Anvil assemblies with collapsible frames for circular staplers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10751040-B2
Application number	US-201815972344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2018
Priority date	Mar 14, 2011
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

Circular stapling instruments and anvil assemblies. The anvil assemblies may have collapsible anvil support members that may be inserted through an opening in a patient and then expanded to be attached to an anvil plate assembly that has a staple-forming surface thereon. The anvil support member is attachable to the anvil plate assembly in such a way that when the anvil assembly is coupled to the stapling head of a circular stapler, the staple-forming surface is in substantial registry with the staples supported in the stapling head. A variety of different anvil support members and anvil plate assemblies are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An anvil for a surgical stapling instrument, said anvil comprising:
a first anvil assembly defining at least one first staple forming portion including a first staple forming face thereon; and
a second anvil assembly supported for axial travel between a first axial position and a second axial position relative to said first anvil assembly, said second anvil assembly comprising a plurality of co-planar second staple forming portions that each include a second staple forming face thereon, each said second staple forming portion being supported out of plane with respect to said at least one first staple forming portion when said second anvil assembly is in said first axial position and being radially movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position when said second anvil assembly is moved to said second axial position such that said at least one first staple forming face and said second staple forming faces cooperate to form an annular staple forming plate assembly.

2. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said at least one first staple forming portion is configured to interlock with said plurality of second staple forming portions when said second anvil assembly is in said second axial position.

3. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said second anvil assembly is distal to said first anvil assembly when said second anvil assembly is in said first axial position.

4. The anvil of claim 3 , wherein said first anvil assembly is configured to move said plurality of second staple forming portions from said collapsed position to said expanded position when said second anvil assembly is moved in a proximal direction from said first axial position to said second position.

5. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said second anvil assembly comprises:
two diametrically-opposed said second staple forming portions; and
biasing means for biasing said two diametrically-opposed said second staple forming portions into said collapsed position.

6. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said first anvil assembly further comprises a conical member configured to radially move said plurality of second staple forming portions from said collapsed position to said expanded position as said second anvil assembly is axially moved from said first axial position to said second axial position.

7. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said second anvil assembly further comprises an anvil shaft configured to operably engage with a trocar portion of the surgical stapling instrument.

8. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said second anvil assembly further comprises a tip configured to penetrate through tissue.

9. The anvil of claim 1 , wherein said first anvil assembly comprises two diametrically opposed said first staple forming portions and wherein said second anvil assembly comprises two diametrically opposed said second staple forming portions.

10. The anvil of claim 9 , wherein each said first staple forming portion comprises a first arcuate configuration of first staple forming pockets and wherein each said second staple forming portion comprises another first arcuate configuration of said first staple forming pockets, said first arcuate configuration of said first staple forming pockets and said another first arcuate configuration of said first staple forming pockets cooperating to form a first circular array of said first staple forming pockets in said annular staple forming plate assembly that correspond to a first circular array of staples in the surgical instrument.

11. The anvil of claim 10 , wherein each said first staple forming portion further comprises a second arcuate configuration of second staple forming pockets and wherein each said second staple forming portion comprises another second arcuate configuration of said second staple forming pockets, said second arcuate configuration of said second staple forming pockets and said another second arcuate configuration of said second staple forming pockets cooperating to form a second circular array of said second staple forming pockets in said annular staple forming plate assembly that correspond to a second circular array of staples in the surgical instrument.

12. A circular surgical stapling device, comprising:
a circular staple cartridge storing a plurality of surgical staples therein;
an axially movable trocar shaft selectively movable relative to said circular staple cartridge; and
an anvil, comprising:
a first anvil assembly defining at least one first staple forming portion including a first staple forming face thereon; and
a second anvil assembly removably attachable to said trocar shaft for axial travel between a first axial position and a second axial position relative to said first anvil assembly, said second anvil assembly comprising a plurality of co-planar second staple forming portions that each include a second staple forming face thereon, each said second staple forming portion being supported out of plane with respect to said at least one first staple forming portion when said second anvil assembly is in said first axial position and being radially movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position when said second anvil assembly is moved to said second axial position such that said at least one first staple forming face and said second staple forming faces form an annular staple forming plate assembly.

13. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 12 , wherein said trocar shaft is configured with means for preventing said second anvil assembly from rotating relative to said trocar shaft when said second anvil assembly is coupled thereto.

14. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 12 , further comprising means for removably affixing said second anvil assembly to said trocar shaft.

15. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 14 , wherein said second anvil assembly further comprises a second anvil shaft and wherein said means for removably affixing said second anvil assembly comprises:
a pair of spaced anvil tabs protruding from a proximal end of said second anvil shaft; and
a detent on said trocar shaft corresponding to each said anvil tab for releasable engagement therewith.

16. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 15 , wherein said trocar shaft further comprises a plurality of fins thereon, said fins being oriented relative to said spaced anvil tabs such that each said anvil tab is receivable between a corresponding two of said fins to prevent said second anvil shaft from rotating relative to said trocar shaft when said second anvil shaft is removably coupled thereto.

17. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 15 , wherein said second anvil assembly further comprises:
two diametrically-opposed said second staple forming portions extending from said second anvil shaft; and
biasing means for biasing said two diametrically-opposed said second staple forming portions into said collapsed position.

18. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 17 , wherein said first anvil assembly further comprises a conical member configured to radially move said plurality of second staple forming portions from said collapsed position to said expanded position as said second anvil assembly is axially moved from said first axial position to said second axial position.

19. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 15 , wherein said second anvil assembly further comprises a tip configured to penetrate through tissue.

20. The circular surgical stapling device of claim 12 , wherein said at least one first staple forming portion is configured t

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Aronhalt Taylor W
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Schall Christopher J
• Young Joseph E
• Worrell Barry C
• Morgan Jerome R
• Weisenburgh Ii William B
• Hess Christopher J
• Schellin Emily A

Classifications

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B17/072

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

• F04C2270/0421

  Controlled or regulated · CPC title

• A61B17/3417

  Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating (syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00) · CPC title

• A61B17/07207

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title