CA1122491A - Disposable surgical stapling instrument - Google Patents
Disposable surgical stapling instrumentInfo
- Publication number
- CA1122491A CA1122491A CA320,850A CA320850A CA1122491A CA 1122491 A CA1122491 A CA 1122491A CA 320850 A CA320850 A CA 320850A CA 1122491 A CA1122491 A CA 1122491A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- staple
- staple driver
- magazine
- anvil
- row
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
- A61B17/068—Surgical staplers, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps
- A61B17/0682—Surgical staplers, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
- A61B17/0684—Surgical staplers, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A disposable surgical stapling instrument for forming and implanting surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient to close a wound or incision. The instrument comprises an elongated body having a forward portion and a rearward portion serving as a handle portion. The forward portion of instrument body houses a staple driver attached to a staple driver actuator and a return spring for the staple driver actuator. A surgical staple magazine assembly is affixed to the lower edges of the instrument body forward portion. An anvil plate, supporting a row of surgical staples, is located within the magazine assembly. The anvil plate terminates at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface. The magazine assembly contains a feeder assembly to constantly urge the row of staples toward the anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of the row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by the driver and to disengage a formed staple therefrom.
The magazine assembly also provides a channel for the lower end of the staple driver and a staple retaining surface to minimize bending of the staple crown during the staple forming operation. The staple driver is shiftable between a retracted position and a staple forming position by means of a trigger pivotally mounted to the instrument body forward portion and operatively connected to the staple driver actuator.
A disposable surgical stapling instrument for forming and implanting surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient to close a wound or incision. The instrument comprises an elongated body having a forward portion and a rearward portion serving as a handle portion. The forward portion of instrument body houses a staple driver attached to a staple driver actuator and a return spring for the staple driver actuator. A surgical staple magazine assembly is affixed to the lower edges of the instrument body forward portion. An anvil plate, supporting a row of surgical staples, is located within the magazine assembly. The anvil plate terminates at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface. The magazine assembly contains a feeder assembly to constantly urge the row of staples toward the anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of the row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by the driver and to disengage a formed staple therefrom.
The magazine assembly also provides a channel for the lower end of the staple driver and a staple retaining surface to minimize bending of the staple crown during the staple forming operation. The staple driver is shiftable between a retracted position and a staple forming position by means of a trigger pivotally mounted to the instrument body forward portion and operatively connected to the staple driver actuator.
Description
CROSS REFERENC~ TO RELATED APPLICAI'ION
The surgical stapling ins-trument of the present invention consti-tutes an improvement of that surgical stapling instrument taught in United States Let-ters Patent No. 4,109,849, issued Augus-t 24, 1978 in the name of Carl T. Becht and entitled BACKGROUND OF TI~E INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a surgical stapling instrument, and more particularly to such an instrument which may be of a single-use, disposable nature.
The surgical stapling ins-trument of the present invention consti-tutes an improvement of that surgical stapling instrument taught in United States Let-ters Patent No. 4,109,849, issued Augus-t 24, 1978 in the name of Carl T. Becht and entitled BACKGROUND OF TI~E INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a surgical stapling instrument, and more particularly to such an instrument which may be of a single-use, disposable nature.
2. Description of the Prior Art While the stapling instrument of the present invention -may have many applications, it is particula~ly adapted for use ~ 15 as a surgical stapling instrument and will, for purposes of - an exemplary showing, be so described. The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention could be so constructed as to be reusable, as will be briefly discussed hereinafter.
Nevertheless, it is particularly well adap-ted to be inexpensively produced as a single-use, disposable instrument, and for that reason will be so described herein for purposes of an exemplary showing.
; Recently surgeons have come more and more to the^use of ~surgical staples (sometimes referred to as staple sutures), rather than conventional thread sutures, for the closing of wounds or incisions in the skin or fascia of a pa-tient. This is true in part because the use of surgical staples is a far easier procedure. Of even ~re~ter importance, however, is ,the fact that the use of surgical staples is very much faster.
Thus, the time required for suturing can be substantially reduced, ~hereby reducing the length of time the patient must be maintained under anesthesia.
Prior art workers have develope~ various types of surgicA1 stapling instruments, examples o which are taught in Unitéd States Letters Patent 3,618,842; 3,643,851; 3,717,294; 3,837,555 and
Nevertheless, it is particularly well adap-ted to be inexpensively produced as a single-use, disposable instrument, and for that reason will be so described herein for purposes of an exemplary showing.
; Recently surgeons have come more and more to the^use of ~surgical staples (sometimes referred to as staple sutures), rather than conventional thread sutures, for the closing of wounds or incisions in the skin or fascia of a pa-tient. This is true in part because the use of surgical staples is a far easier procedure. Of even ~re~ter importance, however, is ,the fact that the use of surgical staples is very much faster.
Thus, the time required for suturing can be substantially reduced, ~hereby reducing the length of time the patient must be maintained under anesthesia.
Prior art workers have develope~ various types of surgicA1 stapling instruments, examples o which are taught in Unitéd States Letters Patent 3,618,842; 3,643,851; 3,717,294; 3,837,555 and
3,873,016. In general, the prior art surgical staplin~ instruments are compl~x in constructlon and expensive to manufacture. These instruments do not lend themselves well to be so constructed as to be disposable. ~;ior art surgical staplers generally require a replaceable cartridge for the staples and a portion of the force required to actuate these instruments is expended in shifting a staple from a row thereof within the cartridge to an anvil means prior to formation of the staple about the anvil means. As a result, some prior art surgical stapling instruments require ~15 upwards of 20 pounds force to form and implant a surgical staple, In-the above mentioned United States Letters Patent Ido.
4,109,844, a disposable surgical stapler is taught. This surgical stapler is provided with an anvil plate terminàting at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface and slidably mounting a row of staples. Means are also provided to constantly urge ar.d ' advance the row of staples ~long the anvil plate to place a forward-most staple of the row on the anvil surface to be formed by a staple driver. The staple driver is shiftable between a normal upper position above and c1osely adjacent the forwardmost staple on the anvil surface and a lower position wherein it implants and forms the forwardmost staple.
The present invention provides a disposable surgical stapling lnstrument whlch represents an improvement over that of the above mentioned United States Letters Patent No. 4,109,B44. The surgical ~ 2 stapling instrument of the present invention contains substantially all of the advantages of the surgical stapler taught in the above mentioned United States Letters Patent 4,109,844, including being disposable, light weight, inexpensive to manufacture and requiring very little force to operate it. In addition7 the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention is characterized by a unique surgical staple magazine assembly and a unique driver-driver actuator-trigger assembly.
SUMI~ OF THE INVENTION
~ccording to the invention there is provided a surgical stapling instrument for implanting and forming surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient, said instrument comprising an elongated body having a rearward portion constituting a handle portion and a forward portion, a staple driver and a staple driver actuator attached to said staple driver being housed within said body forward portion, a surgical staple magazine aEfixed to said body forward portion, an anvil plate mounted within said magazine, said anvil plate terminating at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface, a row of staples slidably mounted on said anvil plate, a feeder assembly mounted in said magazine to constantly urge and advance said row of staples along said anvil plate toward said anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of said row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by said driver and to disengage said forwardmost staple therefrom when formed, said staple driver being shiftable between a retracted position above said anvil surface and a staple forming position wherein it forms said forwardmost staple about said anvil surface, trigger means to shift said staple driver between said retracted and said staple forming positions~ said trigger means being pivotally affixed to said body and operatively connected to said staple driver by way of said staple driver actuator, and means to bias said staple driver to said retracted position.
The staple magazine is made up of upper and lower members. The lower member is adapted to receive the anvil plate which extends substantial-ly the length the~eof. The forwardmost end of the lower magazine mem~er is provided with a notch so sized as to retain an unformed surgical staple, but ~, -3-, _ .
to permit the pas~sage therethrough of a formed surgical staple. The feeder assembly comprises a feeder shoe mounted behind the row of staples on the anvil plate. The upper member of the surgical staple magazine is adapted to be received ln the lower member and to overlie the anvil plate, the row of staples and the feeder shoe. The upper magazine member mounts a double-coil spring which constantly urges the feeder shoe and thus the row of staples toward the anvil surface of the anvil plate. At the forward end of the surgical staple magazine, the upper and lower magazine members Eorm a channel for the lower end of the staple driver. The upper magazine member also pro-vides a staple retaining surface spaced above the anvil surface to minimize the bending of a crown of a surgical staple during the staple forming oper-: ation.
