US5137198A — Fast closure device for linear surgical stapling …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A surgical stapler comprising a shaft containing firing means and with a cartridge of staples and an anvil surface for forming said staples, and a fast closure mechanism to bring said cartridge into proximal contact with said anvil surface to fire said staples using said firing means, wherein said fast closure mechanism is a slider-crank four bar linkage; and wherein said slider is a block attached to said cartridge constrained in the shaft of said stapler such that said block with said cartridge attached may move linearly toward or away from said anvil; and wherein said crank portion of said four-bar linkage has a crank pivotable about said shaft and a connecting arm, and is attached to said slider block by means of a pin held within said slider block; and wherein said connecting arm contains a cam mechanism cooperating with a link containing a camming surface, said link operating a placement pin moving parallel to said slider block said placement pin movable relative to said cartridge to become emplaced in said anvil.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 173 words

A surgical stapler comprising a shaft containing firing means and with a cartridge of staples and an anvil surface for forming said staples, and a fast closure mechanism to bring said cartridge into proximal contact with said anvil surface to fire said staples using said firing means, wherein said fast closure mechanism is a slider-crank four bar linkage; and wherein said slider is a block attached to said cartridge constrained in the shaft of said stapler such that said block with said cartridge attached may move linearly toward or away from said anvil; and wherein said crank portion of said four-bar linkage has a crank pivotable about said shaft and a connecting arm, and is attached to said slider block by means of a pin held within said slider block; and wherein said connecting arm contains a cam mechanism cooperating with a link containing a camming surface, said link operating a placement pin moving parallel to said slider block said placement pin movable relative to said cartridge to become emplaced in said anvil.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The stapler of claim 1 wherein said cam surface on said link is two-sided so that it cooperates with said cam on said connecting arm when moving in either a proximal or a distal direction from said anvil surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The stapler of claim 2 wherein said link operates as a crank mechanism with respect to said placement pin, and said placement pin operates as a slider, such that said crank, said link and said placement pin operate as a second distinct four-bar linkage.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The stapler of claim 3 wherein said pair of four-bar linkages cooperate to bring said placement pin and said cartridge in proximity to said anvil.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The stapler of claim 4 further comprising a gap-setting screw cooperating with said anvil in order to place said anvil at a desirable distance away from said proximally located cartridge.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

The stapler of claim 5 containing an interlocking mechanism operable in cooperation with said gap-setting screw and said firing means in order to prevent operation of said firing means until said screw has placed said cartridge within a predetermined distance from said anvil.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The stapler of claim 1 wherein said sliding block is connected to said shaft by spring means, such that said spring means tend to keep said cartridge spaced apart from said anvil.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The stapler of claim 1 further comprising a slot on said connecting arm cooperating with aid pin to insure motion of said slider block along said shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 82 words

A surgical stapler comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis, firing means, a cartridge of staples, an anvil surface for forming said staples, and a placement pin for enclosing tissue between said anvil and said cartridge, said placement pin movable relative to said cartridge, wherein said placement pin and said cartridge move parallel to each other along said shaft longitudinal axis, and said parallel motion of said cartridge and placement pin are controlled by a pair of separate but cooperating four-bar linkages.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 82 words

A surgical stapler comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis, firing means, a cartridge of staples, an anvil surface for forming said staples, and a placement pin for enclosing tissue between said anvil and said cartridge, said placement pin movable relative to said cartridge, wherein said placement pin and said cartridge move parallel to each other along said shaft longitudinal axis, and said parallel motion of said cartridge and placement pin are controlled by a pair of separate but cooperating four-bar linkages.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The stapler of claim 9 wherein said first linkage is a slider-crank mechanism comprising a slider block attached to said cartridge and constrained in said shaft such that said cartridge may slide linearly along said shaft toward or away from said anvil.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The stapler of claim 10 wherein said first linkage further comprises a crank and connecting arm and a pin on said slider block operable on a slot contained within said connecting arm.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 62 words

The stapler of claim 9 wherein said second four-bar linkage contains a link with a camming surface, said link in sliding contact with said placement pin, and said camming surface in contact with a cam member on a connecting arm, wherein said camming surface is two-sided such that it contacts said cam independent of the direction of motion of said placement pin.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

The stapler of claim 11 wherein said second four-bar linkage contains a link with a camming surface, said link in sliding contact with said placement pin, and said camming surface in contact with a cam member on a connecting arm, wherein said camming surface is two-sided such that it contacts said cam independent of the direction of motion of said placement pin.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The stapler of claim 13 wherein said placement pin and said cartridge are brought into proximity of said anvil when said crank and said connecting arm are parallel to said shaft.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The stapler of claim 14 further comprising a gap-setting screw cooperating with said anvil in order to place said anvil at a desirable distance away from said proximally located cartridge.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The stapler of claim 15 containing an interlocking mechanism operable in cooperation with said gap-setting screw and said firing means in order to prevent operation of said firing means until said screw has placed said cartridge within a predetermined distance from said anvil.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The stapler of claim 9 wherein said trigger is prevented from firing by an interlocking mechanism actuable dependent upon the operation of said four-bar linkages to bring said cartridge into proximity with said anvil surface.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The stapler of claim 10 wherein said sliding block is connected to said shaft by spring means, such that said spring means tend to keep said cartridge spaced apart from said anvil.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-08-11	1996-02-10	1996-08-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-08-11	2000-02-10	2000-08-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-08-11	2004-02-10	2004-08-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fast closure device for linear surgical stapling instrument

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