Surgical stapler for skin and fascia

Claim 2

A staple-eJecting cartridge for carrying a plurality of staples and adapted to be mounted in a surgical instrument for stapling external skin or internal fascia, the cartridge comprising: an elongated main body having a forward end and a rearward end; first and second threaded screws extending substantially from the forward end to the rearward end of said main body, the end of each of said screws nearest the rear of said elongated body terminating in a flat extension; said main body adapted to house a plurality of U-shaped staples the crosspieces of which extend from one screw to the other and the prongs of which face the forward end of the main body, the crosspieces of said staples riding in the threads of said screws so as to be advanced by the rotation of said screws; a cover plate adjacent said staples and said screws for covering said elongated main body; an anvil on the forward part of said cover plate; a pusher element positioned intermediate said staples and said cover plate for singly ejecting said staples from said cartridge and for forming said staples around said anvil; and means associated with said flat end portions of said screws for maintaining alignment between said flat end portions until acted upon by said surgical instrument.

Claim 3

The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said screws and said staples are associated in such a manner that for each 360* turn of the screws, each staple is advanced and the forwardmost staple is put in a position ready to be ejected from said cartridge; and further comprising means to ensure that the respective screws are in phase with one another.

Claim 4

The cartridge recited in claim 2, wherein said means for phasing the screws comprise a flexible pin on each of said screws, and a pair of depressions on the base of said main body, said pins and said depressions being aligned and adapted to temporarily lock said screws in phased position when said pins extend into said depressions.

Claim 5

The cartridge recited in claim 1, and further comprising locking means for maintaining said pusher element in a fixed position within said cartridge when said cartridge is out of association with said surgical instrument and adapted to release said pusher element when the cartridge is mounted in said surgical stapling instrument.

Claim 6

The cartridge recited in claim 4, wherein the rear portion of said pusher element is provided with an opening and wherein said locking means is adapted to engage said opening.

Claim 7

The cartridge defined in claim 5, wherein said locking means is secured to the base of said elongated main body.

Claim 8

The cartridge defined in claim 5, wherein said locking means is adapted to be forced out of engagement with the opening of said pusher element when said pusher element is associated with the driving member of said surgical stapler.

Claim 9

The cartridge defined in claim 1, wherein said means for ensuring alignment between said screws comprises first and second resilient members associated with the flat portions of the respective screws, and adapted to resiliently maintain the flat portions aligned with one another.

Claim 10

The cartridge described in claim 8, wherein said resilient members are supported on the base of said elongated main body.

Claim 11

The cartridge defined in claim 8, wherein said first and second resilient members are joined at one end and are mounted on the base of said elongated main body, said resilient members being biased toward the flat surfaces of said screws.

Claim 12

The cartridge defined in claim 10, wherein the common area between said first and second resilient members is mounted on the base near the rearwardmost region of said base.

Claim 13

The cartridge defined in claim 1, and further comprising a protrusion on the bottom of said elongated main body at the forward end thereof, said protrusion serving to prevent the backward insertion of said cartridge into said surgical stapler.

Claim 14

A staple-ejecting cartridge for carrying a plurality of staples and adapted to be mounted in a surgical instrument for joining disunited portions of internal fascia, the cartridge comprising; an elongated main body having a forward end and a rearward end; first and second threaded screws housed within said main body, parallel to one another and spaced a predetermined distance from one another; said main body adapted to house a plurality of staples, the cross-pieces of said staples extending from one screw to the other and riding within the threads of said screws, and the prongs of said staples facing the forward end of said main body; a cover plate adjacent said staples and said screws for covering said main body; an anvil on the forward part of said cover plate; a pusher element intermediate said staples and said cover plate and adapted to singly eject said staples from said cartridge and to form same around said anvil; first and second coupling elements each being associated with the rearwardmost portion of a respective screw, the end of each of said coupling elements terminating in a flat projection adapted to be engaged by the driving member of a surgical instrument.

