EP0140552B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable linear surgical stapler
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1984-09-10
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Granted: 1988-03-02
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Expires: 2004-09-10
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Rothfuss
- 👤 Frederico Bilotti
- 👤 Hector Chow
- 👤 J. Charles Hueil
- 👤 Narinderjit S. Sambi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/07207; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/0725; A61B2017/07278; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler comprising a handle, anvil means and staple cartridge means operatively connected to the anvil means, the anvil means and cartridge means selectively juxtaposed with respect to each other across a gap, first staple firing means on the handle and second staple firing means in the staple cartridge means, the staple firing means being operable to fire staples sequentially in a row characterised in that the handle (11) is spaced from the anvil means (15) and the staple cartridge means (14), in that a flexible means (12) operably interconnects the staple firing means (18) on the handle and the staple cartridge (14) for driving staples (5) from the cartridge and against the anvil across the gap (G) and in that the flexible means comprises a flexible conduit (26) operatively connected at one end to the handle (1) and at another end to the staple cartridge, and a flexible cable (27) extending through the conduit (26), the flexible cable (27) connected at one end to the first staple firing means (18) and at another end to the second staple firing means (90) for pulling the second staple firing means (90), upon actuation of the first staple firing means, (18) through the staple cartridge means (14) to fire the staples.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler comprising a handle, anvil means and staple cartridge means operatively connected to the anvil means, the anvil means and cartridge means selectively juxtaposed with respect to each other across a gap, first staple firing means on the handle and second staple firing means in the staple cartridge means, the staple firing means being operable to fire staples sequentially in a row characterised in that the handle (11) is spaced from the anvil means (15) and the staple cartridge means (14), in that a flexible means (12) operably interconnects the staple firing means (18) on the handle and the staple cartridge (14) for driving staples (5) from the cartridge and against the anvil across the gap (G) and in that the flexible means comprises a flexible conduit (26) operatively connected at one end to the handle (1) and at another end to the staple cartridge, and a flexible cable (27) extending through the conduit (26), the flexible cable (27) connected at one end to the first staple firing means (18) and at another end to the second staple firing means (90) for pulling the second staple firing means (90), upon actuation of the first staple firing means, (18) through the staple cartridge means (14) to fire the staples.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stapler is operable to implant and form at least one row of staples in tissue and wherein the staple cartridge means (14) includes a cartridge body (35), a plurality of paired staple channels (80) in the body for holding staples in a row and a plurality of staple drivers (40) operatively aligned with respective staples in the staple channels (80).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second staple firing means (90) comprises a wedge means movable through a path in which the drivers (40) lie for engaging and moving the drivers to sequentially fire the staples.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 3 wherein the flexible cable (27) has one end attached to the wedge means and another end attached to the first staple firing means (18), and wherein the first staple firing means comprises means for applying tension to the cable for pulling the wedge through the path and firing the staples towards the anvil means (15).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first staple firing means (18) comprises a rotatable firing knob means, the flexible cable being attached to the firing knob means such that rotation of the firing knob means pulls the cable and the wedge is thereby pulled from its initial position, at one end of the staple cartridge means, slidably through the path toward the other end of the staple cartridge means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flexible conduit (26) has two ends (29, 30) one secured to the handle and one to the cartridge means, such that when the knob means (18) is operated, the cable (27) slides within the conduit and is operative to draw the wedge means (90) within the cartridge means from a forward to a rearward end thereof and toward the handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the anvil means (15) comprises an anvil having a plurality of staple pockets (104) for forming and clinching staples.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the anvil means and the cartridge means are pivoted together at a pivot point near the rearward ends thereof, the anvil including cartridge means positioning receptacles (132, 133) at each end thereof for receiving cartridge positioning and latching projections (130, 131) for positioning the cartridge means with respect to the anvil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the stapler is operable to implant and form two staggered rows of staples in tissue and further including a plurality of staggered guide rails (70-77) within the cartridge means and defining driver channels (82) for guiding the staple drivers (40) as they are moved by the wedge means (90) to fire staples, the staggered guide rails also defining inwardly facing guide surfaces (78) for guiding the wedge means along the drive path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 further including a wedge means pocket (65) disposed at a forward end of the cartridge means for receiving the wedge means prior to movement thereof along the path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in claim 10 wherein guide rails at a forward end of the path within the cartridge means have respective forward tapering surfaces (66, 67) leading from the wedge means pocket (65) to the path for guiding the wedge therebetween when the wedge is pulled toward the drivers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11 wherein each of the drivers (40) comprises bifurcated, offset, staple driving leg portions (41, 42) joined at upper ends thereof, each upper end having a cam surface (45, 46) sloping upwardly to an apex (47) intermediate the leg portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of the leg portions (41) of each driver resides between two guide rails (70-73) on one side of the cartridge means, and the other leg portion (42) of each driver resides between another two guide rails (74-77) on another side of the cartridge means offset from the other pair of guide rails (70-73).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 13 including an elongated driver blocking rib (83) extending between staple rows at a bottom face of the cartridge means for blocking free movement of drivers (40) out of the cartridge means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 14 including a cartridge lid (36) disposed over the driver channels and capturing the drivers (40) therein, the lid defining an elongated slot (96) aligned with the path for guiding the wedge means (90).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in claim 15 wherein the wedge means (90) includes a tapered wedge blade (91) extending in the path and a base member (92) slidably disposed on the cartridge lid (36).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler, as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cartridge means includes a cartridge body (35) housing staple channels, guide rails, drivers and wedge pocket, and further including a cartridge housing (37) enclosing the base member (92) of the wedge means and slidably holding the base member on the cartridge lid (36).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a flexible reinforcing means (28) attached along the flexible means (12) for preventing firing of the staples in response to inadvertent elongation of the flexible means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 18 wherein the firing knob means comprises a knob (18), a cable spool (147) attached to the knob (18) for rotation therewith and operable to pull the cable (27) when initially rotated in a predetermined direction and means for preventing initial rotation of the spool in an inoperative direction other than the predetermined direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 19 wherein the firing knob means further comprises a threaded shank (148) extending beyond the spool for rotation therewith, a nut (149) on the threaded shank, means (151) for restraining the nut from rotation, such that when the knob is turned the nut moves along the shank, and first stop means (147) for engaging the nut and holding it against movement along the shank, and preventing rotation of the knob in an inoperative direction when the knob is initially rotated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 20 further including a second stop surface for preventing continued rotation of the shank, spool and knob when a number of staples have been fired.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in either of claims 20 or 21 further including slidable safety lug means (165, 168) for engaging one of the knob, spool and shank and selectively preventing rotation thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
A disposable linear surgical stapler as claimed in claim 22 wherein the spool means is provided with a safety lug recess (168) and further including a slidable safety lug (165) within the handle for extending into the safety lug recess in a safety position preventing rotation of the knob, and being slidable out of the safety lug recess to permit rotation of the knob.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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