US5174487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic stapler and hernia repair mechanism
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1991-04-04
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Granted: 1992-12-29
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Expires: 2011-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A unique hernia repair stapler is described which allows the forming of staples to attach prosthetics to tissue, or to approximate herniated tissue. The staple is useful in endoscopic operations and may be rotatable or stationary. The stapler has a unique forming and ejecting mechanism. A staple holder (24), holds the staple (20) against the anvil portion (30) at all times. As well, there is the availability of a loading mechanism useful for both cartridges and magazines of staples. An improved staple shape allows for better staple alignment, especially in a multiple load device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Rothfuss
- 👤 Dale R. Schulze
- 👤 Michael Moore
- 👤 John MacLees
- 👤 Paul A. Coletti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B17/0684
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A surgical stapler comprising: at least one staple having a crown and a pair of legs with sharpened ends, said ends attached to said crown; a staple holder useful for holding said staple against an anvil, said holder containing camming means; a stationary anvil containing a proximal surface and a distal surface and having a length useful for forming staples in mating relationship with a staple former; a staple former slidable relative to said anvil to form staples against said anvil, said former spring biased against said holder, and said former containing camming means; a driving mechanism for operating said former to bring said former into position to form staples against said anvil; and wherein said holder is capable of ejecting staples after a said staple has been formed, said ejecting occurring through interaction between said camming means on said holder and said camming means on said former such that said holder causes motion of said staple relative to said anvil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A surgical stapler comprising: at least one staple having a crown and a pair of legs with sharpened ends, said ends attached to said crown; a staple holder useful for holding said staple against an anvil, said holder containing camming means; a stationary anvil containing a proximal surface and a distal surface and having a length useful for forming staples in mating relationship with a staple former; a staple former slidable relative to said anvil to form staples against said anvil, said former spring biased against said holder, and said former containing camming means; a driving mechanism for operating said former to bring said former into position to form staples against said anvil; and wherein said holder is capable of ejecting staples after a said staple has been formed, said ejecting occurring through interaction between said camming means on said holder and said camming means on said former such that said holder causes motion of said staple relative to said anvil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The stapler of claim 1 wherein there are contained a plurality of staples held within a cartridge on said stapler, and said stapler containing a pick-off mechanism, and said staples are advanced sequentially in said cartridge toward said holder such that a first of said staples is placed on said holder by said pick-off mechanism, so that the said first staple in said cartridge is ready to be formed by said former and said anvil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stapler of claim 1 wherein said camming means on said holder acts as a follower, and said camming means on said former comprises a sloped portion of said former acting as a cam, wherein the interaction of said respective camming means causes said holder to move transversely to the direction of motion of said former.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stapler of claim 3 wherein said holder comprises a ledge which abuts said stationary anvil and upon which may be seated said staple.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stapler of claim 1 wherein said stapler is capable of stapling mesh implants onto tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The stapler of claim 1 wherein said staple holder is maintained in a distal position by the bias of said spring attached to said former against said staple holder, such that said holder must have force applied against it in order to load staples between said holder and said anvil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stapler of claim 1 wherein said former, said anvil and said staple holder are rotatable about said driving mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
In combination with the stapler of claim 1: an external cartridge member containing staples wherein said holder and said anvil interact with said cartridge member so that a staple from said cartridge member may be loaded on said holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said cartridge member has a wedge-shaped surface which interacts with the distal surface of said anvil so that said anvil distal surface may be moved against said wedge-shaped surface, and said staple in said cartridge may exert force on said holder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stapler of claim 1 further including an alignment mechanism on said stapler in order to properly align a said staple on said holder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stapler of claim 1 further including an aligning means on said staple and an aligning mechanism on said holder which co-operates with the aligning means on said staple.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stapler of claim 11 further including an alignment mechanism on said anvil which co-operates with said alignment means on said staple and said alignment mechanism on said holder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stapler of claim 11 wherein said alignment means comprises serrations on said staple crown.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stapler of claim 11 wherein said alignment means comprises a crown length on said staple corresponding to the length of said anvil, so that said crown centers on said anvil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stapler of claim 11 wherein said alignment means comprises a bend on said staple crown which aligns with a notch on said anvil and a projection on said holder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical stapler comprising: at least one staple having a crown and a pair of legs with sharpened ends, said ends attached to said crown; a staple holder useful for holding said staple against an anvil, said holder containing camming means; a stationary anvil containing a proximal surface and a distal surface and having a length useful for forming staples in mating relationship with a staple former; a staple former slidable relative to said anvil to form staples against said anvil, said former spring biased against said holder, and said former containing camming means; an endoscopic tubular portion connecting said former and said staple holder to a driving mechanism; a driving mechanism for operating said former to bring said former into position to form staples against said anvil; and wherein said holder is capable of ejecting staples after a said staple has been formed, said ejecting occurring through interaction between said camming means on said holder and said camming means on said former such that said holder causes motion of said staple relative to said anvil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical stapler comprising: at least one staple having a crown and a pair of legs with sharpened ends, said ends attached to said crown; a staple holder useful for holding said staple against an anvil, said holder containing camming means; a stationary anvil containing a proximal surface and a distal surface and having a length useful for forming staples in mating relationship with a staple former; a staple former slidable relative to said anvil to form staples against said anvil, said former spring biased against said holder, and said former containing camming means; an endoscopic tubular portion connecting said former and said staple holder to a driving mechanism; a driving mechanism for operating said former to bring said former into position to form staples against said anvil; and wherein said holder is capable of ejecting staples after a said staple has been formed, said ejecting occurring through interaction between said camming means on said holder and said camming means on said former such that said holder causes motion of said staple relative to said anvil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