Claim 15

A staple-ejecting cartridge for carrying a plurality of staples and adapted to be mounted in a surgical instrument for joining disunited portions of internal fascia, the cartridge comprising; an elongated main body having a forward end and a rearward end; first and second threaded screws housed within said main body, parallel to one another and spaced a predetermined distance from one another; said main body adapted to house a plurality of staples, the cross-pieces of said staples extending from one screw to the other and riding within the threads of said screws, and the prongs of said staples facing the forward end of said main body; a cover plate adjacent said staples and said screws for covering said main body; an anvil on the forward part of said cover plate; a pusher element intermediate said staples and said cover plate and adapted to singly eject said staples from said cartridge and to form same around said anvil; first and second coupling elements each being associated with the rearwardmost portion of a respective screw, the end of each of said coupling elements terminating in a flat projection adapted to be engaged by the driving member of a surgical instrument.

Claim 16

The cartridge defined in claim 13, wherein said anvil is substantially of a width equal to the combined lengths of the prongs of a staple so that the final shape of said staples takes the form of a rectangle, one of the sides of which is defined by the two prongs of a staple.

Claim 17

The cartridge defined in claim 13, wherein the flat regions of said couplers are spaced apart a distance less than the space between said screws.

Claim 18

The cartridge defined in claim 13, wherein the rearwardmost portion of each of said screws terminates in a flat projection; wherein the forwardmost portion of each coupler is adapted to associate with a respective flat projection on a screw, thereby being rotatably united with said screw; wherein the rearwardmost portion of each of said couplers ends in a flat projection; and wherein the space between the flat projections of said couplers is less than the space between said screws.

Claim 19

The cartridge of claim 13, and further comprising means for maintaining alignment between the flat projections on said couplers.

Claim 20

The cartridge of claim 13, and further comprising means for ensuring initial phase harmony between said screws.

Claim 21

The cartridge of claim 13, and further comprising means for maintaining said pusher element within said cartridge, thereby preventing the accidental discharge of a staple.

Claim 22

The cartridge of claim 13, and further comprising means for preventing the backward insertion of said cartridge into a surgical instrument.

Claim 23

A surgical stapling instrument for applying sterilized staples to the disunited skin or fascia of a patient for effecting a joining of the skin or fascia, the instrument adapted to associate with an elongated staple-carrying cartridge having anvil means at the forwardmost region thereof, house a to house plurality of staples therein, the cross-bars of said staples being transverse to the length of said cartridge and the points of said staples facing said anvil means, a pusher element slidably mounted therein for ejecting staples from said cartridge and for forming said staples around said anvil means, and means for advancing said staples along the length of said cartridge; the instrument comprising: a main body portion; means for mounting said staple-carrying cartridge, at its region remote from said anvil, on the main body portion; drive shaft means to activate said staple-advancing means for driving the staples toward said anvil means; pusher-activating means for driving the pusher element forward to eject a staple from the staple-carrying cartridge and to form said staple around said anvil means; and spring-biasing means to urge said cartridge into a locked position within said main body portion.

Claim 24

A surgical stapling instrument for applying sterilized staples to the disunited skin or fascia of a patient for effecting a joining of the skin or fascia, the instrument adapted to associate with an elongated staple-carrying cartridge having anvil means at the forwardmost region thereof, house a to house plurality of staples therein, the cross-bars of said staples being transverse to the length of said cartridge and the points of said staples facing said anvil means, a pusher element slidably mounted therein for ejecting staples from said cartridge and for forming said staples around said anvil means, and means for advancing said staples along the length of said cartridge; the instrument comprising: a main body portion; means for mounting said staple-carrying cartridge, at its region remote from said anvil, on the main body portion; drive shaft means to activate said staple-advancing means for driving the staples toward said anvil means; pusher-activating means for driving the pusher element forward to eject a staple from the staple-carrying cartridge and to form said staple around said anvil means; and spring-biasing means to urge said cartridge into a locked position within said main body portion.

