Surgical stapling cartridge with cylindrical driving cams

Claim 2

A staple-ejecting cartridge to be sterilized, packaged and mounted on a medical stapling instrument, the cartridge comprising: an elongated body adapted to house a plurality of staples; an anvil secured to one end of said elongated body; a pusher element in the plane of said anvil for reciprocating along the length of said elongated body, for ejecting said staples, singly, and for forming said staples around said anvil; means for positively guiding said staples along said body and toward said one end thereof; and cam means associated with said guiding means for advancing the staples along said body during the reciprocation of said pusher means.

Claim 3

The cartridge defined in claim 1, wherein said cam means are acted upon by said pusher means.

Claim 4

The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said guiding means takes the form of at least one threaded screw, the threads of which are adapted to engage the crosspieces of said staples; and wherein said cam means takes the form of at least one cylindrical cam integral with said at least one threaded screw.

Claim 5

The cartridge defined in claim 3, wherein said cylindrical cam is defined by at least one set of cam grooves cut into a cylindrical cam surface.

Claim 6

The cartridge defined in claim 4, and further comprising at least one reciprocating cam pin adapted to engage each set of cam grooves for causing rotation of said cylindrical cam in response to the reciprocation of said cam pin.

Claim 7

The cartridge defined in claim 5, wherein said at least one cam pin is rigidly secured to said pusher.

Claim 8

The cartridge recited in claim 3, wherein said guiding means is mounted for rotation; wherein a predetermined rotation of said guiding means results in the advancement of each of said staples and the positioning of one of said staples in a staple-ejecting location; wherein a portion of said predetermined rotation is brought about each time said pusher means is driven toward said one end of said cartridge; and wherein the remaining portion of said predetermined rotation is brought about each time said pusher means is driven toward the opposite end of said cartridge.

Claim 9

The cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined rotation is 360*.

Claim 10

The cartridge defined in claim 8, wherein said cam means rotate approximately one-half of the predetermined rotation during the forward stroke of the pusher and approximately one-half the desired rotation during the rearward stroke of the pusher.

Claim 11

The cartridge defined in claim 9, wherein the cylindrical cam rotates approximately 165* during the forward stroke of the pusher and rotates approximately 195* during the Rearward stroke of the pusher.

Claim 12

The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said guiding means is mounted for rotation; wherein a predetermined rotation of said guiding means results in the advancement of each of said staples and the positioning of one of said staples in a staple-ejecting location; wherein a portion of said predetermined rotation is brought about each time said pusher means is driven toward said one end of said cartridge; and wherein the remaining portion of said predetermined rotation is brought about each time said pusher means is driven toward the opposite end of said cartridge.

Claim 13

The cartridge recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined rotation is 360*.

Claim 14

The cartridge defined in claim 12, wherein the cylindrical cam rotates approximately 165* during the forward stroke of the pusher and rotates approximately 195* during the rearward stroke of the pusher.

Claim 15

The cartridge defined in claim 1, wherein said guiding means is in the form of first and second threaded screws, the threads of which are adapted to engage the crosspieces of said staples; wherein said cam means is in the form of first and second cylindrical cams integral, respectively, with said first and second threaded screws, each of said cylindrical cams comprising a set of cam grooves carved into the cylindrical body of said cam; and further comprising first and second cam pins integral with said pusher and adapted to engage respective sets of cam grooves; wherein said sets of cam grooves are carved into respective cylindrical cam surfaces in such a manner that for each forward stroke of the pusher, the cylindrical cams and their integral threaded screws are rotated through a first angle, and for each rearward stroke of the pusher, the cylindrical cams and their integral threaded screws are rotated, in the same sense, through a second angle, the rotation through said first and second angles advancing each of said staples and positioning one of said staples in a staple-ejecting location.

Claim 16

The cartridge defined in claim 14, wherein said first and said second angles are approximately equal.

Claim 17

The cartridge defined in claim 15, wherein said first angle is approximately 165* and wherein said second angle is approximately 195*.

Claim 18

The cartridge defined in claim 14, wherein a portion of each set of cam grooves is of such a configuration that the pusher ejects and forms a staple around said anvil without rotation of said cylindrical cams and their associated threaded screws.

Claim 19

The cartridge defined in claim 14, wherein said cylindrical cams and their associated threaded screws are rotated through 360* for each cycle of said pusher, each cycle comprising a forward and a reverse stroke.

Claim 20

The cartridge defined in claim 14, wherein the individual grooves of said sets of cam grooves are associated in such a manner that it is ensured that the cam pins always ride in the proper cam groove.

Claim 21

The cartridge defined in claim 18, wherein the individual grooves of said sets of cam grooves are associated so that each time the cam pins exit one cam groove and enter another, the cylindrical cams are rotated through an angle which aligns said cam pins with the entrances to the cam grooves into which it is desired that the cam pins enter.

Claim 22

The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein the staples are advanced by rotating said guiding means; wherein said cams are adapted for rotation and are integral with said guiding means; wherein said guiding means and said cams are rotated through a first angle for each forward drive of the pusher; wherein said guiding means and said cams are rotated through a second angle for each rearward drive of said pusher; and wherein means are provided for ensuring that said cams and said guiding means always rotate in the same direction.

Claim 23

The cartridge recited in claim 23, wherein each cam comprises a set of cam grooves; and further comprising cam pin means adapted to enGage each set of cam grooves; wherein said sets of cam grooves are arranged in such a manner that each time said cam pin leaves its associated cam groove, the cams are rotated so that the cam pins are aligned with the entrances to the cam grooves in which entry is desired.

Claim 24

The cartridge recited in claim 1, and further comprising means for locking the pusher in its retracted rest position during all stages of transit.

Claim 25

The cartridge defined in claim 23, wherein said locking means is disengaged when the cartridge is mounted on the medical stapling instrument.