The stapler of claim 16 wherein there are contained a plurality of staples held within a cartridge on said stapler, and said stapler containing a pick-off mechanism, and said staples are advanced sequentially in said cartridge toward said holder such that a first of said staples is placed on said holder by said pick-off mechanism, so that the said first staple in said cartridge is ready to be formed by said former and said anvil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stapler of claim 16 wherein said camming means on said holder acts as a follower, and said camming means on said former comprises a sloped portion of said former acting as a cam, wherein the interaction of said respective camming means causes said holder to move transversely to the direction of motion of said former.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stapler of claim 18 wherein said holder comprises a ledge which abuts said stationary anvil and upon which may be seated said staple.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stapler of claim 16 wherein said stapler is capable of stapling mesh implants onto tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The stapler of claim 16 wherein said staple holder is maintained in a distal position by the bias of said spring attached to said former against said staple holder, such that said holder must have force applied against it in order to load staples between said holder and said anvil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stapler of claim 16 wherein said former, said anvil and said staple holder are rotatable about said driving mechanism.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
In combination with the stapler of claim 16: an external cartridge member containing staples wherein said holder and said anvil interact with said cartridge member so that a staple from said cartridge member may be loaded on said holder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein said cartridge member has a wedge-shaped surface which interacts with the distal surface of said anvil so that said anvil distal surface may be moved against said wedge-shaped surface, and said staple in said cartridge may exert force on said holder.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stapler of claim 16 further including an alignment mechanism on said stapler in order to properly align a said staple on said holder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stapler of claim 16 further including aligning means on said staple and an aligning mechanism on said holder which co-operates with the aligning means on said staple.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stapler of claim 26 further including an alignment mechanism on said anvil which co-operates with said alignment means on said staple and said alignment mechanism on said holder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stapler of claim 27 wherein said alignment means comprises serrations on said staple crown.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stapler of claim 27 wherein said alignment means comprises a crown length on said staple corresponding to the length of said anvil, so that said crown centers on said anvil.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stapler of claim 27 wherein said alignment means comprises a bend on said staple crown which aligns with a notch on said anvil and a projection on said holder.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
155 words
A surgical stapler comprising: at least one surgical staple containing a crown having a crown length, and legs attached to said crown, said legs containing sharpened ends; a stationary anvil having a length and useful for forming staples in mating relationship with a staple former; a staple holder for holding staples against said anvil; a staple former having a proximal surface and a distal surface and slidable relative to said holder and said anvil and capable of forming said staples; and alignment means for holding said staple on said holder and against said anvil, where said alignment means comprises first means on said staple crown corresponding to second means on said holder, and a third means on said anvil which cooperates with said first means on said staple, wherein said first means comprises a bend on said staple crown which aligns with a notch of said third means and a projection of said second means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
155 words
A surgical stapler comprising: at least one surgical staple containing a crown having a crown length, and legs attached to said crown, said legs containing sharpened ends; a stationary anvil having a length and useful for forming staples in mating relationship with a staple former; a staple holder for holding staples against said anvil; a staple former having a proximal surface and a distal surface and slidable relative to said holder and said anvil and capable of forming said staples; and alignment means for holding said staple on said holder and against said anvil, where said alignment means comprises first means on said staple crown corresponding to second means on said holder, and a third means on said anvil which cooperates with said first means on said staple, wherein said first means comprises a bend on said staple crown which aligns with a notch of said third means and a projection of said second means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
75 words
The stapler of claim 31 wherein there are contained a plurality of staples held within a cartridge on said stapler, and said stapler containing a pick-off mechanism, and said staples are advanced sequentially in said cartridge toward said holder such that a first of said staples is placed on said holder by said pick-off mechanism, so that the said first staple in said cartridge is ready to be formed by said former and said anvil.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical stapler of claim 31 wherein said former is spring-based against said holder.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
The stapler of claim 33 wherein said staple holder ejects staples after they have been formed by interacting with camming means located on both said holder and said former so that said holder is moved relative to said anvil in order to allow motion of said staple relative to said anvil.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stapler of claim 34 wherein said camming means on said holder acts as a follower, and said camming means on said former comprises a sloped portion of said former acting as a cam, wherein the interaction of said respective camming means causes said holder to move transversely to the direction of motion of said former.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stapler of claim 35 wherein said holder comprises a ledge which abuts said stationary anvil and upon which may be seated said staple.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
The stapler of claim 34 wherein said staple holder is maintained in a distal position by the bias of said spring attached to said former against said staple holder, such that said holder must have force applied against it in order to load staples between said holder and said anvil.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stapler of claim 34 wherein said former, said anvil and said staple holder are rotatable about said driving mechanism.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
In combination with the stapler of claim 34: an external cartridge member containing staples wherein said holder and said anvil interact with said cartridge member so that a staple from said cartridge member may be loaded on said holder.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 39 wherein said cartridge member has a wedge-shaped surface which interacts with the distal surface of said anvil so that said anvil distal surface may be moved against said wedge-shaped surface, and said staple in said cartridge may exert force on said holder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-29 | 1996-06-29 | 1996-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-06-29 | 2000-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-29 | 2004-06-29 | 2004-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |