Methods and systems for performing circular stapling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10709452-B2
Application number	US-201715604787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2017
Priority date	Sep 23, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body, wherein the body includes:
(i) a motor,
(ii) a first user input feature, wherein the first user input feature is operable to activate the motor, and
(iii) a second user input feature;

(b) a shaft extending distally from the body;
(c) a stapling head assembly positioned at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the stapling head assembly includes:
(i) an anvil coupling feature, wherein the second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally,
(ii) at least one annular array of staples, and
(iii) a staple driver, wherein the staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples, wherein the motor is operable to drive the staple driver;

(d) an anvil, wherein the anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature, wherein the anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver; and
(e) a motor lockout feature electrically coupled with the motor, wherein the motor lockout feature is configured to permit activation of the motor when the anvil is coupled with the anvil coupling feature, wherein the motor lockout feature is configured to inhibit activation of the motor when the anvil is decoupled from the anvil coupling feature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stapling head assembly further comprises at least one first anvil alignment feature, wherein the anvil further comprises at least one second anvil alignment feature, wherein the first and second anvil alignment features of the stapling head assembly and the anvil are configured to cooperate to thereby angularly align the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second anvil alignment features of the stapling head assembly and the anvil comprise longitudinally extending splines.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anvil coupling feature comprises a colored region, wherein the colored region is configured to be exposed for viewing in the absence of the anvil being fully coupled with the anvil coupling feature, wherein the colored region is configured to be obscured from view when the anvil is fully coupled with the anvil coupling feature.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anvil further comprises:
(i) an inner annular array of staple forming pockets, wherein the inner annular array of staple forming pockets comprises a plurality of staple forming pocket pairs, wherein each pair of staple forming pockets in the inner annular array comprises:
(A) a first staple forming pocket, and
(B) a second staple forming pocket, and

(ii) an outer annular array of staple forming pockets, wherein the outer annular array of staple forming pockets comprises a plurality of staple forming pocket pairs, wherein each pair of staple forming pockets in the outer annular array comprises:
(A) a first staple forming pocket, and
(B) a second staple forming pocket,

wherein the outer annular array of staple forming pockets is arranged in a mirrored symmetry with the inner annular array of staple forming pockets.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anvil further comprises:
(i) an inner annular array of staple forming pockets, wherein the inner annular array of staple forming pockets comprises a plurality of staple forming pocket pairs, wherein each pair of staple forming pockets in the inner annular array comprises:
(A) a first staple forming pocket, and
(B) a second staple forming pocket,
wherein the first staple forming pocket of each pair of staple forming pockets of the inner annular array is located radially outboard of the second staple forming pocket of the same pair of staple forming pockets of the inner annular array, and

(ii) an outer annular array of staple forming pockets, wherein the outer annular array of staple forming pockets comprises a plurality of staple forming pocket pairs, wherein each pair of staple forming pockets in the outer annular array comprises:
(A) a first staple forming pocket, and
(B) a second staple forming pocket,
wherein the second staple forming pocket of each pair of staple forming pockets of the outer annular array is located radially outboard of the first staple forming pocket of the same pair of staple forming pockets of the outer annular array,

wherein the first staple forming pocket of each pair of staple forming pockets of the inner annular array overlaps with a corresponding second staple forming pocket of each pair of staple forming pockets of the outer annular array along a radial dimension.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stapling head assembly further comprises a deck member, wherein the deck member comprises:
(i) a deck surface,
(ii) an outer annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surface, wherein the staple driver is operable to drive an outer annular array of the staples through the outer annular array of staple openings,
(iii) an inner annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surface, wherein the staple driver is operable to drive an inner annular array of the staples through the outer annular array of staple openings, and
(iv) a plurality of recesses formed in the deck surface, wherein at least a portion of the recesses are positioned between at least some of the staple openings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stapling head assembly further comprises an annular deck member, wherein the annular deck member comprises:
(i) a deck surface,
(ii) an outer annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surface,
(iii) an outer plurality of recesses formed in the deck surface, wherein at least a portion of the recesses of the outer plurality of recesses are positioned between at least some of the staple openings of the outer annular array of staple openings,
(iv) an inner annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surface, and
(v) an inner plurality of recesses formed in the deck surface, wherein at least a portion of the recesses of the inner plurality of recesses are positioned between at least some of the staple openings of the inner annular array of staple openings.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor lockout feature comprises a switch, wherein the switch is positioned to be closed by a portion of the anvil when the anvil is fully coupled with the anvil coupling feature, wherein the switch is positioned to not be closed by the portion of the anvil when the anvil is not fully coupled with the anvil coupling feature.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a rotary cam coupled with the motor, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a longitudinally extending driver, wherein the longitudinally extending driver is coupled with the rotary cam, wherein the longitudinally extending driver is further coupled with the staple driver, wherein the rotary cam is configured to drive the longitudinally extending driver in a first longitudinal direction in response to the motor driving the rotary cam through a first range of angular motion in an angular direction, wherein the rotary cam is configured to drive the longitudinally extending driver in a second longitudinal direction in response to the motor driving the rotary cam through a second range of angular motion in the angular direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first longitudinal direction is distally oriented, wherein the second longitudinal direction is proximally oriented.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the rotary cam is further configured to engage a motor switching assembly after the motor has been activated to drive the staple driver to drive the at least

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Dinardo Brian F
• Bear Brian W
• Scheib Charles J
• Miller Christopher C
• Smith Craig S
• Schellin Emily A
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Zerkle Jason E
• Gagel Jeffrey C
• Measamer John P
• Alexander Iii Johnny H
• Kluener Joseph T
• Sackett Kevin D
• Houser Kevin L
• Overmyer Mark D
• Bolton Matthew H
• Vakharia Omar J
• Schwemberger Richard F
• Leimbach Richard L
• Clingaman Rodney V
• Goode Timothy E
• Fox William D
• Stager William R

Classifications

• A61B2017/00367

  Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like · 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

• A61B2017/00221

  with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves · CPC title

• A61B2017/00199

  with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display · CPC title

• A61B2017/00115

  with audible or visual output · CPC title