Circular stapling instrument with unitary closure rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11039839-B2
Application number	US-201715717240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2017
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes a handle portion, an end effector, an anvil, a knob, and a monolithic closure rod. The monolithic closure rod includes a proximal shank portion, a distal trocar portion, and a band portion. The proximal shank portion is located within the handle portion and is configured to linearly actuate in response to rotation of the knob. The distal trocar portion is configured to selectively couple with the anvil in order to actuate the anvil relative to the end effector. The band portion extends between the proximal shank portion and the distal trocar portion and provides a reduced cross-sectional area. The monolithic closure rod consists of a single homogenous continuum of material extending along the lengths of the proximal shank portion, the band portion, and the distal trocar portion.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body assembly comprising:
(i) a handle portion, and
(ii) a shaft portion extending distally from the handle portion;

(b) an end effector comprising a staple driver, wherein the staple driver is operable to actuate relative to the shaft portion of the body assembly between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein the end effector is connected with the handle portion via the shaft portion;
(c) an anvil;
(d) a knob rotatably disposed on the handle portion of the body assembly; and
(e) a monolithic closure rod extending through the shaft portion into both the handle portion and the end effector, wherein the monolithic closure rod comprises:
(i) a proximal shank portion located within the handle portion and in communication with the knob, wherein the proximal shank portion comprises a distal end, wherein the proximal shank portion is configured to linearly actuate relative to the body assembly in response to rotation of the knob,
(ii) a distal trocar portion configured to selectively couple with the anvil in order to actuate the anvil relative to the end effector, wherein the distal trocar portion comprises a proximal end, and
(iii) a band portion slidably disposed within the shaft portion, wherein the band portion comprises a first transition portion, a second transition portion, and a flexible intermediate portion located between the first transition portion and the second transition portion, wherein the first transition portion comprises a concave surface defined by a proximal arched perimeter portion and a distal perimeter portion, wherein the proximal arched perimeter portion terminates distally into a first end point and a second end point, wherein the distal perimeter portion extends transversely between the first end point and the second end point, wherein the first transition portion extends into the distal end of the proximal shank portion, wherein the concave surface of the first transition portion directly couples the flexible intermediate portion with the distal end of the proximal shank portion, wherein the second transition portion extends into the proximal end of the distal trocar portion, wherein the flexible intermediate portion has the smallest cross-sectional area compared to the first transition portion and the second transition portion,
wherein the monolithic closure rod consists of a single homogenous continuum of material extending along a length of the proximal shank portion, along a length of the band portion, and along a length of the distal trocar portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion of the body assembly comprises a pre-formed bend.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal shank portion is rigid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal trocar portion is rigid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal shank portion defines a continuous groove, wherein the knob comprises a tab, wherein the knob is configured to rotate to thereby linearly actuate the proximal shank portion via interaction between the tab and the continuous groove.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the continuous groove comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first section has a higher number of grooves per axial length as compared to the second section.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the continuous groove comprises a third section, wherein the knob comprises an internal threading located proximally relative to the tab, wherein the internal threading and the third section of the continuous groove are configured to mesh with each other to linearly actuate the proximal shank portion.

8. The apparats of claim 7 , wherein the tab is configured to disengage the continuous groove when the internal threading meshes with the third section of the continuous groove.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal trocar portion comprises a head and a shaft, wherein the head is located distally relative to the shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the anvil comprises a resilient latch configured to couple with the head of the distal trocar portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the resilient latch and the head of the distal trocar portion are configured to couple via a snap fitting.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gap indicator assembly configured to display a gap between the anvil and the end effector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the gap indicator assembly comprises an indicator bracket slidably coupled with the body assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the indicator bracket is biased against the proximal shank portion via a spring.

15. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body assembly comprising:
(i) a body, and
(ii) a shaft portion extending distally from the body;

(b) an end effector comprising a staple driver, wherein the staple driver is operable to actuate relative to the shaft portion of the body assembly between an unfired position and a fired position;
(c) an anvil;
(d) an adjustment member associated with the body; and
(e) a monolithic closure rod consisting of a single piece of material, wherein the monolithic closure rod is configured to actuate relative to the body assembly in response to movement of the adjustment member, wherein the monolithic closure rod comprises:
(i) a proximal shank portion in communication with the adjustment member, wherein the proximal shank portion comprises a distal end,
(ii) a distal trocar portion configured to selectively couple with the anvil in order to actuate the anvil relative to the end effector, wherein the distal trocar portion comprises a proximal end, and
(iii) a band portion slidably disposed within the shaft portion, wherein the band portion is connected to the distal end of the proximal shank portion via a first arched transition portion, wherein the first arched transition portion comprises a pair of distally facing concave surfaces directly coupling the distal end of the proximal shank portion with the band portion, wherein the first arched transition portion decreases in cross-sectional area from the distal end of the proximal shank portion toward the band portion, wherein the band portion is connected to the proximal end of the distal trocar portion via a second arched transition portion, wherein the second arched transition portion decreases in cross-sectional area from the proximal end of the distal trocar portion toward the band portion; wherein the band portion comprises a bend located between the first arched transition portion and the second arched transition portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the shaft portion comprises a pre-formed bend, wherein the band portion is configured to flex while sliding along the pre-formed bend of the shaft portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the body comprises a handle portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the monolithic closure rod defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the monolithic closure rod is rotationally constrained about the longitudinal axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the proximal shank portion defines a pin hole, wherein a pin extends through the pin hole to rotationally constrain the monolithic closure rod about the longitudinal axis.

20. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body assembly comprising:
(i) a handle portion, and
(ii) a shaft portion extending distally from the handle portion, wherein the shaft portion comprises a preformed bend;

(b) an end effector

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc
• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Fox William D
• Bakos Gregory J

Classifications

• A61B2090/0811

  for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument · CPC title

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/07207

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• A61B2017/07257

  characterised by its anvil · CPC title

• A61B17/1114

  of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus · CPC title