EP0041022B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-contained gas powered surgical stapler
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-22
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Granted: 1985-08-28
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Expires: 2001-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A surgical stapler powered by a relatively low pressure gas supply contained in the stapler. The stapler has a mechanical linkage between the pneumatic actuator and the staple driver with a differential mechanical advantage to match the substantially constant force provided by the pneumatic actuator to the different forces required to first advance and then form the staple. This mechanical linkage allows use of a relatively small low pressure actuator and also substantially increases the efficiency with which the gas supply is utilized.
Inventors
- 👤 David Thomas Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B17/0684; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00544; A61B2017/00548; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18992
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
A gas powered surgical stapling apparatus including a pneumatic piston (64) and a staple driver (40) for advancing a staple (42) to a staple forming position and then forming the staple, a relatively low force being required to advance the staple to the staple forming position and a relatively high force being required to form the staple, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a mechanical linkage (70) between the pneumatic piston (64) and the staple driver (40) for producing from a substantially constant force provided by the pneumatic piston (64) throughout its driving stroke the relatively low force required during the advance of the staple (42) to the staple forming position and the relatively high force required during forming of the staple (42), the mechanical linkage (70) comprising a four bar linkage (210) disposed in a plane parallel to the translational axis of the staple driver and having a first hinge connection (226) attached to the staple driver (40), an opposite second hinge connection (222) fixed at a point on an axis through the first hinge connection parallel to the translational axis of the staple driver, and third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) repectively spaced on opposite sides of the axis through the.first and second hinge connections (226, 222); and cam means (200) connected to the pneumatic piston and having first and second cam surfaces (202, 204) for respectively operating on the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) to push the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) substantially parallel to the translational axis of the staple driver (40) during a first portion of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) corresponding to the advance of the staple (42) and to push the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) toward one another during the remainder of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) corresponding to forming the staple (42).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
A gas powered surgical stapling apparatus including a pneumatic piston (64) and a staple driver (40) for advancing a staple (42) to a staple forming position and then forming the staple, a relatively low force being required to advance the staple to the staple forming position and a relatively high force being required to form the staple, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a mechanical linkage (70) between the pneumatic piston (64) and the staple driver (40) for producing from a substantially constant force provided by the pneumatic piston (64) throughout its driving stroke the relatively low force required during the advance of the staple (42) to the staple forming position and the relatively high force required during forming of the staple (42), the mechanical linkage (70) comprising a four bar linkage (210) disposed in a plane parallel to the translational axis of the staple driver and having a first hinge connection (226) attached to the staple driver (40), an opposite second hinge connection (222) fixed at a point on an axis through the first hinge connection parallel to the translational axis of the staple driver, and third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) repectively spaced on opposite sides of the axis through the.first and second hinge connections (226, 222); and cam means (200) connected to the pneumatic piston and having first and second cam surfaces (202, 204) for respectively operating on the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) to push the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) substantially parallel to the translational axis of the staple driver (40) during a first portion of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) corresponding to the advance of the staple (42) and to push the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) toward one another during the remainder of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) corresponding to forming the staple (42).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that the work performed by the pneumatic pressure applied to the pneumatic piston (64) during each increment of motion of the piston (64) is at least equal to but not substantially greater than the work required to cause the associated incremental advance of incremental forming of the staple (42).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterised in that the mechanical advantage of the mechanical linkage (70) changes from a first value to a second substantially different value when advance of the staple (42) is substantially complete and forming of the staple (42) is about to begin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical advantage of the mechanical linkage (70) has a first substantially constant value during advance of the staple (42) and a second substantially different but substantially constant value during forming of the staple (42).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that the staple driver (40) translates to advance and form the staple (42).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and second cam surfaces (202, 204) comprise a first portion (206) substantially perpendicular to the translational axis of the staple driver for operating on the associated hinge connection during the first portion of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston and an adjacent second portion (208) which is inclined relative to the translational axis of the staple driver (40) for operating on the associated hinge connection during the second portion of the stroke of the pneumatic piston (64).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6, characterized in that the second portion (208) of each cam surface (202, 204) forms an obtuse angle with the adjacent first portion (206).