; The staple driver is shiftable between its retracted position and its staple forming position in the channel formed therefor in the surgical staple magazine. The forwardmost end oE the trigger engages transverse lugs formed on the staple driver actuator. Since the staple driver is operative-ly connected to the staple driver actuator, pivoting of the trigger between a normal position and an actuated position, shifts the staple driver between its retracted position and its staple forming position.
The forward portion of the instrument body also houses a return ; spring. The return spring is in the Eorm of a coiled compression spring, one end of which is mounted on a seat supported by the surgical staple magazine and the other end of which engages the staple driver actuator.
The return spring biases the staple driver to its retracted position and at the same time biases the trigger to its normal position.
2Z~
BRIEF DFSCRIPTION OF rr~IE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the surgical stapling - instrument of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the surgical ~; stapling instrument of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the surgical stapling instrument body.
10Figure 5 is a bottom view of the lower member of the surgical " staple magazine.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower member of the magazine.
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the upper member of the surgical staple magazine.
Figure 8 is a top plan view oE the upper member of the magazine.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the anvil plate of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the magazine feeder shoe.
Figure ll is a perspective view of the magazine double-coil spring.
20Figure 12 is a top plan view of the assembled magazine.
Figure 13 is a rear elevational view of the assembled magazine.
Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the staple driver-staple driver actuator assembly.
Figure 15 is a rear elevational view of the staple driver-staple driver actuator assembly.
Figure 16 is a perspective vlew of the return spring and _5_ .
~z~
its seat.
Figure 17 is an elevational view illustrating the assembly of the staple driver, staple driver actuator, return spring.and return spring seat.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of thP trigger of the : present invention.
~ ' Figure 19 is an elevational view of a surgical staple for use with the surgical stapling instrument of the present~invention.
. Figure 20 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the staple of Figure 19 ln its full~y formed c,ondition implanted in the skin of a patient., Fiyure 21 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the present.invention illustrating the staple, driver in its retracted position. `
lS ~Figure 22 is a fragmentary front elevational view,s.imilar to Figure 21,and illustrating the staple driver in its staple forming position, DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFÉRRED EMBODIMENTS .
In all of the Figures, lik.e parts have been given like index numerals. Reference is first made to Figures 1 through 3 wherein the surgical stapling instrument is yenerally indicated at 1. The instrument comprlises a body 2 having a rearward portion 3 which serves as a handle and a forward portion 4. It will be noted tha-t the'rearward portion 3 is anqularly rela-ted to the forward portion . 4 so that the instrumen-t can more easily be held in-its normal position of use, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It will be understood by one skilled in -the art that the position in which '' the instrument is held while being used is not limited to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and depends primarily on the patient . position and -the area of the patient being sutured.
The forward por-tion 4 of the instrument body 2 includes a ' ' surgical staple magazine, generally indicated at 5. The surgical stapling instrument is actuated ~y a trigger 6.
Turning to Figure 3, the primary components of the surgical stapling instrument are therein shown. Each of these components will be tak~en up in turn and described in detail. However, for a better understanding of the, detailed descriptions to follow, the primary component~ will be called out with respect to Figure 3.
It will be noted that the magazine 5 is affixed to the lower edges of the forward portion 4 of body 2. The magazine 5 compri'ses 2 lower mem~er 7, an upper member 8 and an anvil plate 9 located therebetween. The anvil plate 9 terminates at its Eorward end in a coextensive anvil surface 10. Slidably mounted on anvil plate 9 is a row of staples 11. Also slidably mounted on anvil plate"9 there is a feeder shoe 12 which is constantly urged toward anvil surface 10 by a double-coil spring 13. The forward end o~ magazine S provides a channel 14 for a staple driver 15 ` mounted within the forward portion 4 of instrument body 2.
Staple driver 15 is affixed to a staple driver actuator 17.
The trigger 6 is operatively connected to staple driver 17 to shift it and the staple drive,r 15,, as will be described here-inafter. Finall~:, a return spring 18 is located within the forward portion 4 of the instrument body Z. The upper end of return spring 18 is in contact with staple driver'actuator 17, and the lower end oE the return spring is mounted on a re-turn spring seat 19. The return spring 18 i9 intended to bias the staple driver 15 to its retracted position and a-t the same time to bias the trigger 6 to its normal position, all as will be described.
~eference is now made to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the body 2 of instrument 1. So -that its interior may be shown, the body 2 is illustrated in inverted condition. The rearward or handle portion of the body is again shown at 3 and the forward portion is shown at 4. The angular relationship between these two portions of body 2 can again be seen. The body 2 is hollow having a top 20 (see Figure 3) side walls 21 and 22, a front wall 23 and' a rear wall 24. A lug 25 extends along and depends downwardly rom rear wall 24. Lug 25 acts as a stop for the rearward end of trigger ' 10 6, when the'trigger 6 is in its actuated position.
Side walls 21 and 22 have first,notches 26 and 27 formed ~' therein. The,upper ends of notches 26 and 27 serve as bearings ' ,for pivoted trigger 6, as will be described hereinafter. Side walls 21 and 22 have second notches 28 and 29'formed therein.
; 15 These notches are intended to accommodate the staple driver actuator 17, as will be showrl.
.
,The front wall 23 of body '2 has a pair of integral guide xails 30 and 31 on its inside surface. These guide~,rails are intended to cooperate with the staple driver 15 and staple 20 driver actuator 17, as will be described and as is shown in ' Figure 3. The exterior surface of front wall 23 may be -provided with an ind'icia arrow 32 or the like (see Figure 2) to assist the surgeon in properly aligning the instrument ~ith' respect to the wound or incision to be sutured. The body 2 of instrument 1 lends itself well to be molded,of a plastic materials appropriate for use in a surgical environ-ment.
The surgical staple magazine 5 is, as shown in Figures 1 through 3, affixed to the lowermost edges of side walls 21 and 22 and front wall 23 at the forward portion 4 of body 2. To this end, .
~ 8 at the forward portion 4 of body 2, side wall 21 has a longi-tudinally extending interior notch 33 adjacent its bottom edge and interrupted by slots 26 and 29. Similarly~ side wall 22, at the forward por-tion 4 of the body 2, has a substantially identical longitudinal notch 34, interrupted by slots 27 and 29. Portions of the lower member 7 of magazine 5 are received within the notches 33 and 34 and abut the lowermost edge of front wall 23. The magazine may be permanently affixed to the body 2 in any appropriate manner. Since the lower member 7 of magazine 5 may also be molded of an appxopriate plastic material, this joinder may be accomplished by adhesive means, welding or the like, all as is well known ln the art.
In order to describe the surgical staple magazine 5, reference is irst made to Figures 5 and S wh~rein its lower member 7 is illustrated from below and above, respectively.
The lower member 7 has a bottom 35, a front wall 36 and side walls 37 and 38. The bottom 35 has a central and longitudially extending raised portion 36a(see also Figure 13).; ~ pair of openings 39 and 40 may be provided in -the raised portion 36aso that the surgeon may view therethrough the row 11 of staples.
The openings 39 and 40 may Eurther be provided with arrow-like indicia, shlown at 41 which, in conjunction with number indicia 42, wi:ll enable the surgeon to make a relatively accurate approximation of the number oE staples remaining in the row 11 (see also Figure 3).
The upper edges of side walls 37 and 38 are lonyi-tudinally notched as at 43 and 44, respectively. These notches are adapted to cooperate with the appropriate one of the body notches 33 and 34 (Figure 4).
Similarly, front wall 36 has an upper surface 45 adapted to abut the lowermost edge of body front'wall 23 (see Figures 3 and 4).
