EP0536903A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple fire endoscopic stapling mechanism
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1992-09-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A unique hernia repair stapler (10) is described which allows the forming of staples (20) to attach prosthetics to tissue, or to approximate herniated tissue. The stapler is useful in endoscopic operations and may be rotatable or stationary. The stapler has a unique forming and ejecting mechanism; as well, there is the availability of a loading mechanism useful for both cartridges and magazines of staples. An improved staple shape allows for better staple alignment, especially in a multiple load device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Rothfuss
- 👤 Livyn O. Okorocha
- 👤 Gregory D. Bishop
- 👤 Narinderjit S. Sambi
- 👤 James J. Bedi
- 👤 Salvatore Privitera
- 👤 Michael Sherrill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/064; A61B17/0644; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B17/0684; A61B17/10; A61B17/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A surgical staple having a pair of legs connected by a crown, said crown having a distal skin-facing side opposite a proximal side, and said crown further containing a pair of notches in its surface, said notches indented into said distal side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A stack of surgical staples laid sequentially, each of said staples having a pair of legs connected by a crown, said crown having a distal skin-facing side opposite a proximal side, and said crown further containing a pair of notches in its surface, said notches indented into said distal side and each of said staples arranged in said stack such that said notches are contacted on said distal side by a pair of legs of an adjacent staple.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A stapling mechanism containing a firing mechanism, a staple closing mechanism, and a cartridge of staples, said cartridge arranged such that said staples lie along a longitudinal axis of said cartridge in a stack, and each of said staples having a pair of legs connected by a crown, said crown having a distal skin-facing side opposite a proximal side, and said crown further containing a pair of notches in its surface, said notches indented into said distal side and each said staple arranged in said stack such that said notches are contacted on said distal side by a pair of legs of an adjacent staple.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
An endoscopic stapling mechanism containing: an actuating mechanism; a stack of staples arranged in a cartridge for sequential firing; a transfer mechanism; and a firing mechanism including an anvil for forming staples; wherein each of said staples in said stack may be transferred by said transfer mechanism to said firing mechanism, such that said actuating mechanism may cause said firing mechanism to form said staples; and said cartridge arranged such that said staples lie along a longitudinal axis of said cartridge in a stack, and each of said staples having a pair of legs connected by a crown, said crown having a distal skin-facing side opposite a proximal side, and said crown further containing a pair of notches in its surface, said notches indented into said distal side, and each said staple arranged in said stack such that said notches are contacted on said distal side by a pair of legs of an adjacent staple.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stapler of claim 4 wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a lifter, and said lifter contains a sloped surface, said staples engageable with said sloped surface to move from said staple stack and into the path of said firing mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The stapler of claim 5 wherein said staple stack is contained in a track formed within said cartridge and said staples are constrained in said stack by a planar face on said lifter, and said cartridge further including a driver formed as part of said firing mechanism and engageable with the forwardmost staple on said stack engaged with said planar face on said lifter, such that said driver is capable of stripping said staple from said lifter, moving said staple along said sloped surface, and positioning said staple on said anvil for forming.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stapler of claim 6 further including a stop means on said lifter, said stop means engageable with said driver when there are no longer any staples loaded in said cartridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stapler of claim 4 wherein said cartridge is circular and is at least 10mm in diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stapler of claim 4 wherein there are at least twelve of said staples in said stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
An endoscopic stapler cartridge containing a stack of staples, a firing mechanism for forming said staples, said firing mechanism comprising a driver and an anvil, and a transfer mechanism engageable with said driver and capable of transferring said staples from said stack to said anvil, and said transfer mechanism comprising a lifter positioned in said cartridge to be movable transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge and said lifter containing a sloped surface, said staples engageable with said sloped surface to move from said staple stack and into the path of said firing mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The cartridge of claim 10 further comprising a planar face on said lifter, such that said driver is engageable with the forwardmost staple on said stack engaged with said planar face on said lifter, such that said driver is capable of striping said staple from said lifter, moving said staple along said sloped surface, and positioning said staple on said anvil for forming.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cartridge of claim 11 further including a stop means on said lifter, said stop means engageable with said driver when there are no longer any staples loaded in said cartridge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
The cartridge of claim 10 wherein said cartridge arranged such that said staples lie along a longitudinal axis of said cartridge in a stack, and each of said staples having a pair of legs connected by a crown, said crown having a distal skin-facing side opposite a proximal side, and said crown further containing a pair of notches in its surface, said notches indented into said distal side, and each said staple arranged in said stack such that said notches are contacted on said distal side by a pair of legs of an adjacent staple.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cartridge of claim 10 wherein said cartridge is circular and is at least 10mm in diameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cartridge of claim 10 wherein there are at least twelve of said staples in said stack.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscopic stapler containing a cartridge according to any one of claims 10-15 connected to an actuation mechanism, and said actuation mechanism engageable with the firing mechanism on said cartridge to fire staples.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The stapler of claim 16 wherein said actuation mechanism is a trigger.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stapler of claim 4 or claim 16 wherein said cartridge is rotatable about said actuation mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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