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: a manually operable control (26); means (110, 120, 130) responsive to momentary operation of the manually operable control (26) for normally causing the pneumatic piston (64) to perform one complete cycle of operation including a driving stroke followed by a return stroke which returns the piston (64) to its initial condition; and means (120) responsive to operation of the manually operable control (26) during the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) for interrupting the driving stroke and causing the piston (64) to return to its initial condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8, characterized in that the means responsive to momentary operation of the manually operable control includes means (110) for preventing another cycle of operation from beginning until the manually operable control has been released and the preceding cycle of operation has been completed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8, characterized in that the means responsive to momentary operation of the manually operable control comprises: a movable cam member (120) mounted so that it normally travels with the pneumatic piston (64) and having a driving stroke cam surface (160) and a return stroke cam surface (166); a cam follower (130) for normally engaging the driving stroke cam surface (160) during a driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) and the return stroke cam surface (66) during a return stroke of the piston (64) and for causing pneumatic pressure to be applied to the pneumatic piston (64) only while engaged with the driving stroke cam surface (160); and means (110) for initiating motion of the movable cam member (120) so that the cam follower (130) engages the driving stroke cam surface (160) in response to operation of the manually operable control (26).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10, characterized in that the means responsive to momentary operation of the manually operable control further comprises: means for preventing the movable cam member (120) from returning to its initial position during the return stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) if the manually operable control is still being operated, thereby preventing initiation of another cycle of operation until the manually operable control (26) has been released and the preceding cycle of operation has been completed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises: means responsive to operation of the manually operable control during the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) for causing the cam follower (130) to leave the driving stroke cam surface (160) and engage the return stroke cam surface (166) to interrupt the driving stroke and cause the piston (64) to return to its initial condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11, characterized in that the cam follower (130) causes pneumatic pressure to be vented from the pneumatic piston (64) when not engaged with the driving stroke cam surface (160) and wherein the return stroke of the pneumatic piston is powered by return spring means (180).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that the work performed by the pneumatic piston (64) during the course of its driving stroke is approximately equal to the work required to advance and form the staple (42).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical linkage (70) amplifies the motion of the pneumatic piston (64) during the first part of its driving stroke corresponding to advance of the staple and amplifies the force of the pneumatic piston (64) during the remainder of its driving stroke corresponding to forming of the staple (42).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5, characterized in that the cam surfaces (200) comprise a yoke connected to the pneumatic piston (64) and opening toward the four bar linkage (210), the yoke having first and second end surfaces (206) substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pneumatic piston for respectively operating on the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) during the first portion of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64) and third and fourth synclinal surfaces (208) respectively adjacent the first and second end surfaces (206) for respectively operating on the third and fourth hinge connections (224, 228) during the remainder of the driving stroke of the pneumatic piston (64).
Claim 18
Independent Claim
84 words
The apparatus defined in any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that it is a self-contained gas powered holder (12) for holding and actuating a cartridge (14) containing surgical staples (42), the holder comprising: a source of pressurized pneumatic fluid (50); a pneumatic cyclinder (62) pneumatically connected to the source of pressurized pneumatic fluid (50); a pneumatic piston (64) mounted for reciprocal motion in the cylinder (62); and the mechanical linkage (70) between the pneumatic piston (64) and the actuatable part of the cartridge.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
101 words
The apparatus defined in any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that it is a self-contained gas powered surgical stapler comprising: a source of pressurized (50) in the stapler; a pneumatic actuator including a cyclinder (62) and a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder (62); gas conduit means (56) including valve means for selectively conducting pressurized gas from the source of gas (50) to the pneumatic actuator to drive the piston (64) in a driving stroke; a staple driver (40) for advancing and forming the staple (42); and the mechanical linkage (70) between the piston (64) and the staple driver (40).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus defined in claim 18, characterized in that the staple driver (40) is rotatable relative to at least a portion of the pneumatic actuator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19, characterized in that the pneumatic actuator piston is a circular cylinder (62), wherein the piston (64) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the pneumatic actuator cylinder, and wherein the mechanical linkage (70) and the staple driver (40) rotate with the piston (64).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus defined in claim 18, characterized in that the source (50) of pressurized gas supplies gas having pressure less than 200 p.s.i.g.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 18, characterized in that the source of pressurized gas (50) includes over-pressure relief means for automatically releasing the pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source when the pressure of the gas in the pressurized gas source exceeds a predetermined threshold value below the pressure at which the pressurized gas source would burst.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus defined in claim 22, characterized in that the source of pressurized gas is a container (50) having a wall portion (280) which is normally concave inward and which deforms outwardly when the pressure of the gas in the container exceeds the predetermined theshold value, and the apparatus further comprises piercer means (290, 292) disposed adjacent the normally concave inward container wall portion (280) for piercing the container wall portion and releasing the gas when the wall portion deforms outwardly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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