Claim 25

The instrument recited in claim 21, wherein said instrument is powered by a gas under pressure, and further comprising: a housing for a tank of pressurized gas, said housing having a stationary wall and a moveable wall pivotable on said stationary wall; a ring-like member on the end of one of said walls remote from the pivot of said moveable walls; a bolt-like member on the other of said walls adapted to fit within said ring-like member, thereby locking said pivotable member to said stationary member; and means associated with said bolt-like member for ensuring that the pressurized tank of gas is totally inert before said pivotable member is able to move with respect to said stationary member.

Claim 26

The instrument defined in claim 22, wherein said bolt-like member is associated with a threaded screw controlling the position of said bolt-like member with respect to said ring-like member.

Claim 27

The instrument recited in claim 23, wherein said ring-like member is mounted on the stationary portion and the bolt-like member is mounted on the pivotable portion; and wherein the bolt-like member is associated with a threaded screw, the position of said screw determining the relationship between said bolt-like member and said ring-like member.

Claim 28

The invention recited in claim 22, wherein the forwardmost part of said housing is adjacent the forwardmost part of said pressurized gas tank, and further comprising: means adjacent the forwardmost part of said pressurized gas tank for muffling the sound associated with the expulsion of gas from the opened tank when said tank is being removed.

Claim 29

The invention recited in claim 25, wherein said means for muffling the sound is a metallic ring of sintered steel through which the escaping gas must pass before exiting the instrument.

Claim 30

The instrument defined in claim 21, wherein said instrument is powered by a gas under pressure, stored in a tank of pressurized gas, and further comprising: a housing for said tank, the forwardmost end of said housing comprising a piercing pin for rupturing the seal at the forwardmost end of said tank; a spring associating with the forwardmost end of said tank for biasing said tank away from said piercing pin; and muffler means for quieting the sound associated with the expulsion of said gas under pressure from the rear end of said housing.

Claim 31

A surgical stapling instrument for applying sterilized staples to the disunited skin or fascia of a patient for effecting a joining of the skin or fascia, the instrument adapted to associate with an elongated staple-carrying cartridge having an anvil at the forwardmost region thereof, and adapted to house a plurality of staples therein, the cross-bars of the staples being transverse to the length of the cartridge and the points of the staples facing the anvil, a pusher element slidably mounted therein for ejecting staples from the cartridge and for forming the staples around the anvil, and means for advancing the staples along the length of the cartridge; the instrument comprising: a main body portion; means for mounting said staple-carrying cartridge at its region remote from said anvil on the main body portion; drive shaft means to activate said staple-advancing means for driving the staples toward said anvil means; pusher-activating means for driving the pusher element forward to eject a staple from the staple-carrying cartridge and to form said staple around said anvil means; triggering means for acting on said drive shaft means to initiate a staple driving operation; and means associated with said drive shaft means for acting, in response to said triggering means, to initiate the stapling operation only once for each command from said triggering means.

Claim 32

A surgical stapling instrument for applying sterilized staples to the disunited skin or fascia of a patient for effecting a joining of the skin or fascia, the instrument adapted to associate with an elongated staple-carrying cartridge having an anvil at the forwardmost region thereof, and adapted to house a plurality of staples therein, the cross-bars of the staples being transverse to the length of the cartridge and the points of the staples facing the anvil, a pusher element slidably mounted therein for ejecting staples from the cartridge and for forming the staples around the anvil, and means for advancing the staples along the length of the cartridge; the instrument comprising: a main body portion; means for mounting said staple-carrying cartridge at its region remote from said anvil on the main body portion; drive shaft means to activate said staple-advancing means for driving the staples toward said anvil means; pusher-activating means for driving the pusher element forward to eject a staple from the staple-carrying cartridge and to form said staple around said anvil means; triggering means for acting on said drive shaft means to initiate a staple driving operation; and means associated with said drive shaft means for acting, in response to said triggering means, to initiate the stapling operation only once for each command from said triggering means.

Claim 33

The instrument described in claim 28, wherein said triggering means comprises: a trigger; first linkage associated with said drive shaft, adapted to move said drive shaft in response to a command from said trigger, and thereby adapted to initiate a stapling operation.

Claim 34

The instrument described in claim 29, and further comprising second linkage means for disabling said first linkage means if said trigger is not in its fully relaxed state.

Claim 35

The instrument defined in claim 30, wherein said second linkage means haS a notch therein adapted to associate with said first linkage means; and wherein said first linkage means is moved out of said notch in response to the performance of a stapling operation.

Claim 36

The instrument defined in claim 31, wherein said second linkage means is moved in response to a movement of said trigger, and wherein movement of said second linkage means first causes the displacement of said first linkage means out of said notch and then prevents the first linkage means from returning to the notch in said second linkage means until the trigger is in its fully relaxed state.

Claim 37

The instrument defined in claim 32, wherein said first linkage means is displaced in response to the movement of said drive shaft.

Claim 38

The instrument defined in claim 32, and further comprising: means for biasing said first linkage means toward a position whereby it is ensured that said first linkage means is unable to associate with the notch in said second linkage means unless the trigger is in its fully relaxed state.

Claim 39

A surgical stapling instrument for applying sterilized staples to the disunited skin or fascia of a patient for effecting a joining of the skin or fascia, the instrument adapted to associate with an elongated staple-carrying cartridge having an anvil at the forwardmost region thereof, and adapted to house a plurality of staples therein, the cross-bars of said staples being transverse to the length of said cartridge and the prongs of said staples facing the anvil, a pusher element slidably mounted thereon for ejecting staples from the cartridge and for forming the staples around the anvil, and means for advancing said staples along the length of said cartridge; the instrument comprising: a main body portion; means for mounting said staple-carrying cartridge, at its region remote from said anvil, on the main body portion; drive shaft means, to activate said staple-advancing means for driving the staples toward said anvil means; pusher-activating means for driving the pusher element forward to eject a staple from the staple-carrying cartridge and to form said staple around said anvil means; gearbox means provided with a plunger adapted to react to the position of said pusher-activating means and serving to control the operation of a plurality of gears in said gearbox means; and means associated with said pusher-activating means for positively returning said plunger into the position occupied before having been acted upon by said pusher-activating means.

Claim 40

A surgical stapling instrument for applying sterilized staples to the disunited skin or fascia of a patient for effecting a joining of the skin or fascia, the instrument adapted to associate with an elongated staple-carrying cartridge having an anvil at the forwardmost region thereof, and adapted to house a plurality of staples therein, the cross-bars of said staples being transverse to the length of said cartridge and the prongs of said staples facing the anvil, a pusher element slidably mounted thereon for ejecting staples from the cartridge and for forming the staples around the anvil, and means for advancing said staples along the length of said cartridge; the instrument comprising: a main body portion; means for mounting said staple-carrying cartridge, at its region remote from said anvil, on the main body portion; drive shaft means, to activate said staple-advancing means for driving the staples toward said anvil means; pusher-activating means for driving the pusher element forward to eject a staple from the staple-carrying cartridge and to form said staple around said anvil means; gearbox means provided with a plunger adapted to react to the position of said pusher-activating means and serving to control the operation of a plurality of gears in said gearbox means; and means associated with said pusher-activating means for positively returning said plunger into the position occupied before having been acted upon by said pusher-activating means.

Claim 41

The instrument defined in claim 35, wherein said means for returning said plunger is in the form of an L-shaped return member which is pivoted about a pivot pin in response to the return stroke of said pusher-activating means.

Claim 42

The instrument defined in claim 36, wherein said L-shaped return element has one arm associated with a slot in the plunger and a second arm associated with a pin fixedly mounted on said pusher-activating element.

Claim 43

The instrument defined by claim 36, wherein said means for returning said plunger to its pre-stapling position employs two biasing springs, one of which acts directly on the plunger and one of which acts on the plunger through the drive shaft and the staple-activating element.