EP0592244A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic surgical stapling instrument with pivotable and rotatable staple cartridge
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A surgical stapler is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to staple a hernia patch to tissue inside a body cavity. The endoscopic surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge pivotally mounted on the distal end of a support tube extending from a handle provided with an actuator mechanism for actuating a staple forming mechanism inside the staple cartridge to fasten staples to the tissue. The staple cartridge is adjustable to different angular orientations relative to the support tube. The staple actuator mechanism is operable to actuate the staple cartridge in any of the angular orientations. The support shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle to adjust the rotational orientation of the support shaft and the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the support shaft to adjust the rotational position of the staple cartridge relative to the support shaft. Separate actuator mechanisms are provided on the handle to control the pivotal movement of the staple cartridge, the rotation of the support shaft, and the rotation of the staple cartridge relative to the support shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene David Allen
- 👤 Gregory D. Bishop
- 👤 James J. Bedi
- 👤 Mark A. Burdorff
- 👤 Sean P. Conlon
- 👤 J. David Hughett
- 👤 Joseph Paraschac
- 👤 Thomas J. Sierocuk
- 👤 John A. Hibner
- 👤 Mark S. Ortiz
- 👤 Narinderjit Sambi
- 👤 Jack E. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B17/0684; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2902; A61B2017/2903; A61B17/2909; A61B2017/2912; A61B2017/2923; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/2929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle; a staple cartridge mounted on said support shaft and connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples seriatim to the tissue; and said staple cartridge being mounted for pivotal movement relative to said support shaft about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said support shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle; a staple cartridge mounted on said support shaft and connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples seriatim to the tissue; and said staple cartridge being mounted for pivotal movement relative to said support shaft about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said support shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 1, wherein: said support shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 2, which includes: first means for pivoting said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 3, which includes: second means for rotating said support shaft about its londitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 4, wherein: said staple cartridge is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said support shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 5, which includes: third means for rotating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising:
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle; a staple cartridge mounted on said support shaft and connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples seriatim to the tissue; and said staple cartridge being mounted for rotation relative to said support shaft to permit the rotational orientation of said staple cartridge to be adjusted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle; a staple cartridge mounted on said support shaft and connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples seriatim to the tissue; and said staple cartridge being mounted for rotation relative to said support shaft to permit the rotational orientation of said staple cartridge to be adjusted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 7, which includes: means for retaining said staple cartridge in different rotational orientations as said staple cartridge is rotated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stapling instrument of Claim 7, which includes: control means on said handle for rotating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said control means comprises: a control knob rotatably mounted on said handle; a flexible cable rotatably mounted within said support shaft and extending from said handle to said staple cartridge; first gear means for coupling said cable to said control knob; and second gear means for coupling said cable to said staple cartridge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; an elongated tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle, said support shaft being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to said handle; a staple cartridge mounted at the distal end of said support shaft for holding a plurality of staples and including a staple forming mechanism connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying the staples to the tissue; and pivot means at the distal end of said support shaft for mounting said staple cartridge for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said support shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; an elongated tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle, said support shaft being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to said handle; a staple cartridge mounted at the distal end of said support shaft for holding a plurality of staples and including a staple forming mechanism connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying the staples to the tissue; and pivot means at the distal end of said support shaft for mounting said staple cartridge for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said support shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
165 words
An endoscopic surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to internal body tissue, comprising: an actuator handle assembly including a staple actuator mechanism; an elongated tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said actuator handle assembly, said support shaft being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to said actuator handle assembly; a staple cartridge mounted at the distal end of said support shaft for holding a plurality of staples and including a staple forming mechanism connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying the staples to the tissue; pivot means at the distal end of said support shaft for mounting said staple cartridge for pivotal movement relative to said support shaft about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said support shaft; and said staple cartridge being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to said pivot means and to said support shaft to permit the rotational orientation of said staple cartridge to be adjusted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
165 words
