Surgical stapler with integrated bladder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016296227-A1
Application number	US-201615092720-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An end effector includes first and second members that each have a tissue contacting surface and are moveable relative to one another. The first and second members are configured to clamp tissue therebetween when in an approximated configuration. The tissue contacting surface of the first member defines a first groove. The end effector also includes a bladder that is defined within the first groove and is configured to receive and retain fluid.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An end effector comprising:
first and second members each having a tissue contacting surface, the first and second members moveable relative to one another and configured to clamp tissue therebetween in an approximated configuration, the tissue contacting surface of the first member defining a first groove; and a bladder at least in part defined by the first member and configured to receive and retain fluid.

2 . The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the bladder is configured to receive fluid when the first and second members are in the approximated configuration.

3 . The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the bladder is defined by an inner surface of the first groove and a first film disposed on the tissue contacting surface of the first member.

4 . The end effector according to claim 1 , further comprising an injection port in fluid communication with the bladder.

5 . The end effector according to claim 4 , wherein the injection port is located on one of the first or second members and is configured to receive fluid from an injection device while the first and second members are in the approximated configuration.

6 . The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a fastener configured to pierce the bladder as the fastener is ejected from the first member.

7 . The end effector according to claim 6 , wherein the bladder is configured to dispense fluid onto tissue adjacent with the tissue contacting surface of the first member when the fastener pierces the bladder.

8 . The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue contacting surface of the second member defines a second groove.

9 . The end effector according to claim 8 , further comprising a second bladder defined by an inner surface of the second groove and a second film disposed on the tissue contacting surface of the second member.

10 . The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the end effector is an annular end effector, the first member is a shell assembly, and the second member is an anvil assembly.

11 . The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the end effector is a linear end effector, the first member is a lower jaw, and the second member is an upper jaw.

12 . A method of joining tissue comprising:
approximating first and second members of an end effector to clamp tissue to be joined between the first and second members; injecting fluid into a bladder defined in one of the first or second members before or after the first and second members are clamped on tissue; and ejecting a fastener from the first member such that the fastener pierces the bladder to release fluid from the bladder.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein ejecting the fastener from the first member includes the fastener piercing the bladder before the fastener passes through the tissue to be joined and coating the fastener with fluid disposed within the bladder.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein ejecting the fastener from the first member includes the fastener piercing the bladder after the fastener passes through the tissue to be joined such that the bladder secretes fluid on tissue adjacent a tissue contacting surface of the second member.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein injecting fluid into a bladder includes injecting fluid that includes at least one of a therapeutic drug, a biocompatible adhesive, or a biocompatible sealant.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein injecting fluid into a bladder includes injecting a first fluid into a bladder defined by the first member and injecting a second fluid into a bladder defined by the second member.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the second fluid is different from the first fluid.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Gleiman Seth
• Ceniccola Anthony
• Chowaniec Matthew
• Racenet David
• Hodgkinson Gerald
• Snow Joshua
• Schmitt Jeffrey

Classifications

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/07214

  Stapler heads · CPC title

• A61M37/00 Primary

  Other apparatus for introducing media into the body (for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30); Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin (salt baths A61H33/04) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00884

  enhancing wound closure · CPC title

• A61B2017/00893

  pharmaceutically effective · CPC title