the resulting copolymer contains randomly combined units derived from p-dioxanone (1,4-dioxan-2-one) and trimethylene carbonate (1,3-dioxan-2-one). The second block of the copolymer contains randomly combined units derived from glycolide and p-dioxanone. The resulting polyester is an ABA triblock terpolymer possessing about 60% glycolide, about 14% dioxanone, and about 26% trimethylene carbonate.
In accordance with the present disclosure, it is further contemplated that surgical buttresses “B” may be constructed and/or fabricated, from the above-identified materials, as a non-woven, absorbable felt and the like.
With reference to
For example, a roughness of a tissue facing side of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” may be minimized, thereby reducing friction between tissues and the surgical buttresses “B1, B2” during tissue manipulation; a flexing of the surgical buttresses “B1, B2” between attachment points thereof may be minimized, thereby limiting movement where the surgical buttresses “B1, B2” is not fastened to cartridge assembly 18 and/or anvil assembly 20; a shape of each surgical buttresses “B1, B2” may be modified to conform to the topography of tissue facing surface of cartridge assembly 18 and/or anvil assembly 20; and/or increase a width of a profile of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” to be wider than a width of the respective cartridge assembly 18 and/or anvil assembly 20 widths so that some lateral shifting of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” can occur without compromising reinforcement of the entire staple line.
Specifically, the surface roughness of the material of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” may be minimized by any number of means including calendaring, applying heat and pressure, adding a lubricious coating, or forming the material on a flat surface. In the case of melt blown synthetic fabrics the material of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” could be produced by blowing fibers onto a smooth heated belt to encourage relaxation of the fibers to conform to the heated surface. Minimizing buttress roughness reduces the interaction of the material of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” when being moved across tissue, thus reducing forces exerted on the surgical buttresses “B1, B2” which lead to movement of surgical buttresses “B1, B2”.
Also, flexing or the flexibility of the material of surgical buttresses “B1, B2” may be minimized by increasing the material density, basis weight, or choosing a base material that has a high Young's modulus. In the case of melt blown synthetic fabrics, this can also be accomplished by calendaring with heated rollers to increase intra fiber bonding and to increase fiber packing. Less material flexing equates to the surgical buttresses “B1, B2” moving less when forces are exerted thereon during tissue manipulation.
Additionally, as seen in
Further, with continued reference to
In addition to the foregoing, the surgical buttresses “B” may be fabricated from any biodegradable and/or non-biodegradable material, including polymers, that can be used in surgical procedures. The term “biodegradable” as used herein is defined to include both bioabsorbable and bioresorbable materials. By biodegradable, it is meant that the material decomposes, or loses structural integrity under body conditions (e.g., enzymatic degradation or hydrolysis) or is broken down (physically or chemically) under physiologic conditions in the body, such that the degradation products are excretable or absorbable by the body. Absorbable materials are absorbed by biological tissues and disappear in vivo at the end of a given period, which can vary, for example, from hours to several months, depending on the chemical nature of the material. It should be understood that such materials include natural, synthetic, bioabsorbable, and/or certain non-absorbable materials, as well as combinations thereof.
Representative natural biodegradable polymers which may be used to form the medical devices include: polysaccharides such as alginate, dextran, chitin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, collagen, gelatin, fucans, glycosaminoglycans, and chemical derivatives thereof (substitutions and/or additions of chemical groups including, for example, alkyl, alkylene, amine, sulfate, hydroxylations, carboxylations, oxidations, and other modifications routinely made by those skilled in the art); catgut; silk; linen; cotton; and proteins such as albumin, casein, zein, silk, soybean protein; and combinations such as copolymers and blends thereof, alone or in combination with synthetic polymers.
Synthetically modified natural polymers which may be used to form the medical devices include cellulose derivatives such as alkyl celluloses, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, nitrocelluloses, and chitosan. Examples of suitable cellulose derivatives include methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate phthalate, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose triacetate, cellulose sulfate sodium salt, and combinations thereof.