An endoscopic surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to internal body tissue, comprising: an actuator handle assembly including a staple actuator mechanism; an elongated tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said actuator handle assembly, said support shaft being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to said actuator handle assembly; a staple cartridge mounted at the distal end of said support shaft for holding a plurality of staples and including a staple forming mechanism connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying the staples to the tissue; pivot means at the distal end of said support shaft for mounting said staple cartridge for pivotal movement relative to said support shaft about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said support shaft; and said staple cartridge being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to said pivot means and to said support shaft to permit the rotational orientation of said staple cartridge to be adjusted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a cartridge housing adapted to receive a plurality of staples in a row for longitudinal movement therethrough; an anvil mounted on said housing; means for advancing the forwardmost staple in the row into engagement with said anvil; means for rotating the forwardmost staple from a transverse orientation into a longitudinal orientation as the staple is advanced toward said anvil; and means for forming the forwardmost staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a cartridge housing adapted to receive a plurality of staples in a row for longitudinal movement therethrough; an anvil mounted on said housing; means for advancing the forwardmost staple in the row into engagement with said anvil; means for rotating the forwardmost staple from a transverse orientation into a longitudinal orientation as the staple is advanced toward said anvil; and means for forming the forwardmost staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
160 words
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, each staple having a generally U-shaped body including a crown with depending staple legs on opposite sides of the crown, said cartridge comprising: an elongated hollow cylindrical cartridge housing including staple guide means therein for slidably supporting a stack of staples for longitudinal movement therealong, said staples being oriented in a transverse orientation with the staple legs oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing; an anvil mounted adjacent to the distal end of said cartridge housing; means for advancing the forward most staple in the stack into engagement with said anvil; means for rotating the forwardmost staple into a longitudinal orientation with the staple legs oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing as the staple is advanced toward said anvil; and means forforming the forwardmost staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
160 words
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, each staple having a generally U-shaped body including a crown with depending staple legs on opposite sides of the crown, said cartridge comprising: an elongated hollow cylindrical cartridge housing including staple guide means therein for slidably supporting a stack of staples for longitudinal movement therealong, said staples being oriented in a transverse orientation with the staple legs oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing; an anvil mounted adjacent to the distal end of said cartridge housing; means for advancing the forward most staple in the stack into engagement with said anvil; means for rotating the forwardmost staple into a longitudinal orientation with the staple legs oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing as the staple is advanced toward said anvil; and means forforming the forwardmost staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
246 words
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, each staple having a generally U-shaped body including a crown with a central offset portion and a pair of depending legs on opposite sides of the crown, said cartridge comprising: an elongated hollow cylindrical cartridge housing including a pair of spaced parallel guide rails therein for slidably supporting the stack of staples for longitudinal movement therealong with the staple crowns resting on said guide rails and the staple legs oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing; a staple follower slidably mounted on said guide rails for urging the staples forwardly on said guide rails toward the distal end of said cartridge housing; an anvil mounted adjacent to the distal end of said cartridge housing; a staple holder slidably mounted between said guide rails for engaging the central offset portion of the forwardmost staple to advance the staple from the stack into engagement with said anvil; ramp means on said cartridge housing for engaging the crown of the forwardmost staple advanced by said staple holder and rotating the staple into a longitudinal orientation with the staple legs oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing; and a staple former slidably mounted between said guide rails and movable relative to said staple holder for engaging the crown of the forwardmost staple to form the staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
246 words
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, each staple having a generally U-shaped body including a crown with a central offset portion and a pair of depending legs on opposite sides of the crown, said cartridge comprising: an elongated hollow cylindrical cartridge housing including a pair of spaced parallel guide rails therein for slidably supporting the stack of staples for longitudinal movement therealong with the staple crowns resting on said guide rails and the staple legs oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing; a staple follower slidably mounted on said guide rails for urging the staples forwardly on said guide rails toward the distal end of said cartridge housing; an anvil mounted adjacent to the distal end of said cartridge housing; a staple holder slidably mounted between said guide rails for engaging the central offset portion of the forwardmost staple to advance the staple from the stack into engagement with said anvil; ramp means on said cartridge housing for engaging the crown of the forwardmost staple advanced by said staple holder and rotating the staple into a longitudinal orientation with the staple legs oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing; and a staple former slidably mounted between said guide rails and movable relative to said staple holder for engaging the crown of the forwardmost staple to form the staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
110 words
A staple cartridge for use with an endoscopic stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a cartridge housing adapted to receive a plurality of staples in a row for longitudinal movement therethrough; an anvil mounted on said housing; means for advancing the forward most staple in the row into engagement with said anvil; means forforming the forwardmost staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue; means for connecting said cartridge housing to a shaft of an endoscopic stapling instrument; and said cartridge housing being rotatably mounted on said connecting means to permit the rotational position of said staple cartridge to be adjusted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
110 words
A staple cartridge for use with an endoscopic stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising: a cartridge housing adapted to receive a plurality of staples in a row for longitudinal movement therethrough; an anvil mounted on said housing; means for advancing the forward most staple in the row into engagement with said anvil; means forforming the forwardmost staple about said anvil to attach the staple to the tissue; means for connecting said cartridge housing to a shaft of an endoscopic stapling instrument; and said cartridge housing being rotatably mounted on said connecting means to permit the rotational position of said staple cartridge to be adjusted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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