Anvil stabilization features for surgical stapler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271842-B2
Application number	US-201514751506-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A surgical instrument for stapling tissue includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an anvil. The shaft assembly includes a stapling head assembly and an actuator. The anvil is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. The anvil is configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to staple tissue. The anvil comprises a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank includes a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and an engagement feature. The engagement feature is in communication with the lumen such that the engagement feature is configured to move relative to the axis in response to the rod being directed into the lumen. The engagement feature is configured to selectively couple the shank to the actuator. The proximal end of the engagement feature is radially fixed relative to the axis.

First claim

We claim:

1. A surgical instrument for stapling tissue, the instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
(i) a stapling head assembly, and
(ii) an actuator; and

(c) an anvil configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator, wherein the anvil is configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to staple tissue, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a head, and
(ii) a shank extending from the head along an axis, the shank comprising:
(A) a proximal end,
(B) a distal end,
(C) a lumen extending from the proximal end toward the distal end,
(D) an engagement feature between the proximal and distal ends,
(E) a tapered, increased cross-sectional dimension portion disposed adjacent the engagement feature configured to prevent tissue interference, and
(F) a pivot limiting member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the pivot limiting member is configured to limit the engagement feature pivoting outwardly relative to the axis, wherein when the actuator is partially coupled with the shank, the proximal end of the pivot limiting member is in contact with the engagement feature, and wherein when the actuator is fully coupled with the shank, the proximal end of the pivot limiting member is separated at a distance from the engagement feature,
wherein the engagement feature is in communication with the lumen such that the engagement feature is configured to move relative to the axis in response to the actuator being directed into the lumen,
wherein the engagement feature is configured to selectively couple the shank to the actuator,
wherein a proximal end of the engagement feature extends freely from the shank.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature comprises a resilient member.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the resilient member is configured to flex outwardly relative to the axis in response to the actuator being directed into the lumen.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 3 , wherein the resilient member is configured to flex back inwardly in response to the actuator being directed further into the lumen.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 3 , wherein the resilient member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the resilient member is configured to flex about the distal end of the resilient member in response to the actuator being directed into the lumen.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the resilient member is formed by at least one slit in the shank.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one slit further comprises a longitudinal slit extending parallel to the axis.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 6 , further comprising a transverse slit extending transversely relative to the longitudinal slit.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature includes a first cam surface and a second cam surface, wherein the engagement feature is configured to move outwardly in response to the actuator riding against the first cam surface, wherein the engagement feature is configured to move inwardly in response to the actuator reaching the second cam surface.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature comprises a protrusion, wherein the actuator comprises an annular groove configured to receive the protrusion.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the shank further comprises a plurality of splines extending radially outwardly from the shank.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a trocar.

13. A surgical instrument for stapling tissue, the instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
(i) a stapling head assembly, and
(ii) an actuator; and

(c) an anvil configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator, wherein the anvil is configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to staple tissue, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a head, and
(ii) a shank extending from the head along an axis, the shank comprising:
(A) a proximal end,
(B) a distal end,
(C) an engagement feature between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the engagement feature is configured to selectively couple the shank to the actuator, wherein the engagement feature comprises a set of resilient arms formed by a plurality of slits formed in the shank, and
(D) a set of pivot limiting members configured to limit the resilient arms pivoting outwardly relative to the axis.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature is formed at least in part from a pair of opposing longitudinal slits in the shank and a transverse slit extending between the opposing longitudinal slits, wherein the transverse slit extends around at least a portion of the axis.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the tapered, increased cross-sectional dimension portion is configured to prevent tissue from snagging on the proximal end of the engagement feature and is configured to prevent tissue from entering the transverse slit.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein the shank further comprises: (E) a tapered, increased cross-sectional dimension portion disposed adjacent the set of resilient arms configured to prevent tissue interference.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of slits includes a pair of opposing longitudinal slits in the shank and a transverse slit extending between the opposing longitudinal slits, wherein the transverse slit extends around at least a part of the axis.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 17 , wherein the tapered, increased cross-sectional dimension portion is configured to prevent tissue from snagging on a proximal end of the engagement feature and is configured to prevent tissue from entering the transverse slit.

19. A surgical instrument for stapling tissue, the instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
(i) a stapling head assembly, and
(ii) an actuator; and

(c) an anvil configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator, wherein the anvil is configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to staple tissue, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a head, and
(ii) a shank extending from the head along an axis, the shank comprising:
(A) a proximal end,
(B) a distal end,
(C) a lumen extending from the proximal end toward the distal end,
(D) an engagement feature between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the engagement feature is in communication with the lumen such that the engagement feature is configured to move relative to the axis in response to the actuator being directed into the lumen, wherein the engagement feature is configured to selectively couple the shank to the actuator,
(E) a tapered, increased cross-sectional dimension portion disposed adjacent the engagement feature and configured to prevent tissue interference, and
(F) a pivot limiting member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the pivot limiting member is configured to limit the engagement feature pivoting outwardly relative to the axis, wherein when the actuator is partially coupled with the shank, the proximal end of the pivot limiting member is in contact with the engagement feature, and wh

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Fox William D
• Schwemberger Richard F
• Dinardo Brian F
• Miller Christopher C
• Vakharia Omar J
• Scheib Charles J

Classifications

• A61B2017/07214

  Stapler heads · CPC title

• A61B2017/00433

  knurled · CPC title

• A61B2017/00473

  Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/072

  for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously · CPC title

• A61B17/07207

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title