Front wall 36 has formed therein a notch 46. This notch, i~ shown in Figures 2, 21 and 22, as well as in Figures 5 and 6.' The purpose of this notch will be apparent hereaf-ter. The ; bottom 35 terminates short of front wall 36, forming the opening 47. The inside surface 48 of front wall 36 slopes upwardly ànd rearwardly and ccnstitutes a part of the driver channel 14 (see Figure 3). Finally, the upper surface of bottom 35 is provided with a plurality o~ substantially conical dep'ressions, , ' sh;own at 49 in Figure 6. The purpose of these depressions will be apparent,in the discussion of the upper member 8 of magazine
The present invention provides a disposable surgical stapling lnstrument whlch represents an improvement over that of the above mentioned United States Letters Patent No. 4,109,B44. The surgical ~ 2 stapling instrument of the present invention contains substantially all of the advantages of the surgical stapler taught in the above mentioned United States Letters Patent 4,109,844, including being disposable, light weight, inexpensive to manufacture and requiring very little force to operate it. In addition7 the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention is characterized by a unique surgical staple magazine assembly and a unique driver-driver actuator-trigger assembly.
SUMI~ OF THE INVENTION
~ccording to the invention there is provided a surgical stapling instrument for implanting and forming surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient, said instrument comprising an elongated body having a rearward portion constituting a handle portion and a forward portion, a staple driver and a staple driver actuator attached to said staple driver being housed within said body forward portion, a surgical staple magazine aEfixed to said body forward portion, an anvil plate mounted within said magazine, said anvil plate terminating at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface, a row of staples slidably mounted on said anvil plate, a feeder assembly mounted in said magazine to constantly urge and advance said row of staples along said anvil plate toward said anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of said row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by said driver and to disengage said forwardmost staple therefrom when formed, said staple driver being shiftable between a retracted position above said anvil surface and a staple forming position wherein it forms said forwardmost staple about said anvil surface, trigger means to shift said staple driver between said retracted and said staple forming positions~ said trigger means being pivotally affixed to said body and operatively connected to said staple driver by way of said staple driver actuator, and means to bias said staple driver to said retracted position.
The staple magazine is made up of upper and lower members. The lower member is adapted to receive the anvil plate which extends substantial-ly the length the~eof. The forwardmost end of the lower magazine mem~er is provided with a notch so sized as to retain an unformed surgical staple, but ~, -3-, _ .
to permit the pas~sage therethrough of a formed surgical staple. The feeder assembly comprises a feeder shoe mounted behind the row of staples on the anvil plate. The upper member of the surgical staple magazine is adapted to be received ln the lower member and to overlie the anvil plate, the row of staples and the feeder shoe. The upper magazine member mounts a double-coil spring which constantly urges the feeder shoe and thus the row of staples toward the anvil surface of the anvil plate. At the forward end of the surgical staple magazine, the upper and lower magazine members Eorm a channel for the lower end of the staple driver. The upper magazine member also pro-vides a staple retaining surface spaced above the anvil surface to minimize the bending of a crown of a surgical staple during the staple forming oper-: ation.
; The staple driver is shiftable between its retracted position and its staple forming position in the channel formed therefor in the surgical staple magazine. The forwardmost end oE the trigger engages transverse lugs formed on the staple driver actuator. Since the staple driver is operative-ly connected to the staple driver actuator, pivoting of the trigger between a normal position and an actuated position, shifts the staple driver between its retracted position and its staple forming position.
The forward portion of the instrument body also houses a return ; spring. The return spring is in the Eorm of a coiled compression spring, one end of which is mounted on a seat supported by the surgical staple magazine and the other end of which engages the staple driver actuator.
The return spring biases the staple driver to its retracted position and at the same time biases the trigger to its normal position.
2Z~
BRIEF DFSCRIPTION OF rr~IE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the surgical stapling - instrument of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the surgical ~; stapling instrument of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the surgical stapling instrument body.
10Figure 5 is a bottom view of the lower member of the surgical " staple magazine.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower member of the magazine.
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the upper member of the surgical staple magazine.
Figure 8 is a top plan view oE the upper member of the magazine.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the anvil plate of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the magazine feeder shoe.
Figure ll is a perspective view of the magazine double-coil spring.
20Figure 12 is a top plan view of the assembled magazine.
Figure 13 is a rear elevational view of the assembled magazine.
Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the staple driver-staple driver actuator assembly.
Figure 15 is a rear elevational view of the staple driver-staple driver actuator assembly.
Figure 16 is a perspective vlew of the return spring and _5_ .
~z~
its seat.
Figure 17 is an elevational view illustrating the assembly of the staple driver, staple driver actuator, return spring.and return spring seat.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of thP trigger of the : present invention.
~ ' Figure 19 is an elevational view of a surgical staple for use with the surgical stapling instrument of the present~invention.
. Figure 20 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the staple of Figure 19 ln its full~y formed c,ondition implanted in the skin of a patient., Fiyure 21 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the present.invention illustrating the staple, driver in its retracted position. `
lS ~Figure 22 is a fragmentary front elevational view,s.imilar to Figure 21,and illustrating the staple driver in its staple forming position, DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFÉRRED EMBODIMENTS .
In all of the Figures, lik.e parts have been given like index numerals. Reference is first made to Figures 1 through 3 wherein the surgical stapling instrument is yenerally indicated at 1. The instrument comprlises a body 2 having a rearward portion 3 which serves as a handle and a forward portion 4. It will be noted tha-t the'rearward portion 3 is anqularly rela-ted to the forward portion . 4 so that the instrumen-t can more easily be held in-its normal position of use, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It will be understood by one skilled in -the art that the position in which '' the instrument is held while being used is not limited to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and depends primarily on the patient . position and -the area of the patient being sutured.
The forward por-tion 4 of the instrument body 2 includes a ' ' surgical staple magazine, generally indicated at 5. The surgical stapling instrument is actuated ~y a trigger 6.
Turning to Figure 3, the primary components of the surgical stapling instrument are therein shown. Each of these components will be tak~en up in turn and described in detail. However, for a better understanding of the, detailed descriptions to follow, the primary component~ will be called out with respect to Figure 3.
It will be noted that the magazine 5 is affixed to the lower edges of the forward portion 4 of body 2. The magazine 5 compri'ses 2 lower mem~er 7, an upper member 8 and an anvil plate 9 located therebetween. The anvil plate 9 terminates at its Eorward end in a coextensive anvil surface 10. Slidably mounted on anvil plate 9 is a row of staples 11. Also slidably mounted on anvil plate"9 there is a feeder shoe 12 which is constantly urged toward anvil surface 10 by a double-coil spring 13. The forward end o~ magazine S provides a channel 14 for a staple driver 15 ` mounted within the forward portion 4 of instrument body 2.
Staple driver 15 is affixed to a staple driver actuator 17.
The trigger 6 is operatively connected to staple driver 17 to shift it and the staple drive,r 15,, as will be described here-inafter. Finall~:, a return spring 18 is located within the forward portion 4 of the instrument body Z. The upper end of return spring 18 is in contact with staple driver'actuator 17, and the lower end oE the return spring is mounted on a re-turn spring seat 19. The return spring 18 i9 intended to bias the staple driver 15 to its retracted position and a-t the same time to bias the trigger 6 to its normal position, all as will be described.
~eference is now made to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the body 2 of instrument 1. So -that its interior may be shown, the body 2 is illustrated in inverted condition. The rearward or handle portion of the body is again shown at 3 and the forward portion is shown at 4. The angular relationship between these two portions of body 2 can again be seen. The body 2 is hollow having a top 20 (see Figure 3) side walls 21 and 22, a front wall 23 and' a rear wall 24. A lug 25 extends along and depends downwardly rom rear wall 24. Lug 25 acts as a stop for the rearward end of trigger ' 10 6, when the'trigger 6 is in its actuated position.
Side walls 21 and 22 have first,notches 26 and 27 formed ~' therein. The,upper ends of notches 26 and 27 serve as bearings ' ,for pivoted trigger 6, as will be described hereinafter. Side walls 21 and 22 have second notches 28 and 29'formed therein.
; 15 These notches are intended to accommodate the staple driver actuator 17, as will be showrl.
.
