Patent EP0537571A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0537571A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A surgical stapling or fastening instrument 10 for applying surgical fasteners to tissue having an adjustable closure mechanism to linearly approximate the distance between the jaw members of the instrument. The adjustable closure mechanism consists of an advancing means 26 and a retaining mechanism 44 which is actuable to urge the jaw members towards each other. A coupling arrangement 60 is also provided which permits firing of the staples or fasteners only when the jaw members are approximated a predetermined distance from each other.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Green
- 👤 Henry Bolanos
- 👤 Keith Ratcliff
- 👤 Lisa W. Heaton
- 👤 Frank J. Viola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/0725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, comprising: tissue gripping means for positioning and gripping tissue to which said fasteners are to be applied; said gripping means including a first jaw member having a plurality of fasteners positioned thereon, and a second jaw member; first advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member; second advancing means for incrementally urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member subsequent to urging by said first advancing means to grip tissue therebetween; means for driving said fasteners into said tissue subsequent to positioning said jaw members in relation to each other by said advancing means; means for actuating said driving means; and releasable means for retaining said first and second advancing means to selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first advancing means advances said first jaw member towards said second jaw member a greater distance than said second advancing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said retaining means comprises a pivotable clamp member having a central bore through which said first advancing means passes, an edge of said central bore engaging said advancing means to retain said first advancing means and selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim1, 2 or 3, wherein said first and second advancing means comprise a first ratchet and pawl mechanism and a second ratchet and pawl mechanism and said retaining means comprises said second ratchet and pawl mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising release means associated with said retaining means for disengaging said retaining means from said advancing means to return said advancing means to a rest position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cartridge for accommodating said plurality of fasteners, said cartridge being releasably secured to said first jaw member and further comprising guide means associated with said advancing means for guiding and aligning said cartridge means with said second jaw member, said guide means comprising a slide bar secured at a proximal end through a linking arrangement to said advancing means, and at a distal end to a guide pin which passes through said cartridge means and said second jaw member to align said cartridge means and said second jaw member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising means for coupling said driving means to said actuating means, said driving means driving said fasteners only when said first jaw member is approximated a predetermined distance towards said second jaw member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said coupling means comprises a bearing surface on said driving means for engaging an arm member of said actuating means for driving said fasteners only when said first jaw member is approximated to said predetermined distance towards said second jaw member, said bearing surface comprising a notch for engaging said arm member, said notch extending from a sliding surface on said driving means upon which said arm member rides prior to engaging said notch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second advancing means are coupled to said driving means to advance said driving means into a firing position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first advancing means comprises a push bar mechanism and said second advancing means comprises a pawl means disposed on said push bar mechanism, said push bar mechanism extending from a housing of said apparatus and adapted to be pushed into said housing to advance said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said pawl means engaging said retaining means, said retaining means comprising a ratchet member positioned interiorly of said housing to engage said pawl means when said push bar mechanism is pushed into said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said ratchet member and pawl means comprise a fine advancing means to incrementally advance and set a distance between said jaw members to grip said tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said ratchet member and pawl means comprise at least a pair of ratchet and pawl mechanisms, a first mechanism providing means for holding said push bar mechanism against a biasing force to return said push bar mechanism to a rest position, and a second mechanism providing means for incrementally advancing said first jaw member towards said second jaw member to grip tissue therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second mechanism comprises a plurality of pawl means for incrementally advancing said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said second mechanism advancing a predetermined distance before said first mechanism advances to follow said second mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second mechanism comprises three pawl members, each member advancing incrementally subsequent to each other, said first mechanism advancing subsequent to each pawl member of said second mechanism advancing once.