Gastrointestinal staplescope

Claim 2

The stapler according to claim 1, wherein the anvil stapling surface and cutting block surface are circular.

Claim 3

The stapler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said staple driver comprises means for driving staples in two concentric circles.

Claim 4

The stapler according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the stapler activating means comprises: a common mount for said staple driver and cutting blade, said common mount being slidably movable axially within said head assembly; pulley means on said anvil member; and at least one cable means extending the length of the flexible tube from the handpiece end to the distal end, said cable means distal end passing through said pulley means and being attached to the common mount facing the anvil, to effect driving of staples and cutting of the ends of tubular tissue when the cable means is pulled at the handpiece end.

Claim 5

The stapler according to claim 4, wherein the stapler activating means comprises two cables, two pulleys mounted on opposed sides of the anvil member, and wherein the two cables are attached to the common mount at opposed sides.

Claim 6

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising axial positioning means for positioning said anvil member and head assembly in axial alignment when the anvil member and head assembly are pulled toward each other.

Claim 7

The stapler according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising rotational positioning means for positioning said anvil member and head assembly in rotational alignment when said anvil member and head assembly are pulled toward each other, so that staples driven from said head assembly in said circular array are directed toward a corresponding array of anvil stapling positions.

Claim 8

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 7. comprising means for holding the stapling surface and anvil surface at least a selected distance apart to avoid crushing tissue during stapling operations.

Claim 9

The stapler according to claim 8, comprising means for adjusting said selected distance.

Claim 10

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a first serrated circular surface on said anvil member and a second serrated circular mating surface on said head assembly for positioning the anvil member and head assembly in axial and rotational alignment and a selected distance apart during stapling operations when the anvil member and head assembly are pulled together.

Claim 11

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a ring of pins on said anvil member and a corresponding ring of holes formed in said head assembly for positioning the anvil member and head assembly in axial and rotational alignment and a selected distance apart during stapling operations when the anvil member and head assembly are pulled together.

Claim 12

The stapler according to any one of claims to 11, further comprising a cylindrical sleeve centrally axially located on said anvil member, and an axially centrally disposed cylindrical post located on said head assembly, said post being slidingly received in said anvil cylindrical sleeve, for axially aligning said anvil member and head assembly.

Claim 13

The stapler according to claim 12, including an axial slot on the outer surface of said post, said slot adapted to receive a guide pin extending radially on the cylindrical sleeve for rotationally aligning said anvil member and head assembly, said slot having a selected length which determines the minimum and maximum distance of travel of said anvil stapling surface from said head assembly.

Claim 14

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the stapler activating means comprises a cable extending the length of the flexible tube from the handpiece end to the distal end, said cable means distal end being attached to the anvil whereby pulling the other end of the cable at the handpiece end pulls said head assembly and anvil member toward each other to a selected spacing distance.

Claim 15

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the stapler activating means comprises: a common mount for the staple driver and cutting blade, said common mount being slidably movable axially within said head assembly; and hydraulic means for driving said common mount axially toward said anvil member to drive staples and effect cutting of tubular ends of tissue when said head assembly and anvil member are at a selected spacing distance.

Claim 16

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising light emitting means, located on said distal end, and operatively connected to one of said anvil member and head assembly, for emitting light into a region of space.

Claim 17

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 16 comprising: steering means in said handpiece end and operatively connected to said head assembly, for pivoting said head assembly relative to said flexible tube, to thereby steer the head assembly in a body cavity.

Claim 18

The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising: scope means, in one of said anvil member and head assembly, for viewing, from said handpiece end, a region of space beyond said head assembly.

Claim 19

The stapler according to claim 18, wherein said scope means includes lens means, and further comprising watering means for emitting water across said lens means.

Claim 20

An endoscopic surgical stapler comprising: (a) a stapler assembly which includes: (i) an anvil member which defines a tissue engaging surface, said tissue engaging surface including a plurality of anvil pockets; and (ii) a head assembly adapted to receive surgical staples within a plurality of staple slots, said head assembly defining a tissue contacting surface which is adapted to align with said tissue engaging surface; (b) moving means associated with said stapler assembly for moving said anvil member and said head assembly relative to one another between a first, spaced position in which said tissue engaging surface is spaced from said tissue contacting surface for receiving tissue therebetween, and a second approximated position in which said tissue engaging surface and said tissue contacting surface are in close cooperative alignment; (c) imaging means associated with one of said anvil member and said head assembly for obtaining an image of an interior body region; (d) an elongated member having a proximal and distal end, said stapler assembly being positioned at and cooperating with said distal end of said elongated member; and (e) a handpiece positioned at and cooperating with said proximal end of said elongated member, said handpiece including first control means operatively connected through said elongated member with said moving means for causing said anvil member and said head assembly to move between said first and second positions; second control means operatively connected through said elongated member with said head assembly for causing said surgical staples to be advanced from said staple slots toward said anvil pockets; and viewing means operatively connected through said elongated member with said imaging means for viewing said interior body region image.