,The front wall 23 of body '2 has a pair of integral guide xails 30 and 31 on its inside surface. These guide~,rails are intended to cooperate with the staple driver 15 and staple 20 driver actuator 17, as will be described and as is shown in ' Figure 3. The exterior surface of front wall 23 may be -provided with an ind'icia arrow 32 or the like (see Figure 2) to assist the surgeon in properly aligning the instrument ~ith' respect to the wound or incision to be sutured. The body 2 of instrument 1 lends itself well to be molded,of a plastic materials appropriate for use in a surgical environ-ment.
The surgical staple magazine 5 is, as shown in Figures 1 through 3, affixed to the lowermost edges of side walls 21 and 22 and front wall 23 at the forward portion 4 of body 2. To this end, .
~ 8 at the forward portion 4 of body 2, side wall 21 has a longi-tudinally extending interior notch 33 adjacent its bottom edge and interrupted by slots 26 and 29. Similarly~ side wall 22, at the forward por-tion 4 of the body 2, has a substantially identical longitudinal notch 34, interrupted by slots 27 and 29. Portions of the lower member 7 of magazine 5 are received within the notches 33 and 34 and abut the lowermost edge of front wall 23. The magazine may be permanently affixed to the body 2 in any appropriate manner. Since the lower member 7 of magazine 5 may also be molded of an appxopriate plastic material, this joinder may be accomplished by adhesive means, welding or the like, all as is well known ln the art.
In order to describe the surgical staple magazine 5, reference is irst made to Figures 5 and S wh~rein its lower member 7 is illustrated from below and above, respectively.
The lower member 7 has a bottom 35, a front wall 36 and side walls 37 and 38. The bottom 35 has a central and longitudially extending raised portion 36a(see also Figure 13).; ~ pair of openings 39 and 40 may be provided in -the raised portion 36aso that the surgeon may view therethrough the row 11 of staples.
The openings 39 and 40 may Eurther be provided with arrow-like indicia, shlown at 41 which, in conjunction with number indicia 42, wi:ll enable the surgeon to make a relatively accurate approximation of the number oE staples remaining in the row 11 (see also Figure 3).
The upper edges of side walls 37 and 38 are lonyi-tudinally notched as at 43 and 44, respectively. These notches are adapted to cooperate with the appropriate one of the body notches 33 and 34 (Figure 4).
Similarly, front wall 36 has an upper surface 45 adapted to abut the lowermost edge of body front'wall 23 (see Figures 3 and 4).
Front wall 36 has formed therein a notch 46. This notch, i~ shown in Figures 2, 21 and 22, as well as in Figures 5 and 6.' The purpose of this notch will be apparent hereaf-ter. The ; bottom 35 terminates short of front wall 36, forming the opening 47. The inside surface 48 of front wall 36 slopes upwardly ànd rearwardly and ccnstitutes a part of the driver channel 14 (see Figure 3). Finally, the upper surface of bottom 35 is provided with a plurality o~ substantially conical dep'ressions, , ' sh;own at 49 in Figure 6. The purpose of these depressions will be apparent,in the discussion of the upper member 8 of magazine
5, next to follow.
The upper member 8 of the magazine 5 is shown Erom both the bottom and top in Figures 7 and 8, respectively. The upper member 8 constitutes an elongated structure having a ~ongitu~inal slot 50 extending from its rearward end toward its forward .
end. At the rearward end of upper member 8 the sIot 50 is spanned by an inverted U-shaped member 51. At its forward end the upper member~terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly sloping wall 52 having a notch 53 formed therein. The notch 53 ls of a widthl to just nicely accommodate the staple ' driver 15. The notch 53 foxms a part of the staple driver channel 14 (see Figure 3). Centrally of notch 53 there is located a lug 54, the lowermost surface 54a of which serves as a staple retaining surface, as will be later described.
Extending rearwardly of front wall 52, the upper magazine member 8 is provided alon~ each ~f its sides with a downwardly depending side wall. The side walls are shown at 55 and 56 in Figures 7, 8 and 13. The side walls 55 and 56 are integral with .
~ ~.. . ._ .. . .
9~L
front wall 52 and are at the same time in-tegral with thé
remainder of upper member a by virtue of webs 57 and 58. The lowermost edge of side wall 55 is provided with a plurality of lugs 59 which extend downwardly from the side wall 55 by a distance subsantially equivalent to the thickness of anvll plate 9 (Figure 3). Each lug 59 has a substantially conical extension 60. In similar fashion, the lower edge of sicle wall 56 is provided with a plurality of lugs 61, equivalent to the l~ugs 59 and having conical extensions 62 equivalent to conical extensions 60. As is true of lower member 7, upper member 8 lends itself well to being molded of a plastic material appropriate for use in a surgical environment.
The anvil plate 9 is shown in plan in Figure 9. The anvil plate 9 is preferably formed of an appropriat`e me-tal for use in a surgical environmen-t, such as stainless steel or the li]ce.
The anvil plate 9 has a cross section approximating that of the bottom 35 of lower magazine member 7. To this end, the anvil plate 9 has a longitudinally extending raised~center - portion 63. The raised central portion 63 is provided with a pair of longitudinal slots 64 and 65, corresponding to the longitudinal slots 39 and 40 in the lower magazine member 7.
Slots 64 and 65 also enable the surgeon to view the row of staples 11 from the underside of magazine 5.
At its forwardmost end the anvil plate 9 is provided with an extension 66. q'he extension 66 is an integral, one-piece part o the raised central portion 63 and lies at a slight angle thereto. This can readily be seen in Figure 3. I'he upper surface of extension 66 constitutes anvil surface 10 which is coextensive~with the upper surface of the central raised portion 63 of the anvll plate and is angled slightly upwardly , Z4~
and outwardly therefrom, as indicated ,above. The central raised portion 63 of anvil plate 9 is of such width and helght that it can be conveniently straddled~by the staples of row 11.
The cen-tral raised portion 63 is a'lso intended to be straddled ' by feeder shoe 12 (see Figure 3).
Feeder shoe,12 is most clearly shown in Fiyure 10, the f~eeder shoé comprises a substantially planar elemen-t having downwardly depending legs 67 and 68. At its rearward ed~e, the feeder shoe 12 is provided with an upstanding lug 69 notched at ltS vertical edges, as at 70 and 71. The feeder shoe 12 is preferably made of metal such as stainless steel.
In assembling the s.taple mayazine 5, the anvil plate 9 is first inserted in the lower magazine'member 7, resting upon the bottom 35 thereof. Returniny to Fig~ure 9, it'will be noted that the longitudinal edges of anvil plate 9 are provided with a plurality of no-tches 72. When the anvil plate.
is located in the lower magazi~e member 7, the notches 72 will expose the depressions 49 formed in the bottom 35 of the lower magazine member 7. Also, as stated above, the longitudinal slots 64 and 65 of anvil plate 9 will overlie the longitudinal slots.39 and 40 of the lower magazine member 7.
Thereafter, the upper magazine member 8 is located in and . fits just nicely within the lower mayazine member 7, as'is shown,in Figure 12. The upper magazine member 8 will overlie anvil plate 9 and will be spaced upwardly therefrom b~ a distance suficient to accommodate the row oE staples 11.
The lower edges of side walls 55 and 56 of the upper magaz.ine member will rest upon the longitudinal edyes of anvil ~late 9.
The anvil plate notches 72 are sized so as to permit the passage therethrouyh of the luys 59 of side walls 55 and the ' ,, ~ ' - , , ' 12 . , ' ~z~
lugs 61 of side wall 56 of -the upper maga%ine member 8. The , conical extensions 60 and 62 are received within the depressions 49 of lower magazine member 7 and may,,be appropriately affixed therein by welding, adhesive means or the like~ The passage ' .
of the upper magazine member lugs 59 and 61 through the notches 72 of the anvil plate 9 will lock -the anvil plate in its proper~posltion within the magazine 5.