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, further comprising release means for releasing said pawl means from said ratchet member to return said push bar mechanism to a rest position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said release means comprises a pivot point for pivoting said push bar mechanism in relation to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus to disengage said pawl means from said ratchet member, said pawl means being biased into engagement with said ratchet member by a spring means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said advancing means comprises a pivoting bar mechanism extending from a housing of said apparatus and adapted to be reciprocatingly pivoted in a first direction in relation to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus to advance said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said bar mechanism being biased to return to a rest position in substantial alignment with said longitudinal axis, said reciprocating pivoting of said bar mechanism downwardly deflecting said bar mechanism from said longitudinal axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said pivoting bar mechanism comprises at least one ratchet and pawl mechanism for incrementally advancing said first jaw member towards said second jaw member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 further comprising release means for disengaging said retaining means to return said apparatus to a rest position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, 18 or 19, said release means comprises a release rod, said release rod contacting said retaining means to disengage said retaining means upon pivoting said pivoting bar mechanism in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said advancing means comprises a rod member extending distally from a housing of said apparatus and being thumb-actuable by an operator to advance said first jaw member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a portion of said rod member is provided with screw-threads for engaging said retaining means, said rod being rotatable to permit fine adjustment of a range of distance between said jaw members by advancing said threads over said retaining means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second advancing means comprises a rod member having screw threads along a portion of its length, said rod member being advanced through said retaining means away from said screw threads for first advancing of said first jaw member, said rod member being rotatably advanced by said screw threads through said retaining means for second advancing of said first jaw member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for applying surgical fastener means to body tissue, comprising: tissue gripping means for positioning and gripping tissue therebetween, said tissue gripping means including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, said first jaw member having a plurality of fasteners positioned thereon; and advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said advancing means being reciprocatingly pivotable about a longitudinal axis of said apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said advancing means includes means for advancing said first jaw member a first predetermined distance, and means for advancing said first jaw member a second predetermined distance subsequent to said first predetermined distance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, further comprising releasable means for retaining said advancing means to selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, 25 or 26, further comprising the specific subject matter of any one or more of the preceding claims.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 27, further comprising releasable means for disengaging said advancing means to move said first jaw member away from said second jaw member to release said tissue positioned therebetween.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, comprising: tissue gripping means for positioning and gripping tissue therebetween, said gripping means including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, said first jaw member having a plurality of fasteners positioned thereon; and advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said advancing means including linearly actuable advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member a predetermined distance and pivotably actuable advancing means pivotable in relation to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member to grip said tissue therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising the specific subject matter of any one or more of the preceding claims.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, comprising: tissue gripping means for positioning and gripping tissue therebetween, said gripping means including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, said first jaw member having a plurality of fasteners positioned thereon; and advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said advancing means including linearly actuable advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member a predetermined distance and rotatable advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards second jaw member to grip said tissue therebetween.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising releasable means for retaining said first and second advancing means to selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 31 or 32, wherein said linearly actuable advancing means urges said first jaw member towards said second jaw member a first predetermined distance, and said rotatable advancing means incrementally urges said first jaw member towards said second jaw member subsequent to urging by said linearly actuable advancing means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus according to claim 31, 32 or 33 wherein said linearly actuable advancing means comprises a rod member extending distally from a housing of said apparatus and being thumb-actuable by an operator to advance said first jaw member and said rotatable advancing means comprises screw threads integral to said rod member, said screw threads engaging said retaining means for incrementally advancing said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue, comprising: tissue gripping means for positioning and gripping tissue therebetween, said tissue gripping means including a first jaw member having a plurality of fasteners positioned thereon, and a second jaw member; means for driving said fasteners into said tissue, said driving means including means for actuating said driving means; first advancing means for urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member to grip tissue therebetween; second advancing means for incrementally urging said first jaw member towards said second jaw member subsequent to urging by said first advancing means; said first and second advancing means further advancing said driving means; releasable means for retaining said advancing means to selectively position said first jaw member in relation to said second jaw member; and means for coupling said driving means to said actuating means, said driving means driving said fasteners only when said first jaw member is approximated a predetermined distance from said second jaw member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said coupling means comprises a bearing surface on said driving means for engaging an arm member for driving said fasteners when said first jaw member at said predetermined distance.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said bearing surface comprises a notch for engaging said arm member, said notch extending from a sliding surface on said driving means upon which said arm member rides prior to engaging said notch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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