Claim 21

The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 20, wherein said imaging means is mounted to said head assembly.

Claim 22

The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 20 or 21, wherein said anvil member includes an aperture which is adapted to align with said imaging means, said aperture permitting said imaging means to obtain said image therethrough.

Claim 23

The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 22, wherein said tissue engaging surface and tissue contacting surface are substantially circular, and wherein said imaging means is mounted at an interior position of said circular tissue contacting surface.

Claim 24

The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 23, wherein said staple slots are positioned around the circumference of said circular tissue contacting surface, and said imaging means is mounted within a perimeter defined by said circumferentially positioned staple slots.

Claim 25

A surgical anastomotic device, comprising: (a) anastomotic approximating and attaching assembly for approximating and attaching two ends of anastomotic tissue, which includes: (i) a first member which defines a tissue engaging surface; (ii) a second member defining a tissue contacting surface which is adapted to align with said tissue engaging surface; and (iii) tissue attaching means associated with at least one of said first member and second member for attaching the two ends of anastomotic tissue together; (b) moving means associated with said anastomotic approximating and attaching assembly for moving said first member and said second member relative to one another between a first, spaced position in which said tissue engaging surface is spaced from said tissue contacting surface for receiving tissue therebetween, and a second approximated position in which said tissue engaging surface and said tissue contacting surface are in close cooperative alignment; (c) an elongated member having a proximal and distal end, said anastomotic approximating and attaching assembly being positioned at and cooperating with said distal end of said elongated member; and (d) a handpiece positioned at and cooperating with said proximal end of said elongated member, said handpiece including first control means operatively connected through said elongated member with said moving means for causing said first member and said second member to move between said first and second positions; second control means operatively connected through said elongated member with said second member for causing said tissue attaching means to effect attachment of the two ends of tissue to each other when the first member and second member are in the second position.

Claim 26

The device according to claim 25, comprising: (a) imaging means associated with one of said first member and said second member for obtaining an image of an interior body region; and (b) viewing means operatively connected through said elongated member with said imaging means for viewing said interior body region image.

Claim 28

A surgical anastomotic device, comprising: (a) anastomotic approximating assembly for approximating two ends of anastomotic tissue, which includes: (i) a first member which defines a tissue engaging surface; and (ii) a second member defining a tissue contacting surface which is adapted to align with said tissue engaging surface; (b) moving means associated with said anastomotic approximating assembly for moving said first member and said second member relative to one another between a first, spaced position in which said tissue engaging surface is spaced from said tissue contacting surface for receiving tissue therebetween, and a second approximated position in which said tissue engaging surface and said tissue contacting surface are in close cooperative alignment; (c) an elongated member having a proximal and distal end, said anastomotic approximating assembly being positioned at and cooperating with said distal end of said elongated member; and (d) a handpiece positioned at and cooperating with said proximal end of said elongated member, said handpiece including first control means operatively connected through said elongated member with said moving means for causing said first member and said second member to move between said first and second positions.

Claim 29

The device according to claim 28, comprising: (a) imaging means associated with one of said first member and said second member for obtaining an image of an interior body region; and (b) viewing means operatively connected through said elongated member with said imaging means for viewing said interior body region image.

Claim 30

The device according to claim 28 or 29, comprising: (a) steering means for pivoting said anastomotic approximating assembly relative to said elongated member, to thereby steer the anastomotic approximating assembly in a body cavity; and (b) steering control means operatively connected through said elongated member with said steering means for controlling the steering of said anastomotic approximating assembly.

Claim 31

The device according to claim 28, 29, or 30, wherein the first member comprises a first tissue clamping device and the second member comprises a second tissue clamping device, said first clamping device having a ratchet surfaced central shaft adapted to be received in a correspondingly arranged ratchet surfaced central opening.

Claim 38

The device according to claim 37, wherein the means for applying energy comprises laser fiber cables.

Claim 39

The device according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the means for applying energy comprises an electrical coil in at least one of the first and second members.

Claim 41

The device according to claim 40, comprising means for impaling both tissue ends and drawing them toward each other to an approximate position.

Claim 42

The device according to claim 40 or 41, wherein the means for impaling comprises at least one barb mounted on a toothed wheel, and means for rotating the toothed wheel to carry tissue impaled on the barb to an approximated position.

Claim 43

The device according to claim 40, 41, or 42, wherein the means for impaling comprises at least one tissue grabber spring-biased to a retracted position, and pull means to pull the grabber to overcome the spring force to grab the tissue and pull it toward an approximated position.

Claim 44

The device according to claim 43 , wherein the means for impaling comprises at least two grabbers operatively arranged to pivot about a common point, and pull means to pull both grabbers to pull the tissue toward an approximated position.