, It will be noted from the Figures, and particularly Figure 3, that the front wall 5G of the upper magazine member 8 will abut the inside surface 48 of the lower magazine member front wall 36. As a result of this, the remainder of the inside surface 48 of the lower magazine member front wall 36 and the notch 53 in the eront wall 52 of the upper magaz,ine member 8 will form the driver channel 14 shown in Figure 3. The~ anvi.l surface 10 of the anvil plate extension 66 will lie directly under the driv,er channel 14. The lug 54 in -the notch 53 at the ~orward end of the upper magazine memb~r 8 will also abut the'inside' surface 48 of the front wall 36 of the lower magazine member 7.
Its staple retaining surface 54a will be oriented in parallel spaced relationship to anvil surface 10.
With the magazine elements 7, 8 and 9 thus assembled, a row of staples 11 may be introduced therein from the rearward end of the maya~ine. As indicated above, each staple of row 11 is adapted to straddle the raised central portion 63 of anvil plate 9. The row of staples 11 is enclosed by virtue of the fac-t that the upper magazine portion 8 overlies all but the ' , longitudinal central portion of the row of staples 11.
With the row 11 of staples located within the magazine 5, the'feeder shoe 12 may nex-t be inserted into the magazine at its rearward end. As is -true of the row ll of staples, , , 13 . '` ' .
.
,~
the feeder shoe 12 is intended to stracldle the raised.central , , portion 63 of an~il plate 9. In similar fashion, the upper magazine member 8 overlies the feeder shoe 12, The upstanding lug 69 of the feeder shoe will extend upwardly throuyh the longitudinal slot 50 of the upper magazine member 8.~ The ; .inverted U-shaped portion 51 of the upper magazine member 8 is of such height as to permit the :Eeeder shoe lug 69 to pass thereunder.
The purpose of feeder shoe 12 is to constantly urge the 10 row 11 of staples toward anvil surface 10 of anvil plate ~ to lo;cated the forwardmost staple of raw 11 on anvil ~urface 10.
When the forwardmost staple is formed about anvil surface 10 by stap,le dr.iver 15, the next succeeding staple of row 11 will be shifted by feeder shoe 12 to anvil surface 10, assisting in the disengagement o the Eormed staple therefrom. To enable this action of feeder shoe 12, the double-coil spring 13 is provlded. The spring is most clearly shown in Figure 11. It comprises a pair of coils 73 and 74 which are formed from the same band of coil spring material and therefore are inter-connected. The coils 73 and 74 are biased to their coiled condition and hence resist being uncoiled. Nevertheless, they : may be uncoiledlto form a loop 75 therebetween, The loop 75 ' is configured to extend about the upstanding lug 6g of feeder shoe 12, engaying the notches 70 and 71 therein.
Turning to Figure 8, it wiIl be noted that the upper surface .
of the upper magazine'member 8, immediately behind front wall 52, has a pair of circular sockets 76 and 77 formed therein, As is most clearly shown in Figure 12, the sockets 76 and 77 are adapted to acoommoda-te coils 73 and 74, respectively. The tendency oE coil 73 and 74 to -tighten , ' ~ .
~ - ~ 14 ' ' .
-will cause the loop portion 75 of spring 13 to constantly urge feeder shoe 12 and thus the row of s-taples 11 -toward the forward end of the car-tridge 5 and toward the anvil surfa~e 10.
Reference is now made to Figures 14 and 15 wherein the assembly of the staple driver 15 and the staple driver actuator ; 17 is illustra-ted. Staple driver 15 comprises an elongated plate preferably made of metal suitable for a surgical environment such as stainless steel or the like. The plate is provLded wlth a series of notches 78 through 81 extending inwardly from its longitudinal sides. It is also provided, at its upper end, with a rectangular perforation 82. At its lowermost end, the staple driver 15 has a first notch 83 formed therein. This notch is so sized as to cause the forming of a staple about anvil surface 10, as will be described hereinafter. The notch"83 leads to a second and narrower notch 84 which simply serves as a clearance notch for the lug 5~ in the staple driver channel 14 of magazine 5.
The staple driver actuator 17 comprises an inverted U-shaped element which may be molded of appropriate plastic ma-terial.
On its forward face,~the staple driver actuator 17 is provided with a plurality of undercut forwardly extending lugs 85 through 88 adapted to b~ accommodated in staple driver notches 78 through 81, respectively. Near its upper end the forward face of staple driver actuator 17 is provided with yet another undercut lug 89.
It will be noted that the lug 89 is undercut oppositely from the manner in which lugs 85 through 88 are undercut. The lug 89 is resilient and is adapted to extend through the rectangular perforation 82 in staple driver 14. In this way, each of lugs 85 through 89 of staple driver actuator 15 cooperates with its respective one of notches 78 through 81 , .
~ 15 , and perforati.on 82 in staple driver 15 to provide a snap enyageme~t of the staple driver actuator 17 on the staple driver 15. ' The staple driver actuator 17'has a centrally located, downwardly depending cylindrical lu~ 90 which constitutes a seat for the upp,er end of return spring 18 (see Figure 3).
The staple driver actuator 17 ,also has a pair of coaxial, laterally extendiny, cylindrical lugs 91 and 92 which ar~
intended to extend throuyh the slots 28 and 29, respectively, of the forward portion 4 of the instrument body 2. The lugs 91 and 92 enable engagement of the staple driver actuator 15 by trigger 6, as will be~shown. ~ ' In Figure 16, return spring 18 is illustrated together with the seat 19 therefor. The return spring~l8 is a ' metallic coil compression spring. The spring seat 19 has an upper surface 93 from which extends a cylindrical lug 94 adapted to be inserted in the lower end of return spring 18 to maintain that end of -th~ return spriny in place. Fiyure 17 illustrates the assembly of the s-taple driver 15, staple driver actuator 17, return spriny 18 and spring seat 19. It will be noted that the upper end of return spring 18 receives the cylindrical lug 90 ,of the staple driver actuator 17. Thus, return,spriny 18 is maintained in place by luys 90 and -94 ~nd~will tend to urye the staple driver actuator 17 away from spring seat 19, thus urging the staple driver 15 to its retracted position shown in Figure 3.
The spriny seat 19 has a flat bottom surface 95 and is adapted to be supported on that area of the upper magazine member 8 surrounding sockets 76 and 77 (see Fiyures 8 and 12).
' 30 When so located, the spring seat lies between the rear surface ' ' . .
.~ .
.: .
.
of the forwarcl wall 52 of the upper magazine member 8 and a pair of lugs 96 and ~7 formed on the upper surface of the upper magazine member 8 just behind sockets 76 and 77. To assure that the spring seat is properly centered on the upper magazine member 8, the upper magazine member 8 has a lug 99 extending rearwardly of the rear surface of its forward wall 52. This lug 99 is adapted to be received in a slot 100 in the spriny seat 19 ~see Figures 16 and 17). It will be noted by one skilled in the art that once the spring seat 19 is properly located on the upper magazine member 8, as shown in Fiyure 3, it will overlie sockets 76 and 77 thus serving to maintain the coils 73 and 74 of spring 13 in the sockets.
Reference is now made to Figure 18 wherein trigger 6 is most clearly shown. The trigger 6 has a rear~ard portion 101 constituting a handle portion. The forward portion of trigger 6 is bifurca-ted bifurcations 102 and 103 lying in para.llel -spaced relationship. As in the case oE body 2, the trigger 6 may be molded of an appropriate plastic material. ;The trigger
The upper member 8 of the magazine 5 is shown Erom both the bottom and top in Figures 7 and 8, respectively. The upper member 8 constitutes an elongated structure having a ~ongitu~inal slot 50 extending from its rearward end toward its forward .
end. At the rearward end of upper member 8 the sIot 50 is spanned by an inverted U-shaped member 51. At its forward end the upper member~terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly sloping wall 52 having a notch 53 formed therein. The notch 53 ls of a widthl to just nicely accommodate the staple ' driver 15. The notch 53 foxms a part of the staple driver channel 14 (see Figure 3). Centrally of notch 53 there is located a lug 54, the lowermost surface 54a of which serves as a staple retaining surface, as will be later described.
Extending rearwardly of front wall 52, the upper magazine member 8 is provided alon~ each ~f its sides with a downwardly depending side wall. The side walls are shown at 55 and 56 in Figures 7, 8 and 13. The side walls 55 and 56 are integral with .