Representative synthetic biodegradable polymers which may be utilized to form medical devices include polyhydroxy acids prepared from lactone monomers (such as glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, ε-caprolactone, valerolactone, and δ-valerolactone), carbonates (e.g., trimethylene carbonate, tetramethylene carbonate, and the like), dioxanones (e.g., 1,4-dioxanone and p-dioxanone), 1,dioxepanones (e.g., 1,4-dioxepan-2-one and 1,5-dioxepan-2-one), and combinations thereof. Polymers formed therefrom include: polylactides; poly(lactic acid); polyglycolides; poly(glycolic acid); poly(trimethylene carbonate); poly(dioxanone); poly(hydroxybutyric acid); poly(hydroxyvaleric acid); poly(lactide-co-(ε-caprolactone-)); poly(glycolide-co-(ε-caprolactone)); polycarbonates; poly(pseudo amino acids); poly(amino acids); poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s such as polyhydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyvalerate, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), polyhydroxyoctanoate, and polyhydroxyhexanoate; polyalkylene oxalates; polyoxaesters; polyanhydrides; polyester anyhydrides; polyortho esters; and copolymers, block copolymers, homopolymers, blends, and combinations thereof.
Synthetic degradable polymers also include hydrophilic vinyl polymers including phosphorylcholines such as 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, hydroxamates, vinyl furanones and their copolymers, and quaternary ammonia; as well as various alkylene oxide copolymers in combination with other polymers such as lactones, orthoesters, and hydroxybutyrates, for example.
Rapidly bioerodible polymers, such as poly(lactide-co-glycolide)s, polyanhydrides, and polyorthoesters, which have carboxylic groups exposed on the external surface as the surface of the polymer erodes, may also be used.
Other biodegradable polymers include polyphosphazenes; polypropylene fumarates; polyimides; polymer drugs such as polyamines; perfluoroalkoxy polymers; fluorinated ethylene/propylene copolymers; PEG-lactone copolymers; PEG-polyorthoester copolymers; blends and combinations thereof.
Some non-limiting examples of suitable nondegradable materials from which the medical devices may be made include metals, ceramics, and polymeric materials. Suitable nondegradable polymeric materials include, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene (including ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) and polypropylene including atactic, isotactic, syndiotactic, and blends thereof; polyethylene glycols; polyethylene oxides; polyisobutylene and ethylene-alpha olefin copolymers; fluorinated polyolefins such as fluoroethylenes, fluoropropylenes, fluoroPEGSs, and polytetrafluoroethylene; polyamides such as nylon, Nylon 6, Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6,10, Nylon 11, Nylon 12, and polycaprolactam; polyimines; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate; polyethers; polybutester; polytetramethylene ether glycol; 1,4-butanediol; polyurethanes; acrylic polymers; methacrylics; vinyl halide polymers such as polyvinyl chloride; polyvinyl alcohols; polyvinyl ethers such as polyvinyl methyl ether; polyvinylidene halides such as polyvinylidene fluoride and polyvinylidene chloride; polychlorofluoroethylene; polyacrylonitrile; polyaryletherketones; polyvinyl ketones; polyvinyl aromatics such as polystyrene; polyvinyl esters such as polyvinyl acetate; etheylene-methyl methacrylate copolymers; acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers; ABS resins; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; alkyd resins; polycarbonates; polyoxymethylenes; polyphosphazine; epoxy resins; aramids; rayon; rayon-triacetate; spandex; silicones; and copolymers and combinations thereof.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the stapling apparatus need not apply staples but rather may apply two part fasteners as is known in the art. Further, the length of the linear row of staples or fasteners may be modified to meet the requirements of a particular surgical procedure. Thus, the length of a single stroke of the actuation shaft and/or the length of the linear row of staples and/or fasteners within a disposable loading unit may be varied accordingly. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended thereto.
The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/172,036, filed on Feb. 4, 2014, which claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/770,855, filed on Feb. 28, 2013 the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein. The present application relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/729,144, filed on Dec. 28, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,989, which is a Continuation Application which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/097,194, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,972, which is a Continuation-In-Part Application which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/414,943, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,550, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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| European Office Action corresponding to EP 15 17 4146.9 dated May 15, 2017. |
| Japanese Office Action corresponding to JP 2013-154561 dated May 23, 2017. |
| European Office Action corresponding to EP 12 19 4784.0 dated May 29, 2017. |
| Japanese Office Action corresponding to JP 2013-169083 dated May 31, 2017. |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180296214 A1 | Oct 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61770855 | Feb 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14172036 | Feb 2014 | US |
| Child | 16012224 | US |
