EP0399701A1 — Surgical stapling apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

Surgical apparatus (100) for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising: a) a frame (102); b) an endoscopic portion (103) defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic portion including: i) an elongate housing (134) having a distal member (134B) for mounting a cartridge assembly (137), said cartridge assembly (137) including a plurality of surgical fasteners (138) slidably mounted therein, and having a tissue engaging surface; ii) an anvil member (136) having a fastener forming surface (136D), and a proximal end (136C) mounted to said elongate housing such that the anvil member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close co-operative alignment with said tissue engaging surface of said cartidge assembly; iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position; and iv) means (139) for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartidge assembly, whereby said fasteners engage said fastener forming surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 161 words

Surgical apparatus (100) for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising: a) a frame (102); b) an endoscopic portion (103) defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic portion including: i) an elongate housing (134) having a distal member (134B) for mounting a cartridge assembly (137), said cartridge assembly (137) including a plurality of surgical fasteners (138) slidably mounted therein, and having a tissue engaging surface; ii) an anvil member (136) having a fastener forming surface (136D), and a proximal end (136C) mounted to said elongate housing such that the anvil member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close co-operative alignment with said tissue engaging surface of said cartidge assembly; iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position; and iv) means (139) for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartidge assembly, whereby said fasteners engage said fastener forming surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising means for rotating said endoscopic portion around said longitudinal axis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 143 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position further comprise: a) a tubular collar (127) disposed around at least a portion of said housing and said anvil, said tubular collar having a distal camming edge and being movable between a first position in which said camming edge is located proximally to the proximal end of said anvil member, and a second position in which said camming edge is located distally to the proximal end of said anvil member, said tubular collar co-operating with said anvil member such that when the collar is moved from said first position to said second position, said anvil member is urged to said closed position; and b) means (125) for moving said collar between said first position and said second position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 89 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said means for moving said collar between said first position and said second position further comprise; a) a collar plug (126) for mounting to the proximal end of said collar, said collar having at least one circumferential slot, said collar plug having at least one radial projection configured and dimensioned to engage said circumferential slot; and b) means (125) for moving said collar plug longitudinally relative to said housing, thereby moving said collar between said first position and said second position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 88 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein said means for moving said collar between said first position and said second position further comprise: a) a collar shaft (125) extending longitudinal to said housing and having proximal and distal ends; b) means (115) for longitudinally moving said collar shaft relative to said housing; and c) means (126) for transmitting longitudinal movement from the distal end of said collar shaft to said collar such that said collar is movable between said first position and said second position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 117 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said means for moving said collar between said first position and said second position further comprise: a) a substantially cylindrical collar pivot wheel (115) slidably mounted within said frame, said collar pivot wheel being configured and dimensioned to receive the proximal end of said collar shaft, said collar pivot wheel also being rotatable and longitudinally movable relative to said frame and longitudinally aligned with said tubular collar; b) means (115B, 125A) for transmitting longitudinal movement from said collar pivot wheel to said collar shaft; and c) means (112) for longitudinally moving said collar pivot wheel such that said collar is movable between said first position and said second position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 94 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said means for longitudinally moving said collar pivot wheel further comprises a collar pivot holder (112) longitudinally slidably mounted within the interior of said frame, said collar pivot holder being substantially cylindrical and having a distal end engaging said collar pivot wheel, said collar pivot wheel being rotatable relative to said collar pivot holder but longitudinally fixed relative to said collar pivot holder also having a proximal end engaging a collar moving pivot (111) for longitudinally moving said collar pivot holder in response to manual pressure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

Surgical stapling apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein aid collar pivot wheel has a central aperture extending axially therethrough for rotatably engaging a stud (114) longitudinally fixed to the distal end of said collar pivot holder, said collar pivot wheel being longitudinally fixed relative to said stud.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the endoscopic portion is detachably connected to said frame.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 104 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said means for moving said anvil member between said open and said closed positions further comprises a collar tube having a shaft portion (125) disposed within and longitudinally movable relative to said housing and a clamping portion (127) protruding from the distal end of said housing, said clamping portion surrounding a portion of said anvil member (136), said collar tube being movable between a first position wherein said clamping portion is adjacent said housing and a second position wherein said clamping portion is distal to said housing and urges said anvil member into said closed position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said anvil member is movably mounted to said housing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the anvil member is mounted to the housing by a leaf spring.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

Surgical apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes said cartridge assembly and wherein said means (139) for ejecting said surgical fasteners further comprises at least one cam bar (129) for actuating pusher elements (139) within said cartridge assembly to drive said fasteners as said cam bar longitudinally traverses said cartridge assembly.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said cartridge assembly further includes a knife.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, further comprising a knife (132) mounted to said cam bar.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claims 13, 14 or 15, wherein said cartidge assembly is removably mounted to said elongate housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said cartidge assembly, means for ejecting said surgical fasteners and knife are removable from said elongate housing for replacement as a unit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 146 words

Surgical apparatus comprising a disposable loading unit for an endoscopic stapler, the apparatus comprising; i) an elongate housing supporting at the distal end thereof a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical fasteners slidably mounted therein, and having a tissue engaging surface; ii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface, and a proximal end mounted to said elongate housing such that said anvil member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close co-operative alignment with said tissue engaging surface of said cartridge assembly; iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position; and iv) means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge assembly, said elongate housing, anvil member and cartridge assembly being configured and dimensioned to be received by and fit into an endoscopic tube

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 146 words

Surgical apparatus comprising a disposable loading unit for an endoscopic stapler, the apparatus comprising; i) an elongate housing supporting at the distal end thereof a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical fasteners slidably mounted therein, and having a tissue engaging surface; ii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface, and a proximal end mounted to said elongate housing such that said anvil member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close co-operative alignment with said tissue engaging surface of said cartridge assembly; iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position; and iv) means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge assembly, said elongate housing, anvil member and cartridge assembly being configured and dimensioned to be received by and fit into an endoscopic tube

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 104 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein means for moving said anvil member between said open and said closed positions further comprises a collar tube having a shaft portion disposed within an longitudinally movable relative to said housing and a clamping portion protruding from the distal end of said housing, said clamping portion surrounding a portion of said anvil member, said collar tube being movably between a first position wherein said clamping position is adjacent said housing and a second position wherein said clamping portion is distal to said housing and urges said anvil member into said anvil member into said closed position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 18 or 9, wherein said anvil member is movably mounted to said housing by a leaf spring.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 46 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said means for ejecting said surgical fasteners further comprises at least one cam bar for actuating pusher elements within said cartridge assembly to drive said fasteners as said cam bar longitudinally tranverse said cartridge assembly.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 16 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 further comprising a knife mounted to said cam bar.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

Surgical apparatus of Claim 22, wherein said cartridge assembly, means for ejecting said surgical fasteners, and knife are removably mounted to said elongate housing for replacement as a unit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 18 to 23, wherein said cartridge assembly is removably mounted to said elongate housing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

Surgical apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 18 to 24, wherein said cartridge assembly further includes a knife.

Surgical stapling apparatus

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