~ ~.. . ._ .. . .
9~L
front wall 52 and are at the same time in-tegral with thé
remainder of upper member a by virtue of webs 57 and 58. The lowermost edge of side wall 55 is provided with a plurality of lugs 59 which extend downwardly from the side wall 55 by a distance subsantially equivalent to the thickness of anvll plate 9 (Figure 3). Each lug 59 has a substantially conical extension 60. In similar fashion, the lower edge of sicle wall 56 is provided with a plurality of lugs 61, equivalent to the l~ugs 59 and having conical extensions 62 equivalent to conical extensions 60. As is true of lower member 7, upper member 8 lends itself well to being molded of a plastic material appropriate for use in a surgical environment.
The anvil plate 9 is shown in plan in Figure 9. The anvil plate 9 is preferably formed of an appropriat`e me-tal for use in a surgical environmen-t, such as stainless steel or the li]ce.
The anvil plate 9 has a cross section approximating that of the bottom 35 of lower magazine member 7. To this end, the anvil plate 9 has a longitudinally extending raised~center - portion 63. The raised central portion 63 is provided with a pair of longitudinal slots 64 and 65, corresponding to the longitudinal slots 39 and 40 in the lower magazine member 7.
Slots 64 and 65 also enable the surgeon to view the row of staples 11 from the underside of magazine 5.
At its forwardmost end the anvil plate 9 is provided with an extension 66. q'he extension 66 is an integral, one-piece part o the raised central portion 63 and lies at a slight angle thereto. This can readily be seen in Figure 3. I'he upper surface of extension 66 constitutes anvil surface 10 which is coextensive~with the upper surface of the central raised portion 63 of the anvll plate and is angled slightly upwardly , Z4~
and outwardly therefrom, as indicated ,above. The central raised portion 63 of anvil plate 9 is of such width and helght that it can be conveniently straddled~by the staples of row 11.
The cen-tral raised portion 63 is a'lso intended to be straddled ' by feeder shoe 12 (see Figure 3).
Feeder shoe,12 is most clearly shown in Fiyure 10, the f~eeder shoé comprises a substantially planar elemen-t having downwardly depending legs 67 and 68. At its rearward ed~e, the feeder shoe 12 is provided with an upstanding lug 69 notched at ltS vertical edges, as at 70 and 71. The feeder shoe 12 is preferably made of metal such as stainless steel.
In assembling the s.taple mayazine 5, the anvil plate 9 is first inserted in the lower magazine'member 7, resting upon the bottom 35 thereof. Returniny to Fig~ure 9, it'will be noted that the longitudinal edges of anvil plate 9 are provided with a plurality of no-tches 72. When the anvil plate.
is located in the lower magazi~e member 7, the notches 72 will expose the depressions 49 formed in the bottom 35 of the lower magazine member 7. Also, as stated above, the longitudinal slots 64 and 65 of anvil plate 9 will overlie the longitudinal slots.39 and 40 of the lower magazine member 7.
Thereafter, the upper magazine member 8 is located in and . fits just nicely within the lower mayazine member 7, as'is shown,in Figure 12. The upper magazine member 8 will overlie anvil plate 9 and will be spaced upwardly therefrom b~ a distance suficient to accommodate the row oE staples 11.
The lower edges of side walls 55 and 56 of the upper magaz.ine member will rest upon the longitudinal edyes of anvil ~late 9.
The anvil plate notches 72 are sized so as to permit the passage therethrouyh of the luys 59 of side walls 55 and the ' ,, ~ ' - , , ' 12 . , ' ~z~
lugs 61 of side wall 56 of -the upper maga%ine member 8. The , conical extensions 60 and 62 are received within the depressions 49 of lower magazine member 7 and may,,be appropriately affixed therein by welding, adhesive means or the like~ The passage ' .
of the upper magazine member lugs 59 and 61 through the notches 72 of the anvil plate 9 will lock -the anvil plate in its proper~posltion within the magazine 5.
, It will be noted from the Figures, and particularly Figure 3, that the front wall 5G of the upper magazine member 8 will abut the inside surface 48 of the lower magazine member front wall 36. As a result of this, the remainder of the inside surface 48 of the lower magazine member front wall 36 and the notch 53 in the eront wall 52 of the upper magaz,ine member 8 will form the driver channel 14 shown in Figure 3. The~ anvi.l surface 10 of the anvil plate extension 66 will lie directly under the driv,er channel 14. The lug 54 in -the notch 53 at the ~orward end of the upper magazine memb~r 8 will also abut the'inside' surface 48 of the front wall 36 of the lower magazine member 7.
Its staple retaining surface 54a will be oriented in parallel spaced relationship to anvil surface 10.
With the magazine elements 7, 8 and 9 thus assembled, a row of staples 11 may be introduced therein from the rearward end of the maya~ine. As indicated above, each staple of row 11 is adapted to straddle the raised central portion 63 of anvil plate 9. The row of staples 11 is enclosed by virtue of the fac-t that the upper magazine portion 8 overlies all but the ' , longitudinal central portion of the row of staples 11.
With the row 11 of staples located within the magazine 5, the'feeder shoe 12 may nex-t be inserted into the magazine at its rearward end. As is -true of the row ll of staples, , , 13 . '` ' .
.
,~
the feeder shoe 12 is intended to stracldle the raised.central , , portion 63 of an~il plate 9. In similar fashion, the upper magazine member 8 overlies the feeder shoe 12, The upstanding lug 69 of the feeder shoe will extend upwardly throuyh the longitudinal slot 50 of the upper magazine member 8.~ The ; .inverted U-shaped portion 51 of the upper magazine member 8 is of such height as to permit the :Eeeder shoe lug 69 to pass thereunder.
The purpose of feeder shoe 12 is to constantly urge the 10 row 11 of staples toward anvil surface 10 of anvil plate ~ to lo;cated the forwardmost staple of raw 11 on anvil ~urface 10.
When the forwardmost staple is formed about anvil surface 10 by stap,le dr.iver 15, the next succeeding staple of row 11 will be shifted by feeder shoe 12 to anvil surface 10, assisting in the disengagement o the Eormed staple therefrom. To enable this action of feeder shoe 12, the double-coil spring 13 is provlded. The spring is most clearly shown in Figure 11. It comprises a pair of coils 73 and 74 which are formed from the same band of coil spring material and therefore are inter-connected. The coils 73 and 74 are biased to their coiled condition and hence resist being uncoiled. Nevertheless, they : may be uncoiledlto form a loop 75 therebetween, The loop 75 ' is configured to extend about the upstanding lug 6g of feeder shoe 12, engaying the notches 70 and 71 therein.
Turning to Figure 8, it wiIl be noted that the upper surface .
of the upper magazine'member 8, immediately behind front wall 52, has a pair of circular sockets 76 and 77 formed therein, As is most clearly shown in Figure 12, the sockets 76 and 77 are adapted to acoommoda-te coils 73 and 74, respectively. The tendency oE coil 73 and 74 to -tighten , ' ~ .
~ - ~ 14 ' ' .
-will cause the loop portion 75 of spring 13 to constantly urge feeder shoe 12 and thus the row of s-taples 11 -toward the forward end of the car-tridge 5 and toward the anvil surfa~e 10.
Reference is now made to Figures 14 and 15 wherein the assembly of the staple driver 15 and the staple driver actuator ; 17 is illustra-ted. Staple driver 15 comprises an elongated plate preferably made of metal suitable for a surgical environment such as stainless steel or the like. The plate is provLded wlth a series of notches 78 through 81 extending inwardly from its longitudinal sides. It is also provided, at its upper end, with a rectangular perforation 82. At its lowermost end, the staple driver 15 has a first notch 83 formed therein. This notch is so sized as to cause the forming of a staple about anvil surface 10, as will be described hereinafter. The notch"83 leads to a second and narrower notch 84 which simply serves as a clearance notch for the lug 5~ in the staple driver channel 14 of magazine 5.
The staple driver actuator 17 comprises an inverted U-shaped element which may be molded of appropriate plastic ma-terial.
