Patent Application
20200046352
The present disclosure is directed to a stapling device and, more particularly to a stapling device including a multiple use loading unit (“MULU”) with a cartridge ejector.
Surgical stapling devices for treating, i.e., stapling and cutting, body tissue are well known in the surgical arts. Stapling procedures to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, staple and cut tissue have been shown to be faster than conventional dissection and suturing procedures and thus, minimize trauma to a patient.
In order to minimize cost associated with conventional surgical procedures that require reuse of the surgical stapling device during a surgical procedure, surgical stapling devices including an effector having a MULU were developed. The MULU allows for reuse of the surgical stapling device by replacing a staple cartridge of the MULU.
In current stapling devices that include MULU's, a spent staple cartridge is replaced by inserting a shipping wedge into a slot on the MULU to release the spent staple cartridge from the MULU. However, in certain procedures, including surgical procedures performed robotically, the end effector returns to a home position after the staple cartridge is spent. In the home position, the clinician may have a difficult time accessing the slot making it difficult for the clinician to replace the spent staple cartridge.
A continuing need exist in the art for a mechanism that simplifies replacement of the MULU in a stapling device.
One aspect of the disclosure is directed to an end effector for a surgical stapling device that includes an anvil, a multiple use loading unit, and an ejector assembly. The anvil has a first tissue contact surface that defines a plane. The multiple use loading unit is pivotally secured to the anvil and includes a channel member that defines a cavity and a staple cartridge that is received within the cavity. The staple cartridge has a body having a second tissue contact surface and defining a knife slot, and a plurality of staple receiving slots positioned on opposite sides of the knife slot. The staple cartridge has a distal portion having a lower surface that is angled towards the plane defined by the first tissue contact surface in a distal direction. The ejector assembly includes an ejector button supported on the channel member that is movable from an advanced position to a retracted position in relation to the channel member. The ejector button has a body including an upper surface that is angled towards the plane defined by the first tissue contact surface in the distal direction. The upper surface of the body of the ejector button is positioned to engage the lower surface of the distal portion of the staple cartridge such that movement of the ejector button from the advanced position to the retracted position lifts the distal portion of the staple cartridge from the cavity of the channel member.
In embodiments, the ejector assembly includes a biasing member that is positioned between the body of the ejector button and the staple cartridge to urge the ejector button to the advanced position.
In some embodiments, the channel member includes a distal portion that defines a recess and the ejector button includes a guide member that is received within the recess to guide movement of the ejector button between the advanced and retracted positions.
In certain embodiments, the recess and the guide member are configured to limit the ejector button to linear movement.
In embodiments, the guide member includes a protrusion that is configured to retain the guide member within the recess.
In some embodiments, the ejector body includes a support member that supports the biasing member.
In certain embodiments, the support member is cylindrical and the biasing member includes a coil spring, and a distal portion of the coil spring is received about the support member.
In embodiments, the end effector includes a drive screw and a clamping member supported within the cavity of the channel member, and the clamping member is supported on the drive screw such that rotation of the drive screw advances the clamping member within the cavity.
In some embodiments, the ejector button includes a distal gripping surface.
In certain embodiments, the distal gripping surface includes a plurality of raised ribs.
In embodiments, the distal portion of the staple cartridge includes an upper surface that is contiguous with the first tissue contact surface and extends in a direction away from the plane of the first tissue contact surface.
In embodiments, the clamping member supports a knife blade.
Various embodiments of the presently disclosed end effector of a surgical stapling device are described herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
The presently disclosed end effector including a staple cartridge ejector assembly 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 the disclosed embodiments 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 present 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 present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
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 “clinician” is used generally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, and support personnel.
Referring to
The MULU 14 includes a channel member 20 and a replaceable staple cartridge 22. The channel member 20 is pivotally coupled to the anvil 12 (12) and is movable in relation to the anvil 12 to move the end effector 10 between spaced and clamped positions. The channel member 20 includes a base wall 24 (
The anvil 12 defines a tissue contact surface 12a (
The staple cartridge 22 includes a body 40 that defines linear rows of staple receiving slots 42. The linear rows of staple receiving slots 42 are positioned on opposite sides of a knife slot 44. The staple receiving slots 42 and the knife slot 44 open onto a tissue contact surface 46 of the staple cartridge 22. The body 40 of the staple cartridge 22 includes protrusions 50 that extend outwardly from the body 40 of the staple cartridge 22 and are positioned to be received within the notches 32 (
Referring to
Referring to
In embodiments, the support member 90 includes a cylindrical body 93 (
In embodiments, the ejector button 80 includes a distal gripping surface 98 (
Referring to
Although the cartridge ejector assembly 76 is shown supported on a powered type end effector 10 which includes a driven screw shaft 64, it is envisioned that the ejector assembly could be easily incorporated into the end effector of a manually powered stapling device such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
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 embodiments. 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 embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.
