Patent EP0324635B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0324635B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic surgical stapler connectors
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-01-13
•
Granted: 1994-03-23
•
Expires: 2009-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A driving mechanism is provided as a means to clamp and implant surgical staples pneumatically. First, one pneumatic line propels a clamping piston to clamp the tissue and to propel a driving piston into position to be fired. Then a second pneumatic line causes the driving piston to propel a driver which implants staples into the tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Bela Vincze
- 👤 Jess Deniega
- 👤 Jack Pedlick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/07214; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/2929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A surgical stapler comprising a handle portion (10), a shaft portion (108) and a stapler head (110), the stapler head (110) being rotatably connected to one end of the shaft portion (108), the other end of the shaft portion (108) being rotatably connected to the handle portion (10), characterized in that the shaft portion (108) is rotatably connected to the other portions by rotatable pneumatic connectors (120,150), the stapler has a pneumatic line (32) connecting a triggering mechanism (84) and a driving mechanism and a pneumatic line (30) connecting a slide (74) and a clamping mechanism (220) by means of the shaft portion (108), said pneumatic lines (30,32) traversing the shaft portion (108) and being attached to at least one of the pneumatic connectors (120), the said at least one of the pneumatic connectors (120) including pneumatic passageways (124,126) passing therethrough, each passageway including a pneumatic quick disconnect fitting (43,46).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
The surgical stapler of claim 1 wherein the other of the pneumatic connectors (150) includes pneumatic passageways (156,158) passing therethrough, each passageway including a pneumatic quick disconnect fitting (52,54), whereby said shaft portion (108) may be disconnected from said slide and said trigger mechanism and said clamping and driving mechanisms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which at least one pneumatic connector (120;150) comprises: two mating parts (127,132), each said mating part containing a plurality of portions of pneumatic lines (127,129,130; 131), one mating part being rotatable relative to the second mating part about an axis coincident to both mating parts; each said pneumatic line portion of one part (122) corresponding to a pneumatic line portion of the second mating part (132) such that, when said mating parts of said connector are mated, fluid can flow through a plurality of completed pneumatic lines, each including two line portions, independent of the rotational orientation of one mating part (122) with respect to the other mating part (132).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The surgical stapler of claim 3 wherein each of the completed pneumatic lines of said connector is sealed from the environment to provide continuous fluid flow through the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surgical stapler of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said pneumatic line portions (127,129;131) are generally parallel to the axis of the mating parts of the connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The surgical stapler of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said pneumatic line portions (152,154) of one part are generally at right angles to said pneumatic line portions (168) of the other part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical stapler of any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein one completed line of said connector is coincident with said coincident axis and a portion of said second completed line passes radially about said coincident axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The surgical stapler of any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein, upon the mating of both parts of said connector, fluid can flow through a completed pneumatic line by means of a mating passageway at the interface of said parts; said mating passageway comprising an annular opening (130) concentric with the rotation axis of said mating parts such that a pneumatic line portion of one mating part is in fluidic connection with a corresponding pneumatic line portion by means of said mating passageway (130).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The surgical stapler of claim 8 wherein each of the completed pneumatic lines of said connector is sealed from the environment to provide continuous fluid flow through the connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical stapler of claim 9 wherein those portions of the fluid path established by the pneumatic line portions are generally parallel to said coincident axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical stapler of claim 10 wherein fluid enters the connector through one of said mating parts at generally right angles to said coincident axis of the other mating part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The surgical stapler of claim 8 wherein two completed fluid lines are formed by the mated parts such that one completed line passes along said coincident axis and the second completed line passes radially about said coincident axis such that upon mating, said second completed pneumatic line includes a circular passageway (130) at the interface of said parts, said passageway sealed within said mated parts from said one completed line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.