On its forward face,~the staple driver actuator 17 is provided with a plurality of undercut forwardly extending lugs 85 through 88 adapted to b~ accommodated in staple driver notches 78 through 81, respectively. Near its upper end the forward face of staple driver actuator 17 is provided with yet another undercut lug 89.
It will be noted that the lug 89 is undercut oppositely from the manner in which lugs 85 through 88 are undercut. The lug 89 is resilient and is adapted to extend through the rectangular perforation 82 in staple driver 14. In this way, each of lugs 85 through 89 of staple driver actuator 15 cooperates with its respective one of notches 78 through 81 , .
~ 15 , and perforati.on 82 in staple driver 15 to provide a snap enyageme~t of the staple driver actuator 17 on the staple driver 15. ' The staple driver actuator 17'has a centrally located, downwardly depending cylindrical lu~ 90 which constitutes a seat for the upp,er end of return spring 18 (see Figure 3).
The staple driver actuator 17 ,also has a pair of coaxial, laterally extendiny, cylindrical lugs 91 and 92 which ar~
intended to extend throuyh the slots 28 and 29, respectively, of the forward portion 4 of the instrument body 2. The lugs 91 and 92 enable engagement of the staple driver actuator 15 by trigger 6, as will be~shown. ~ ' In Figure 16, return spring 18 is illustrated together with the seat 19 therefor. The return spring~l8 is a ' metallic coil compression spring. The spring seat 19 has an upper surface 93 from which extends a cylindrical lug 94 adapted to be inserted in the lower end of return spring 18 to maintain that end of -th~ return spriny in place. Fiyure 17 illustrates the assembly of the s-taple driver 15, staple driver actuator 17, return spriny 18 and spring seat 19. It will be noted that the upper end of return spring 18 receives the cylindrical lug 90 ,of the staple driver actuator 17. Thus, return,spriny 18 is maintained in place by luys 90 and -94 ~nd~will tend to urye the staple driver actuator 17 away from spring seat 19, thus urging the staple driver 15 to its retracted position shown in Figure 3.
The spriny seat 19 has a flat bottom surface 95 and is adapted to be supported on that area of the upper magazine member 8 surrounding sockets 76 and 77 (see Fiyures 8 and 12).
' 30 When so located, the spring seat lies between the rear surface ' ' . .
.~ .
.: .
.
of the forwarcl wall 52 of the upper magazine member 8 and a pair of lugs 96 and ~7 formed on the upper surface of the upper magazine member 8 just behind sockets 76 and 77. To assure that the spring seat is properly centered on the upper magazine member 8, the upper magazine member 8 has a lug 99 extending rearwardly of the rear surface of its forward wall 52. This lug 99 is adapted to be received in a slot 100 in the spriny seat 19 ~see Figures 16 and 17). It will be noted by one skilled in the art that once the spring seat 19 is properly located on the upper magazine member 8, as shown in Fiyure 3, it will overlie sockets 76 and 77 thus serving to maintain the coils 73 and 74 of spring 13 in the sockets.
Reference is now made to Figure 18 wherein trigger 6 is most clearly shown. The trigger 6 has a rear~ard portion 101 constituting a handle portion. The forward portion of trigger 6 is bifurca-ted bifurcations 102 and 103 lying in para.llel -spaced relationship. As in the case oE body 2, the trigger 6 may be molded of an appropriate plastic material. ;The trigger
6 is provided with a pivot pin 104 which joins and i~ an 20 integral part of bifurcations 1-02 and 103. The pin 104 is of reduced diameter i.mmediately adjacent bifurcation 102, as at 105. It is similarly of reduced diameter immediately adjacent bifurcation 103 (not shown). The portion lOS oE reduced cliameter is adapted to be received in notch 27 in side wall 22 of the instrument body 2 (see Figure 4). The portion of reduced diameter (not.shown) adjacent bifuraction 103 is similarly intended to be received within the notch 26 in side wall 21 of instrument body 2. When.the magazine 5 is mounted on the forward portion 4 of instrument body 2 the enlarged portions of pivot pin 104 will rest upon the upper surface of 1~L2Z~
the magazine. In this way, the trigger 6 is pivo-tally affixed to the instrument body 2 and is held in place by the magazine , , 5. ~`he central portion of pivot pin 104 may also be of reduced diameter, as at 106. This will provide clearance for the upstanding lug 69 of feeder shoe 12.
The forwardmost ends of bifurcations 102 and lQ3 are provided with slots which do not pass completely through the `bifurcations. These slots are shown in Fiyure 18 at 107! and 108. The slots 107~and 108 are intended to just nicelyl receive the ends of cylindrical lugs 91 and 92 of the staple driver actuator 17, the ends of lugs 91 and 92 extending, b,eyond the instrument body side walls 21 and 22 throuqh slots 28 and 29 therein, respectively. ~s a consequence, the trigger 6 is pivotally ~ffixed to the instrument body 2 and is operatively connected to the staple driver actuator 17 ànd thus staple driver 15.
Turning to Figures 1 and 3, the surgical stapling instrument is therein shown in its normal, un-actuated condition. The~
staple driver 15 and staple driver actuator 17,are,ln their retracted positions and trigger 6 is in ltS normal position.
These elements are maintain in these posi-tions by return spring 18.' It will be evident from Figures 1 and 2, however, that if - trigger 6 is s~if-ted to i.ts actuated position in abutment with lug 25 at the rearward end of instrument body 2, it will ~pivot in a counter-clockwise dir,ection about pivot pin 104 (as viewed in Figures 1 and 3). The Eorward ends o~ bifurcations 102 and 103, by virtue of their engagement with lugs 91 and 92 of staple driver actuator 17 will cause the staple driver actuator 17 and thus staple driver l5 to shift downwardly within ,the forward portion 4 of the instrument body 2, the lowel end of s-taple driver 15 shifting downwardly in staple driver channel 14 ~, .. . .
,~ . .
4~
toward anvi:l surface 10 and to its staple forming position. ' ' During shifting of the staple driver 15 (and hence staple driver actutor 17) between its retracted and its staple forming positions, the trigger bifurcation slots 107 and 108 are so sized as to _ause staple driver actuator lugs 91 and 92 to ridé along those portions 23a of slot 28 and 29a o~ slot 29. This will assure, that that portion of staple' driver 15 between staple driver actuator lugs 78 through 81 will ride against the integral guide rails 30 and 31 of the 1~ instrument body forward wall 23. Guide rails 30 and 31 are sp,a'ced so as to be jus-t nicely received between t~e stapIe driver actuator lugs 78 and 79 and the staple driver actuator lugs 80 and 81 with staple driver actua-tor lug 82 loca5ed between rails 30 and 31. All of this assures that the staple drive~ shifts between its retracted and its staple forming positions in proper alignment with the staple driver ahannel 1~.
In Figure 19 there is shown a typical surgical staple for use with the instrument of the present invention. The staple ,~ is shown in its unformed condition'and is generally indicated at 109. Initially, the staple comprises an elongated crown 110 and a pair of downwardly depending legs 111 and 112 which, at their forward~ost ends are diagonally cut so as to be pointed.
In Figure 20, the stap]e of Figure 19 is shown in its fully formed condition and implanted in'the skin 113 of a patient , 25 to suture the wound 11~. In its fully formed condition, the legs 111 and 112 of the staple are inturned and opposed, portions llOa and llOb oE the original crown 110 having been bent d,ownwardly. It is this downward bending of the staple portions llOa and llOb that is accomplished by staple driver ' 15, the staple driver,15 bending the portions llOa and llOb of ~ . . .
~,, ~ ~2~9~
.
staple 109 about anvil surface 10.
The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention comes to the surgeon with its magazine containing a predet,ermine~
number of staples and the entire assembly having been appropriately , sterilized.
