Surgical stapling apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9706990-B2
Application number	US-201313945448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2013
Priority date	Jan 15, 2008
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A surgical device includes a loading unit having proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion of the loading unit is configured to be attached to an actuation apparatus. The surgical device further includes a flexible shaft interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion of the loading unit. Additionally, the surgical device has a tool assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the distal portion of the loading unit. The tool assembly is configured to articulate upon activation of the actuation apparatus. In a further embodiment, the surgical device includes a guiding member operatively connected to the tool assembly. The guiding member has a body and a bore extending through the body. The bore slidably receives a suture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:
providing a surgical device including a tool assembly and a guiding member operatively secured to the tool assembly, the guiding member having a body defining a bore adapted to slidably receive a suture;
inserting a portion of the suture through the bore of the body of the guiding member;
stitching a tissue portion with the suture;
advancing the surgical device toward the tissue portion;
moving the suture proximally to position the tissue portion near the tool assembly including positioning the tissue portion within the tool assemly; and
actuating the tool assembly.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein advancing the surgical device toward the tissue portion includes moving the surgical device alongside a portion of a length of the suture.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein actuating the tool assembly includes translating a cutting tool through the tissue portion.

4. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:
providing a surgical device including a tool assembly and a guiding member operatively secured to the tool assembly, the guiding member having a body defining a bore adapted to slidably receive a suture;
inserting a portion of the suture through the bore of the body of the guiding member;
stitching a tissue portion with the suture;
advancing the surgical device toward the tissue portion;
moving the suture proximally to position the tissue portion near the tool assembly; and
actuating the tool assembly including firing a fastener through the tissue portion.

5. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:
affixing a suture to tissue at a desired surgical site;
positioning a portion of the suture within a bore of a guiding member of a tool assembly;
advancing the tool assembly distally, the suture sliding within the bore of the guiding member to guide the tool assembly to the desired surgical site; and
pulling the suture in a proximal direction to place the tissue between first and second surfaces of the tool assembly.

6. The method of claim 5 further including firing the tool assembly to fasten the tissue between the first and second surfaces.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tool assembly is positioned at a distal end of a loading unit, and the method further includes coupling the proximal end of the loading unit to a proximal end of a surgical instrument.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the loading unit is flexible such that when the tool assembly is advanced the guiding member flexes the loading unit to guide the tool assembly.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Blier Kenneth
• Hathaway Peter
• Taylor Eric

Classifications

• A61B2017/07214

  Stapler heads · CPC title

• A61B2017/320052

  Guides for cutting instruments · CPC title

• A61B2017/2947

  Pivots · CPC title

• A61B2017/2905

  flexible · CPC title

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title