US5947363A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical stapling instrument and method thereof
Assignee: Heartport Inc
•
Filing: 1998-03-20
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Granted: 1999-09-07
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Expires: 2018-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A stapler for stapling a tubular structure to another structure. The stapler has an anvil which is expandable from a collapsed position to an expanded position. The stapler has a recess which receives at least a portion of the tubular structure and a shoulder which receives an everted end of the tubular structure. A first actuator moves the anvil relative to the shoulder for compressing the structures which are to be stapled together. A second actuator is used for driving the staples through the structures to be stapled together.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee R. Bolduc
- 👤 Christopher F. Heck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/115; A61B17/1152; A61B17/064; A61B17/0644; A61B17/1155; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00252; A61B17/08; A61B2017/081; A61B2017/1103; A61B2017/1107; A61B2017/1135; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of attaching a graft to a body structure comprising the steps of: providing a stapler having an anvil, a rod, a staple pusher and a shoulder, the anvil being attached to the rod and the staple pusher being configured to drive staples, the shoulder being positioned opposite the anvil; positioning the rod in a graft; everting the end of the graft around the shoulder; inserting the anvil through an opening in a body structure to which the graft is to be stapled; compressing the graft and the body structure between the anvil and the shoulder; and moving the staple pusher so that the staple pusher engages the staples and drives the staples against the anvil thereby stapling the graft to the body structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of attaching a graft to a body structure comprising the steps of: providing a stapler having an anvil, a rod, a staple pusher and a shoulder, the anvil being attached to the rod and the staple pusher being configured to drive staples, the shoulder being positioned opposite the anvil; positioning the rod in a graft; everting the end of the graft around the shoulder; inserting the anvil through an opening in a body structure to which the graft is to be stapled; compressing the graft and the body structure between the anvil and the shoulder; and moving the staple pusher so that the staple pusher engages the staples and drives the staples against the anvil thereby stapling the graft to the body structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the compressing and firing steps are independent of one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the compressing step is carried out by moving the anvil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the providing step is carried out with the anvil having a plurality of segments, the segments being movable between an expanded shape and a compressed shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of: expanding the anvil segments from the expanded shape to the compressed shape after the moving step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5, wherein: the providing step is carried out with the stapler having an expander longitudinally movable with respect to the plurality of segments; the expanding step being carried out by moving the expander longitudinally to engage and expand the anvil segments.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of attaching a graft to a body structure, comprising the steps of: providing a stapler having a rod, a plurality of anvil segments, a movable staple pusher and a shoulder, each of the plurality of anvil segments having a recess adapted to deform a staple, the staple pusher being configured to drive a plurality of staples toward the recesses of the plurality of anvil segments, the shoulder being positioned opposite the anvil, the plurality of anvil segments being mounted to the rod and being movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position; positioning the rod in a graft; everting an end of the graft around the shoulder; inserting the plurality of anvil segments through an opening in a body structure to which the graft is to be stapled, the plurality of anvil segments being inserted into the body structure in the collapsed position; compressing the graft and the body structure between the plurality of anvil segments and the shoulder; expanding the plurality of anvil segments to the expanded shape; moving the staple pusher so that the staple pusher engages the staples and drives the staples against the plurality of anvil segments; collapsing the plurality of anvil segments from the expanded shape to the collapsed shape after the moving step; and removing the rod from the graft when after the collapsing step.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of attaching a graft to a body structure, comprising the steps of: providing a stapler having a rod, a plurality of anvil segments, a movable staple pusher and a shoulder, each of the plurality of anvil segments having a recess adapted to deform a staple, the staple pusher being configured to drive a plurality of staples toward the recesses of the plurality of anvil segments, the shoulder being positioned opposite the anvil, the plurality of anvil segments being mounted to the rod and being movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position; positioning the rod in a graft; everting an end of the graft around the shoulder; inserting the plurality of anvil segments through an opening in a body structure to which the graft is to be stapled, the plurality of anvil segments being inserted into the body structure in the collapsed position; compressing the graft and the body structure between the plurality of anvil segments and the shoulder; expanding the plurality of anvil segments to the expanded shape; moving the staple pusher so that the staple pusher engages the staples and drives the staples against the plurality of anvil segments; collapsing the plurality of anvil segments from the expanded shape to the collapsed shape after the moving step; and removing the rod from the graft when after the collapsing step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 7, wherein: the providing step is carried out with the stapler having an expander, the expander being slidably coupled to the plurality of anvil segments for moving the plurality of anvil segments between the expanded and collapsed positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8, wherein: the compressing and moving steps are performed independently.
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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) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |