Surgical stapling instrument with jaw latching mechanism and disposable staple cartridge

Claim 2

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, pusher means for driving the staples from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of staples in the tissue, means for latching said jaw members together with the tissue located between said staple carrying means and said anvil means, jaw clamping means for applying clamping forces to said jaw members to urge said staple carrying means and said anvil means together during the formation of said staples, and means for retaining said latching means in a partially latched position with said jaw members loosely connected together to permit said jaw members to be moved apart and said staple carrying means and said anvil means to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting said jaw members from each other.

Claim 3

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, which includes: knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line adjacent to said row of staples.

Claim 4

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein said latching means comprises: a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said jaw members and engageable with said other jaw member to latch said jaw members together, said latch member being movable from an unlatched position which permits said jaw members to be completely disconnected to a latched position which locks said jaw members together, and said latch member being movable to a partially latched position loosely engaged with said other jaw member to permit said jaw members to be moved apart and said staple carrying means and said anvil means to be adjusted in position on the tissue while said jaw members remain connected together.

Claim 5

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, which includes: a latch pin mounted on one of said jaw members, a slot formed on said other jaw member for slidably receiving said latch pin when said jaw members are assembled, said latch means including a latch arm pivotally mounted on said other jaw member for engaging said latch pin within said slot to latch said jaw members together, said latch arm being movable from an open position which permits said latch pin to be freely moved into and out of said slot in the assembly and disassembly of said jaw members to a closed position which confines said latch pin within said slot to lock said jaw members together, and said latch arm being movable to an intermediate position which confines said latch pin within said slot and permits limited movement of said latch pin in said slot to allow the position of said jaw members to be adjusted relative to the tissue.

Claim 6

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein: said latching means is adapted to latch said jaw members together at an intermediate position therealong adjacent to said staple carrying means and said anvil means, and said jaw clamping means comprises cam means for urging said jaw members apart at a position remote from said latching means to urge said staple carrying means and said anvil means together to resist the forces exerted on said staple carrying means and said anvil means when the staples are formed.

Claim 7

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 5, wherein said cam means comprises: a cam member pivotally mounted on one of said jaw members at a position remote from said latching means, said cam member being pivotable from a first inoperative position to a second operative position to move said jaw members apart at said remote position.

Claim 8

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 6, which includes: first means for retaining said cam member in its inoperative position, and second means for retaining said cam member in its operative position.

Claim 9

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 6, wherein: said cam member includes a first lower cam surface for engaging said other jaw member with said cam member disposed in its first inoperative position and a second higher cam surface for engaging said other jaw member with said cam member disposed in its second operative position.

Claim 10

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 6, wherein: said cam member is operable by said pusher means to move from its inoperative position to its operative position when said pusher means is advanced and from its operative position to its inoperative position when said pusher means is retracted.

Claim 11

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, which includes: first means for retaining said cam member in its inoperative position with said pusher means retracted, and second means for retaining said cam member in its operative position with said pusher means advanced.

Claim 12

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein: said staple carrying means is disposable to allow the stapling instrument to be reused with other staple carrying means for surgery on the same patient.

Claim 13

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument is disposable.

Claim 14

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 12, wherein: said staple carrying means is disposable to allow said instrument to be reused with other staple carrying means for surgery on the same patient before said instrument is disposed of.

Claim 15

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, pusher means for driving the staples from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of staples in the tissue, means for latching said jaw members together at a position adjacent to said staple carrying means and said anvil means, said latching means being operable from an unlatched position which permits said jaw members to be completely disconnected from each other to a latched position which locks said jaw members together with said staple carrying means and said anvil means in alignment, and means for retaining said latching means in a partially latched position with said jaw members loosely connected together to permit said jaw members to be moved apart and said staple carrying means and said anvil means to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting said jaw members from each other.

Claim 16

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, pusher means for driving the staples from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of staples in the tissue, means for latching said jaw members together at a position adjacent to said staple carrying means and said anvil means, said latching means being operable from an unlatched position which permits said jaw members to be completely disconnected from each other to a latched position which locks said jaw members together with said staple carrying means and said anvil means in alignment, and means for retaining said latching means in a partially latched position with said jaw members loosely connected together to permit said jaw members to be moved apart and said staple carrying means and said anvil means to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting said jaw members from each other.

Claim 17

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, which includes: knife means for cutting the tissue located between said jaw members along a line adjacent to said row of staples.

Claim 18

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, wherein said latching means comprises: a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said jaw members and engageable with said other jaw member to latch said jaw members together, said latch member being movable from an unlatched position which permits said jaw members to be completely disconnected to a latched position which locks said jaw members together, and said latch member being movable to a partially latched position loosely engaged with said other jaw member to permit said jaw members to be moved apart and said staple carrying means and said anvil means to be adjusted in position on the tissue while said jaw members remain connected together.

Claim 19

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, which includes: a latch pin mounted on one of said jaw members, a slot formed on said other jaw member for slidably receiving said latch pin when said jaw members are assembled, said latch means including a latch arm pivotally mounted on said other jaw member for engaging said latch pin within said slot to latch said jaw members together, said latch arm being movable from an open position which permits said latch pin to be freely moved into and out of said slot in the assembly and disassembly of said jaw members to a closed position which confines said latch pin within said slot to lock said jaw members together, and said latch arm being movable to an intermediate position which confines said latch pin within said slot and permits limited movement of said latch pin in said slot to allow the position of said jaw members to be adjusted relative to the tissue.

Claim 20

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, wherein said instrument is disposable.

Claim 21

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 18, wherein: said staple carrying means is disposable to allow said instrument to be reused with other staple carrying means for surgery on the same patient before said instrument is disposed of.

Claim 22

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, wherein: said staple carrying means is disposable to allow the stapling instrument to be reused with other staple carrying means for surgery on the same patient.

Claim 23

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, which includes: cam means for urging said jaw members apart at a position remote from said latching means to urge said staple carrying means and said anvil means together to resist the forces exerted on said staple carrying means and said anvil means when the staples are formed.

Claim 24

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 21, wherein said cam means comprises: a cam member pivotally mounted on one of said jaw members at a position remote from said latching means, said cam member being pivotable from a first inoperative position to a second operative position to move said jaw members apart at said remote position.

Claim 25

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 22, which includes: first means for retaining said cam member in its inoperative position, and second means for retaining said cam member in its operative position.

Claim 26

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 22, wherein: said cam member includes a first lower cam surface for engaging said other jaw member with said cam member disposed in its first inoperative position and a second higher cam surface for engaging said other jaw member with said cam member disposed in its second operative position.

Claim 27

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 22, wherein: said cam member is operable by said pusher means to move from its inoperative position to its operative position when said pusher means is advanced and from its operative position to its inoperative position when said pusher means is retracted.

Claim 28

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 25, which includes: first means for retaining said cam member in its inoperative position with said pusher means retracted, and second means for retaining said cam member in its operative position with said pusher means advanced.

Claim 29

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge mounted at a front portion of said jaw member and adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including an anvil mounted at a front portion of said jaw member and adapted to form said staples, a pusher bar and knife assembly slidable longitudinally relative to said elongate jaw members, said assembly including pusher means for driving the staples from said staple cartridge into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced staple rows in the tissue, and knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line between said staple rows, means for latching said jaw members together at an intermediate position therealong adjacent to said staple cartridge and said anvil with the tissue located therebetween, and means for retaining said latching means in a partially latched position with said jaw members loosely connected together to permit said front portions of said jaw members to be separated and said staple cartridge and said anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting said jaw members from each other.

Claim 30

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge mounted at a front portion of said jaw member and adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including an anvil mounted at a front portion of said jaw member and adapted to form said staples, a pusher bar and knife assembly slidable longitudinally relative to said elongate jaw members, said assembly including pusher means for driving the staples from said staple cartridge into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced staple rows in the tissue, and knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line between said staple rows, means for latching said jaw members together at an intermediate position therealong adjacent to said staple cartridge and said anvil with the tissue located therebetween, and means for retaining said latching means in a partially latched position with said jaw members loosely connected together to permit said front portions of said jaw members to be separated and said staple cartridge and said anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting said jaw members from each other.

Claim 31

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 27, which includes: spacer means mounted on one of said jaw members for maintaining said staple cartridge and said anvil in alignment with a predetermined gap therebetween.

Claim 32

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 27, which includes: a spacer pin mounted on said staple cartridge for engaging said anvil with said jaw members assembled to align said staple cartridge and said anvil with a predetermined gap therebetween.

Claim 33

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 27, wherein said latching means comprises: a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said jaw members and engageable with said other jaw member to latch said jaw members together, said latch member being movable from an unlatched position which permits said jaw meabers to be completely disconnected to a latched position which locks said jaw members together, and said latch member being movable to a partially latched position loosely engaged with said other jaw member to permit said front portions of said jaw members to be separated and said staple cartridge and said anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue while said jaw members remain connected together.

Claim 34

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 27, which includes: a latch pin mounted on one of said jaw members, a slot formed on said other jaw member for slidably receiving said latch pin when said jaw members are assembled, said latch means including a latch arm pivotally mounted on said other jaw member for engaging said latch pin within said slot to latch said jaw members together, said latch arm being movable from an open position which permits said latch pin to be freely moved into and out of said slot in the assembly and disassembly of said jaw members to a closed position which confines said latch pin within said slot to lock said jaw members together, and said latch arm being movable to an intermediate position which confines said latch pin within said slot and permits limited movement of said latch pin in said slot to allow said said front portions of said jaw members to be separated and adjusted in position relative to the tissue.

Claim 35

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 27, which includes: means for releasably fastening said staple cartridge to said one jaw member to permit said staple cartridge to be replaced and allow the stapling instrument to be reused with another staple cartridge.

Claim 36

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 32, which includes: finger grip means formed on said staple cartridge to enable said staple cartridge to be manually engaged and removed from said one jaw member.

Claim 37

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 27, which includes: jaw clamping means for urging said front portions of said jaw members together to clamp said staple cartridge and said anvil against the tissue gripped between said jaw members during the formation of said staples.

Claim 38

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 34, wherein said jaw clamping means comprises: cam means for urging the rear portions of said jaw members apart at a position remote from said latching means to urge said front portions of said jaw members together to resist the forces exerted on said staple cartridge and said anvil when the staples are formed.

Claim 39

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 35, wherein said cam means comprises: a cam member pivotally mounted on one of said jaw members at a position remote from said latching means, said cam member being pivotable from a first inoperative position to a second operative position to move said rear portions of said jaw members apart and to urge said front portions of said jaw members together.

Claim 40

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 36, which includes: first means for retaining said cam member in its inoperative position, and second means for retaining said cam member in its operative position.

Claim 41

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 36, wherein: said cam member includes a first lower cam surface for engaging said other jaw member with said cam member disposed in its first inoperative position and a second higher cam surface for engaging said other jaw member with said cam member disposed in its second operative position.

Claim 42

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 36, wherein: said cam member is operable by said pusher means to move from its inoperative position to its operative position when said pusher means is advanced and to return from its operative position to its inoperative position when said pusher means is retracted.

Claim 43

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 39, which includes: first means for retaining said cam member in its inoperative position with said pusher means retracted, and second means for retaining said cam member in its operative position with said pusher means advanced.

Claim 44

A surgical stapling instrument including: a first elongate jaw member adapted to support a staple cartridge, a second elongate jaw member having an anvil adapted to form staples ejected from said staple cartridge, a stationary guide block mounted on said first jaw member, and one or more pusher bars slidably mounted on said first jaw member and slidably supported by said guide block, said pusher bars adapted to eject the staples sequentially from said staple cartridge, said staple cartridge comprising an elongated body including one or more longitudinal slots for slidably receiving said pusher bars and a plurality of staple drivers engageable by said pusher bars in said slots for ejecting the staples from the cartridge and forming the staples against said anvil, means for releasably fastening said body of said staple cartridge to said first jaw member to permit said staple cartridge to be replaced and allow the stapling instrument to be reused with another staple cartridge, and flange means extending longitudinally from said body of said staple cartridge and cooperable with said guide block for receiving said pusher bars therebetween and aligning said pusher bars with said longitudinal slots in said staple cartridge.

Claim 45

A surgical stapling instrument including: a first elongate jaw member adapted to support a staple cartridge, a second elongate jaw member having an anvil adapted to form staples ejected from said staple cartridge, a stationary guide block mounted on said first jaw member, and one or more pusher bars slidably mounted on said first jaw member and slidably supported by said guide block, said pusher bars adapted to eject the staples sequentially from said staple cartridge, said staple cartridge comprising an elongated body including one or more longitudinal slots for slidably receiving said pusher bars and a plurality of staple drivers engageable by said pusher bars in said slots for ejecting the staples from the cartridge and forming the staples against said anvil, means for releasably fastening said body of said staple cartridge to said first jaw member to permit said staple cartridge to be replaced and allow the stapling instrument to be reused with another staple cartridge, and flange means extending longitudinally from said body of said staple cartridge and cooperable with said guide block for receiving said pusher bars therebetween and aligning said pusher bars with said longitudinal slots in said staple cartridge.

Claim 46

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 41, which includes: finger grips means formed on said staple cartridge to enable said staple cartridge to be manually engaged and removed from said first jaw member.

Claim 47

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 42, wherein said finger grip means comprises: a pair of wing-like members projecting laterally from opposite sides of said elongated body adjacent to the proximate end of said staple cartridge.

Claim 48

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 41, which includes: a spacer pin mounted on said staple cartridge for engaging said anvil with said jaw members assembled to align said staple cartridge and said anvil with a predetermined gap therebetween.

Claim 49

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 41, which includes: an central longitudinal knife slot formed in said elongated body between said pusher bar slots for slidably receiving a knife blade of said stapling instrument.

Claim 50

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 45, which includes: guide means formed on said body of said staple cartridge for guiding said knife blade into said central longitudinal slot.

Claim 51

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 41, wherein said flange means comprises: a pair of spaced, parallel flanges extending rearwardly from said body of said staple cartridge for receiving said guide block therebetween to align said pusher bars with said longitudinal slots.

Claim 52

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 47, wherein: said flanges are adapted to releasably connect said body of said staple cartridge to said first jaw member.

Claim 53

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 48, wherein: said first jaw member is channel-shaped and includes a pair of opposed, elongated side walls for receiving said elongated body of said staple cartridge therebetween, each of said side walls including a forwardly facing notch formed at the distal end thereof; and said staple cartridge includes a pair of rearwardly extending protrusions formed on opposite sides of said body adjacent to the distal end thereof, said protrusions being removably received in said forwardly facing notches formed in said side walls of said first jaw member.