Surgical stapler, anvil for a surgical stapler, and a method of stapling tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11413044-B2
Application number	US-202016881889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2020
Priority date	Jun 29, 2016
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A surgical stapler includes a proximal end and a distal end and an anvil at the distal end for providing resistance to staples during the stapling operation of the surgical stapler. The anvil may include a number of segments arranged end-to-end. The anvil is elongated in the collapsed state, the anvil being elongated generally in a first direction D1. The anvil is configured such that the segments rotate about a rotation axis along a perpendicular second direction D2 when the anvil is actuated between the deployed and the collapsed states. The anvil is configured such that adjacent segments pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis along a third direction D3 when the anvil is actuated between the deployed and collapsed states. The stapler also includes an actuator mechanism, wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to be controlled from a location on the surgical stapler towards the proximal end.

First claim

We claim:

1. An anvil for providing resistance to staples during the stapling operation of a surgical stapler, the surgical stapler comprising a proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end is proximate to the user in use and the distal end is distal from the user in use:
wherein the anvil is locatable at the distal end of the surgical stapler,
wherein the anvil is configured to be actuated between a deployed state and a collapsed state,
wherein the anvil comprises a plurality of segments arranged end-to-end,
wherein the anvil is elongated in the collapsed state, the anvil being elongated generally in a first direction,
wherein the area covered by the anvil is greater in the deployed state than the collapsed state when viewed along the first direction,
wherein the anvil is configured such that the segments rotate about a rotation axis along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when the anvil is actuated between the deployed and the collapsed states, and
wherein the anvil is configured such that adjacent segments pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis along a third direction perpendicular to the second direction when the anvil is actuated between the deployed and collapsed states.

2. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anvil has a direction of curvature when in the deployed state, and the anvil is configured such that during actuation from the deployed to the collapsed state at least two adjacent segments pivot relative to each other in an inward or outward direction relative to the direction of curvature.

3. An anvil as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the anvil is configured such that during actuation from the deployed to the collapsed state all adjacent segments pivot relative to each other in an outward direction relative to the direction of curvature.

4. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the segments have a length direction and the length direction is orientated substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the first direction in the collapsed state.

5. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the deployed state the anvil is a ring-shape, a disc-shape or a dome-shape.

6. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when in the deployed state the anvil comprises a stapling surface that faces toward the proximal end, wherein the stapling surface is a surface that contacts tissue to be stapled and provides resistance to staples piercing through the tissue during a stapling operation, wherein the stapling surface comprises a plurality of recesses shaped and positioned on the surface so as to assist with the folding of the staples piercing through the tissue.

7. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when in the deployed state the anvil comprises a cutting surface that faces toward the proximal end, wherein the cutting surface is a surface that contacts tissue to be stapled and provides resistance to a cutting member that cuts through the tissue during a stapling operation, wherein the cutting surface comprises a resilient material.

8. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anvil comprises a peripheral protective portion arranged to protect body tissue local to the anvil from being caught in the anvil.

9. An anvil as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anvil is configured to be connectable to and detachable from a surgical stapler.

10. A method comprising actuating the anvil of claim 1 between the collapsed state and the deployed state.

11. A method of stapling body tissue using an anvil as claimed in claim 1 and a stapler head, wherein when the anvil is positioned on one side of a piece of tissue to be stapled and the stapler head is on the other side of the piece of tissue to be stapled the following steps are performed sequentially:
drawing the anvil and the stapler head together; and
when the anvil is proximate to the stapler head, firing staples from the stapler head through the tissue such that the anvil offers resistance to fold the staples.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the staples are fired sequentially.

13. A surgical stapler comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end,
wherein the proximal end is proximate to the user in use and the distal end is distal from the user in use;
an anvil as claimed in claim 1 at the distal end; and
an actuator mechanism configured to actuate the anvil between the deployed and collapsed states,
wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to be controlled from a location on the surgical stapler towards the proximal end.

14. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the stapler comprises a shaft extending in the first direction, and
wherein the anvil is attached to the shaft.

15. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a tensioning system configured to apply tension to the anvil.

16. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a head portion, the head portion being configured such that staples can be fired from it toward the anvil in the deployed state sequentially.

17. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a head portion, the head portion comprising a sharp edge for cutting the tissue.

18. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the sharp edge is sloped with respect to the first direction, or wherein the sharp edge is not sloped.

19. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 17 , wherein in the deployed state the anvil is a ring-shape, and wherein the head portion, the sharp edge and the anvil are shaped such that a radially innermost surface of the anvil cooperates with the sharp edge to cut body tissue proximate the radially innermost surface of the anvil.

20. A surgical stapler as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the stapler comprises a head portion, wherein the stapler is configured such that when the stapler is actuated the following occur sequentially: the anvil is deployed; the anvil and the head portion are drawn together; and when the anvil is proximate to the head portion the staples are fired.

Assignees

• Norwegian Univ Of Science And Technology
• Norwegian Univ Sci & Tech Ntnu

Inventors

• Rekstad Lars Cato
• Ystgaard Brynjulf

Classifications

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/07257

  characterised by its anvil · CPC title

• A61B17/072

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

• A61B2017/1157

  applying the staples radially · CPC title