Surgical fastener appliers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10363039-B2
Application number	US-201615340261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2016
Priority date	Nov 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

An end effector is provided and includes an outer tube, a coil member, a plurality of fasteners, and an engagement member. The outer tube defines a viewing window and a lockout window. The coil member is disposed within the outer tube. The plurality of fasteners are disposed in the coil member. The engagement member is disposed proximal to the plurality of fasteners and is visible through the viewing window of the outer tube. The engagement member is configured to translate proximal to the plurality of fasteners to provide a count of the plurality of fasteners remaining in the end effector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An end effector comprising:
an outer tube defining a viewing window and a lockout window, the outer tube defining a first passageway therethrough;
a coil member disposed within the first passageway of the outer tube, the coil member defining a second passageway therethrough;
a plurality of fasteners disposed in the second passageway of the coil member, the plurality of fasteners configured to translate along the second passageway; and
an engagement member disposed proximal to the plurality of fasteners and at least partially visible through the viewing window of the outer tube, the engagement member configured to translate along the second passageway proximal to the plurality of fasteners to provide a count relative to the viewing window of the plurality of fasteners remaining in the end effector, the engagement member including:
a body portion; and
a biasing portion extending from the body portion, the biasing portion having a biasing arm, the biasing arm biased resiliently outward such that engagement of a free end of the biasing portion of the engagement member with the lockout window restricts further translation of the engagement member, wherein the biasing arm of the engagement member includes a first biasing arm and a second biasing arm and wherein the outer tube includes a pair of lockout windows configured to engage with the first and second biasing arms of the engagement member.

2. The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the outer tube includes indicia disposed along the viewing window to indicate the count of the plurality of fasteners remaining in the end effector.

3. The end effector according to claim 1 , further including an inner tube rotatably supported in the second passageway of the coil member, the inner tube defining a third passageway, the inner tube having:
a first tine; and
a second tine, wherein the first and second tines are radially opposed and define a first channel and a second channel therebetween.

4. The end effector according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are disposed in the third passageway of the inner tube, the plurality of fasteners each including a pair of opposed threaded portions, the threaded portions of the plurality of fasteners being configured to extend radially beyond the first channel and the second channel of the inner tube respectively.

5. The end effector according to claim 4 , wherein the threaded portions of the plurality of fasteners are configured to engage a plurality of successive winds of coil of the coil member.

6. The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement member includes a body and a pair of a threaded portions protruding radially from the body thereof.

7. The end effector according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second biasing arms are approximated radially-inward toward the body of the engagement member in a first configuration of the engagement member.

8. The end effector according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second biasing arms are disposed radially-outward with respect to the body of the engagement member in a second configuration of the engagement member, when the free end of the biasing arm is in registration with the lockout window.

9. The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein a width of a head portion of each of the first and second biasing arms is greater than a width of the viewing window such that the head portions of the first and second biasing arms do not engage the viewing window during actuation of the end effector.

10. The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of a head portion of each of the first and second biasing arms is smaller than a width of each lockout window such that the head portions of the first and second biasing arms engage respective lockout windows, when the head portions of the first and second biasing arms are in registration with the respective lockout windows.

11. The end effector according to claim 10 , wherein when the head portions of the first and second biasing arms of the engagement member engage the respective lockout windows, and when the threaded portions of the body of the engagement member engage the inner tube, the inner tube is unable to rotate relative to the outer tube.

12. An end effector comprising:
an outer tube defining a viewing window and a lockout window, the outer tube defining a first passageway therethrough;
a coil member disposed within the first passageway of the outer tube, the coil member defining a second passageway therethrough;
an inner tube rotatably supported in the second passageway of the coil member, the inner tube defining a third passageway, the inner tube including:
a first tine; and
a second tine, wherein the first and second tines are radially opposed and define a first channel and a second channel therebetween;
a plurality of fasteners disposed within the third passageway of the inner tube, the plurality of fasteners configured to translate along the third passageway; and

an engagement member disposed proximal to the plurality of fasteners and visible through the viewing window of the outer tube, the engagement member configured to translate along the third passageway proximal to the plurality of fasteners to provide a count of the plurality of fasteners remaining in the third passageway, the engagement member including:
a body portion; and
a biasing portion extending from the body portion, the biasing portion having a first biasing arm and a second biasing arm, the first and second biasing arms biased resiliently outward such that engagement of a free end of the biasing portion of the engagement member with the lockout window restricts further translation of the engagement member.

13. The end effector according to claim 12 , wherein the outer tube includes indicia disposed along the viewing window to indicate the count of the plurality of fasteners remaining in the end effector.

14. The end effector according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fasteners each include pair of opposed threaded portions, the threaded portions of the plurality of fasteners being configured to extend radially beyond the first channel and the second channel of the inner tube respectively.

15. The end effector according to claim 14 , wherein the outer tube includes a pair of opposing lockout windows configured to engage with the first and second biasing arms of the engagement member.

16. The end effector according to claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second biasing arms includes a head portion.

17. The end effector according to claim 16 , wherein when the head portions of the first and second biasing arms of the engagement member engage the respective lockout windows, and when the threaded portions of the body of the engagement member engage the inner tube, the inner tube is unable to rotate relative to the outer tube.

18. The end effector according to claim 15 , wherein the opposing lockout windows are located on the outer tube such that when a last fastener of the plurality of fasteners is fired, the first and second biasing arms of the engagement member are in registration with the respective lockout windows.

19. An end effector comprising:
an outer tube defining a viewing window and a pair of lockout windows, the outer tube defining a first passageway therethrough;
a coil member disposed within the first passageway of the outer tube, the coil member defining a second passageway therethrough;
a plurality of fasteners disposed in the second passageway of the coil member, the plurality o

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Russo Mark

Classifications

• A61B2090/0814

  Preventing re-use · CPC title

• A61B2090/0803

  Counting the number of times an instrument is used · CPC title

• A61B2017/0648

  threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread · CPC title

• A61B2017/0649

  Coils or spirals · CPC title

• A61B17/068 Primary

  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