Surgical stapler buttress applicator with state indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10349940-B2
Application number	US-201514926358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, a platform, a buttress assembly, at least one retainer member, and an indicator. A portion of the platform is exposed in a gap defined by the housing. The buttress assembly is exposed in the gap defined by the housing. The retainer member is configured to selectively retain the buttress assembly against the platform. The retainer member is further configured to release the buttress assembly from the platform in response to a clamping action of an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing. The indicator is configured to provide indication of a state of one or both of the buttress assembly or the at least one retainer member. The indicator is further configured to change state in response to a change of state of one or both of the buttress assembly or the at least one retainer member.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing defining a gap configured to receive a portion of an end effector of a surgical stapler;
(b) a platform, wherein a portion of the platform is exposed in the gap defined by the housing;
(c) a buttress assembly positioned on the platform, wherein the buttress assembly is exposed in the gap defined by the housing;
(d) at least one retainer member configured to selectively retain the buttress assembly against the platform, wherein the at least one retainer member is further configured to release the buttress assembly from the platform in response to a clamping action of an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing; and
(e) an indicator, wherein the indicator is configured to provide indication of a state of one or both of the buttress assembly or the at least one retainer member, wherein the indicator is further configured to change state in response to a change of state of one or both of the buttress assembly or the at least one retainer member, wherein an upper surface of the housing defines a window that is configured to change colors from a first color to a second color in response to the change of state of one or both of the buttress assembly or the at least one retainer member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is configured to move concomitantly with the at least one retainer member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the indicator is viewable through the window when the at least one retainer member is positioned to retain the first buttress assembly against the platform, wherein a second portion of the indicator is viewable through the window when the at least one retainer member is positioned to release the first buttress assembly from the platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the indicator has the first color, wherein the second portion of the indicator has the second color.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a boss, wherein the boss is fixedly positioned relative to the housing, wherein the indicator is configured to strike the boss in response to the at least one retainer member releasing the buttress assembly from the platform, wherein the indicator and the boss are configured to provide feedback that is one or both of audible or tactile when the indicator strikes the boss.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is incorporated into the platform.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the indicator comprises a first region of the platform having a first color, wherein the buttress is positioned over the first region such that the buttress obscures the first region and such that the first region is viewable in response to removal of the buttress from the platform, wherein the platform further includes a second region adjacent to the first region, wherein the second region has a second color.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises one or more alignment indicators, wherein the one or more alignment indicators are configured to indicate one or more of a yaw alignment position relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing, a longitudinal position alignment relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing, or a lateral position alignment relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises one or more alignment indicators, wherein the one or more alignment indicators are configured to indicate one or more of a yaw alignment position relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing, a longitudinal position alignment relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing, or a lateral position alignment relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the buttress assembly comprises one or more alignment indicators, wherein the one or more alignment indicators are configured to indicate one or more of a yaw alignment position relative to one or both of an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing or the platform, a lateral position alignment relative to an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing, or a lateral position alignment relative to the platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises:
(i) a flowable material interposed between the platform and the first buttress assembly, wherein the platform defines an recess, wherein the flowable material is configured to flow into the recess in response to compression of the first buttress assembly toward the platform, wherein the flowable material is electrically conductive, and
(ii) a pair of electrodes separated by the recess, wherein the flowable material is configured to provide a path for electrical continuity between the electrodes when the flowable material is driven into the recess.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises:
(i) a first fluid chamber, wherein the first fluid chamber is embedded within the platform,
(ii) a second fluid chamber, wherein at least a portion of the second fluid chamber is visible through the platform,
(iii) a conduit coupling the first fluid chamber with the second fluid chamber, and
(iv) a fluid disposed in the first fluid chamber,
wherein the platform is configured to transition from a non-compressed state to a compressed state, wherein the indicator assembly is configured to provide the fluid in the first fluid chamber when the platform is in the non-compressed state such that the fluid is not visible in the second fluid chamber when the platform is in the non-compressed state, wherein the indicator is further configured such that the fluid is driven into the second fluid chamber when the platform is compressed to the compressed state such that the fluid is visible in the second fluid chamber when the platform is in the compressed state.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bag, wherein the housing, the platform, the first buttress assembly, and the at least one retainer are contained within the bag, wherein the bag is sealed, wherein the bag further comprises a pressurized gas, wherein the pressurized gas is scented such that the pressurized gas is configured to provide olfactory feedback indicating the state of the bag in response to opening of the bag.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an environmental condition indicator, wherein the environmental condition indicator is configured to indicate exposure of the buttress assembly to one or more predetermined environmental conditions.

15. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing defining a gap configured to receive a portion of an end effector of a surgical stapler;
(b) a platform, wherein a portion of the platform is exposed in the gap defined by the housing;
(c) a buttress assembly positioned on the platform, wherein the buttress assembly is exposed in the gap defined by the housing;
(d) at least one retainer member configured to selectively retain the buttress assembly against the platform, wherein the at least one retainer member is further configured to release the buttress assembly from the platform in response to a clamping action of an end effector positioned in the gap defined by the housing;
(e) an indicator, wherein the indicator is configured to provide indication of a state of one or both of the buttress assembly or the at least one retainer member, wherein the indicator is further configured to change state in response to a change of state o

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Zeiner Mark S
• Barton Trevor J
• Vendely Michael J
• Harris Jason L
• Schellin Emily A
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Scheib Charles J
• Turner Prudence A

Classifications

• A61B2017/00951

  adhesive · CPC title

• A61B2017/07257

  characterised by its anvil · CPC title

• A61B2090/0814

  Preventing re-use · CPC title

• A61B17/068

  Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) · CPC title

• A61B50/30

  Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) · CPC title