PIVOTING ANVIL FOR SURGICAL CIRCULAR STAPLER

Abstract

A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue has a circular stapling head operable to drive staples toward an anvil to form the staples in a circular array. The anvil includes an anvil head, a proximal shaft extending proximally from the anvil head and having a proximal end disposed in a first plane, and a first pivot connecting the anvil head to the proximal shaft. The first pivot is operable to be disposed in a second plane that is laterally offset from the first plane. The anvil is configured to rotate via movement through multiple pivot points. The anvil may be configured to rotate to a position in which a portion of the anvil head is disposed below the first pivot and between the first pivot and the proximal shaft such that the anvil head is acutely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal shaft.

Description

Claims

1. A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) a stapling head assembly;(b) an anvil configured to form staples advanced by the stapling head assembly, the anvil comprising: (i) an anvil head,(ii) a proximal shaft proximally extending from the anvil head and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the proximal shaft terminates at a free end located at a first position; and(ii) a first pivot connecting the anvil head to the proximal shaft, wherein the first pivot is located at a second position, and wherein the second position is distal to the first position;wherein anvil head is configured to rotate about the first pivot to a tilted position in which a plane of the anvil head defines an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the proximal shaft, wherein the vertex of the acute angle is located at a third position, wherein the third position is distal to the first position, and wherein the third position is proximal to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil is configured to rotate from a perpendicular position, in which the plane of the anvil head is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the proximal shaft, to the tilted position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second pivot disposed on the proximal shaft.

4. The anvil of claim 3, wherein the proximal shaft contains a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the second pivot is disposed between and attaches the first portion and the second portion.

5. The anvil of claim 4, wherein the first portion is configured to rotate about the second pivot such that the first portion is configured to rotate with respect to the second portion.

6. The anvil of claim 5, wherein the anvil head is configured to be disposed adjacent to the first portion and spaced from the second portion.

7. The anvil of claim 1, wherein the anvil head further comprises a proximally projecting linked connector, wherein the first pivot attaches the linked connector to the proximal shaft.

8. The anvil of claim 1, further comprising a driver rod configured to rotate the anvil head about the first pivot.

9. The anvil of claim 8, wherein the driver rod is disposed in the proximal shaft.

10. The anvil of claim 9, wherein the driver rod is translatable within the proximal shaft.

11. The anvil of claim 10, wherein a distal end of the driver rod is operable to advance distally past a distal end of the proximal shaft to rotate the anvil head about the first pivot.

12. The anvil of claim 1, wherein the proximal shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is connected to the anvil head via the first pivot, and wherein a second pivot is disposed between and attaches the first portion and the second portion.

13. The anvil of claim 12, wherein the first portion is configured to rotate about the second pivot in a first rotating direction such that the first portion is configured to rotate with respect to the second portion to a fourth position, and wherein the anvil head is configured to rotate about the first pivot in a second rotating direction such that the anvil head is configured to rotate with respect to the first portion of the proximal shaft to a fifth position.

14. The anvil of claim 13, wherein the first rotating direction is opposite the second rotating direction.

15. The anvil of claim 13, wherein the anvil is operable to be locked in at least one of the fourth position or the fifth position.

16. A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) a stapling head assembly;(b) an anvil, the anvil comprising: (i) an anvil head,(ii) a proximal shaft extending from the anvil head, the proximal shaft including a link and a proximal end portion;(iii) a first pivot connecting the anvil head to the link; and(iv) a second pivot connecting the link to the proximal end portion;wherein the link is configured to rotate about the second pivot in a first rotating direction such that the link is configured to rotate with respect to the proximal end portion to a first position, and wherein the anvil head is configured to rotate about the first pivot in a second rotating direction such that the anvil head is configured to rotate with respect to the link of the proximal shaft to a second position, wherein the first rotating direction is opposite the second rotating direction.

17. The anvil of claim 16, wherein the anvil head in the second position defines a plane that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the link in the first position.

18. The anvil of claim 17, wherein the plane of the anvil head in the second position defines an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of the proximal end portion of the proximal shaft, and wherein the vertex of the acute angle is disposed below the first pivot.

19. A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) a stapling head assembly;(b) an anvil, the anvil comprising: (i) an anvil head,(ii) a proximal shaft extending from the anvil head; and(iii) a first pivot connecting the anvil head to the proximal shaft;wherein the anvil is configured to rotate from a first position, in which the anvil head is disposed substantially perpendicular to the proximal shaft, to a second position, in which a portion of the anvil head is disposed between the first pivot and the proximal shaft such that the anvil head is acutely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal shaft.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the vertex of the acute angle is disposed below the first pivot.