EP0324637B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical stapler pressure regulator
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1989-01-13
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Granted: 1994-03-23
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Expires: 2009-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A surgical stapling instrument is provided which employs a highly pressurized gas as its source of energy. The highly pressurized gas is conducted to means for indicating the presence of the pressurized gas and to a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator controllably develops gas pressurized to a desired operating pressure. The pressure regulator supplies gas at a fixed or variable pressure to a tissue clamping mechanism and to the trigger mechanism of the instrument. In response to actuation of the trigger mechanism gas at the desired stapling pressure is supplied to a stapling mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, pressurized gas is maintained at the stapling mechanism until the trigger mechanism is reset for a subsequent stapling procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale Schulze
- 👤 Bela Vincze
- 👤 James Bedi
- 👤 Jess Deniega
- 👤 Jack Pedlick
- 👤 William Fox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00544; A61B2017/00548; A61B2017/00557; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/2929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A surgical stapling instrument including: a handle (10; 120); a stapler head (110) having a stapling mechanism; means (108) interconnecting the handle (10; 120) and the stapler head; a source (14) of pressurized gas located in the handle (10; 120); and means (50,52,92; 210) for controllably supplying gas to the stapling mechanism; characterized by means (30,130) for regulating pressurized gas from said source (14); in that the stapler head (110) includes a clamping mechanism; and in that the means for supplying gas comprises means (50,52,92,90; 210) for controllably supplying pressure regulated gas to the clamping mechanism and the stapling mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 1, wherein said regulating means comprises a pressure regulator (30; 130) including: an outer compartment (47,49; 147,149) having an inlet port (39; 146) for receiving pressurized gas from said source (14) and an outlet port (52; 160); and an inner movable member (40; 144) disposed between said inlet and outlet ports which is selectively movable to admit the passage of gas between said source (14) and said outlet port (52; 160), whereby pressure regulated gas is developed at said outlet port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 2, wherein said inner movable member (40,144) is spring-loaded for regulation of the developed gas pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 2 or 3, wherein said inner movable member (40) includes a generally cylindrical piston (40) having a passageway (48) passing therethrough to conduct gas between said inlet (39) and outlet (52) ports; and valve means (38) for selectively occluding said inlet port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 4, wherein said valve means comprises a ball valve (38) controlled by movement of said piston (40).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 2, further comprising a spool valve (50) having an inlet (52) coupled to the outlet port of said pressure regulator, a first outlet (90) coupled to said clamping mechanism and a second outlet (92) coupled to said stapling mechanism, and a valve member (50,58,60) movable to a first position for coupling said inlet (52) to said first outlet (90) and a second position for coupling said inlet (52) to said second outlet (92).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The surgical stapling instrument of any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said regulating means (30; 130) includes an outlet port (52; 160) at which pressure regulated gas is developed, and wherein said gas supplying means includes: means (50; 210) for coupling said outlet port (52; 160) to said clamping mechanism; and trigger means (84; 200) for controllably supplying gas developed at said outlet port (52; 160) to said stapling mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 7, wherein said trigger means (84; 200) includes a pneumatic valve (50,210) having an inlet (52; 218) coupled to said outlet port and an outlet (92,258) coupled to said stapling mechanism, whereby actuation of said trigger means (84; 200) establishes a fluidic connection between said inlet and said outlet of said pneumatic valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 8, further comprising a check valve (230) having an inlet (232) coupled to said outlet port (160) an outlet (248) coupled to said inlet (218) of said pneumatic valve, and a valve member (240) biased to pass pressure regulated gas from said check valve inlet (232) to said check valve outlet (248).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 9, wherein said valve member (240) of said check valve is further biased to maintain pressurized gas at the outlet of said check valve upon the removal of pressurized gas from the inlet of said check valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 9, wherein said check valve (230) further includes a second outlet (234), and wherein said means (254) for coupling said outlet port (160) to said clamping mechanism includes said inlet (232) and said second outlet (234) of said check valve (230), wherein said second outlet (234) of said check valve is coupled to said clamping mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surgical stapling instrument according to any preceding claim including indicator means (20), in fluid connection with said sources outlet (36), for providing an indication of the presence of pressurized gas in said instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 12 wherein said indicator means (20) includes a movable member (24), spring-biased against the force of pressurized gas present in said instrument, said movable member (24) being movable in response to the force of pressurized gas to indicate the presence of pressurized gas in said instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The surgical stapling instrument of Claim 13 wherein said movable member (24) extends from the surface of said instrument in response to the presence of pressurized gas, and wherein an extending portion (25) of said movable member is distinctly colored.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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