Figure 2I is a fragmentary front elevationa,l view of the s~rgical stapling instrument of the present invention illustrating the instrument body, 2 the surgical staple driver 15 and~the magazine 5. In Figure 21, a forwardmost staple 115 of the row 11 thereof is shown mounted on the anvil surface 1.0 of the extension 66 of anvil plate 9. ~s indicated above,:
since the anv.il surface 10 is an integral, one-piece part of .anvil plate ~ and by virtue of feeder.shoe 12 and double-coil spring 13, the Eorwardmost staple of the row 11 thereof will always be properly located on an,vil surface 10. It will be evident from Figure 21 that the unformed forwardmost ~staple 115 is wider than the notch 46 in the forwardmost ; wall 36 of the magazine lower member 7 and therefor.,is maintained,on anvil surface 10 by virtue of its abutment against the inside surface 48 of the forwardmost wall 36 of I . ' the lower`magazine member 7 and by abutment with the row of staples behind it.
The surgeon need only properly locate the surgical' stapling .instrument over the wound, utili~ing the indicia arrow 32 25 , (Figure 2) as a guide. Once the instrument 1 is properly located, the surgeon shifts trigger 6 from its normal position to its actuated position. As explained above, this will cause a downward shifting o staple driver actuator 17 which, in turn, will cause shifting of staple driver 15 from its,normal position to its staFle forming position.
Fig~ure 22 differs from Figure 21 only in that the s-taple , , 20 driver 15 is illustrated in its staple forming position. By virtue of the engagement of the crown of staple 115 by the' staple driver notch 83, the staple will be formed about anvil surface 10 in the manner described with respect to Figure 20.
During the initial bending of the crown of staple 115, its tendency to, arch or bow upwardly and away from anvil surface 10 will be precluded by staple retaining surface 54a of the lug 5 of upper magazine men~er 8.
When the staple 115 is fully formed as shown in Figure 22 it will be firmly implanted in the skin or fascia of the p~atient.
The surgeon thereafter releases his grip on trigger 6, permitting it to be returned to its normal position by return sprLng 18.
At the same time, the staple driver actuator 17 will return to its retracted position and staple driver 15 will shift from lts st~aple forming position to its retracted position in staple driver channel 14. It will be evident f~om Figure 22 that staple 115 i~ its fully formed condition can now readily pass through the notch 46 in the front wall 36 of the lower magazine member 7.
The forward urging of the next succeeding s-taple in the row 20 11 thereof by feeder shoe 12 and its spring 13 will cause the next succeeding staple to,assist the fully formed staple to become diseng~ged from anvil surface 10. The surgical stapling instrument is then in condition to form and implant the next staple.
From the above description it will be evident that the force required to shif-t trigger 6 from its normal to its actuated position is only tha-t much as is required to shift the driver from its retracted to its staple forming position, resulting in the forming ~f the forwardmost staple about anvil surface 10. No part of the force applied to the trigger is required to shift a stap~e .
. .
__ z~
to the anvil surface 10 since this is accomplished solely and automatically by the feeder shoe 12 and its spring 13.
The surgical stapling instrument'of the present inve~tion has been described in its disposable form, all parts of the surgical stapling instrument ~with the exception of the anvil plate 9, feeder shoe 12, spring 13, return spring 18 and staple driver 15) being readily formable of an appropriate plastic material. It, of course, would be within the skill of the worker in the art to make the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention in a reusable form,. This "would requixe that means be provlded,to detachably mount the magazine ,5 on the instrument body 2 so that it could be ' replaced. Similarly, the upper and lowér members 7 and 8 of the magazine 5 could be detachably afEixed to~ether so that the magazine could be disassembled for reloading.
~Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from~the spirit of it.
:
I
~ 25 ' ~`, .
the magazine. In this way, the trigger 6 is pivo-tally affixed to the instrument body 2 and is held in place by the magazine , , 5. ~`he central portion of pivot pin 104 may also be of reduced diameter, as at 106. This will provide clearance for the upstanding lug 69 of feeder shoe 12.
The forwardmost ends of bifurcations 102 and lQ3 are provided with slots which do not pass completely through the `bifurcations. These slots are shown in Fiyure 18 at 107! and 108. The slots 107~and 108 are intended to just nicelyl receive the ends of cylindrical lugs 91 and 92 of the staple driver actuator 17, the ends of lugs 91 and 92 extending, b,eyond the instrument body side walls 21 and 22 throuqh slots 28 and 29 therein, respectively. ~s a consequence, the trigger 6 is pivotally ~ffixed to the instrument body 2 and is operatively connected to the staple driver actuator 17 ànd thus staple driver 15.
Turning to Figures 1 and 3, the surgical stapling instrument is therein shown in its normal, un-actuated condition. The~
staple driver 15 and staple driver actuator 17,are,ln their retracted positions and trigger 6 is in ltS normal position.
These elements are maintain in these posi-tions by return spring 18.' It will be evident from Figures 1 and 2, however, that if - trigger 6 is s~if-ted to i.ts actuated position in abutment with lug 25 at the rearward end of instrument body 2, it will ~pivot in a counter-clockwise dir,ection about pivot pin 104 (as viewed in Figures 1 and 3). The Eorward ends o~ bifurcations 102 and 103, by virtue of their engagement with lugs 91 and 92 of staple driver actuator 17 will cause the staple driver actuator 17 and thus staple driver l5 to shift downwardly within ,the forward portion 4 of the instrument body 2, the lowel end of s-taple driver 15 shifting downwardly in staple driver channel 14 ~, .. . .
,~ . .
4~
toward anvi:l surface 10 and to its staple forming position. ' ' During shifting of the staple driver 15 (and hence staple driver actutor 17) between its retracted and its staple forming positions, the trigger bifurcation slots 107 and 108 are so sized as to _ause staple driver actuator lugs 91 and 92 to ridé along those portions 23a of slot 28 and 29a o~ slot 29. This will assure, that that portion of staple' driver 15 between staple driver actuator lugs 78 through 81 will ride against the integral guide rails 30 and 31 of the 1~ instrument body forward wall 23. Guide rails 30 and 31 are sp,a'ced so as to be jus-t nicely received between t~e stapIe driver actuator lugs 78 and 79 and the staple driver actuator lugs 80 and 81 with staple driver actua-tor lug 82 loca5ed between rails 30 and 31. All of this assures that the staple drive~ shifts between its retracted and its staple forming positions in proper alignment with the staple driver ahannel 1~.
In Figure 19 there is shown a typical surgical staple for use with the instrument of the present invention. The staple ,~ is shown in its unformed condition'and is generally indicated at 109. Initially, the staple comprises an elongated crown 110 and a pair of downwardly depending legs 111 and 112 which, at their forward~ost ends are diagonally cut so as to be pointed.
In Figure 20, the stap]e of Figure 19 is shown in its fully formed condition and implanted in'the skin 113 of a patient , 25 to suture the wound 11~. In its fully formed condition, the legs 111 and 112 of the staple are inturned and opposed, portions llOa and llOb oE the original crown 110 having been bent d,ownwardly. It is this downward bending of the staple portions llOa and llOb that is accomplished by staple driver ' 15, the staple driver,15 bending the portions llOa and llOb of ~ . . .
~,, ~ ~2~9~
.
staple 109 about anvil surface 10.
The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention comes to the surgeon with its magazine containing a predet,ermine~
number of staples and the entire assembly having been appropriately , sterilized.
Figure 2I is a fragmentary front elevationa,l view of the s~rgical stapling instrument of the present invention illustrating the instrument body, 2 the surgical staple driver 15 and~the magazine 5. In Figure 21, a forwardmost staple 115 of the row 11 thereof is shown mounted on the anvil surface 1.0 of the extension 66 of anvil plate 9. ~s indicated above,:
since the anv.il surface 10 is an integral, one-piece part of .anvil plate ~ and by virtue of feeder.shoe 12 and double-coil spring 13, the Eorwardmost staple of the row 11 thereof will always be properly located on an,vil surface 10. It will be evident from Figure 21 that the unformed forwardmost ~staple 115 is wider than the notch 46 in the forwardmost ; wall 36 of the magazine lower member 7 and therefor.,is maintained,on anvil surface 10 by virtue of its abutment against the inside surface 48 of the forwardmost wall 36 of I . ' the lower`magazine member 7 and by abutment with the row of staples behind it.
The surgeon need only properly locate the surgical' stapling .instrument over the wound, utili~ing the indicia arrow 32 25 , (Figure 2) as a guide. Once the instrument 1 is properly located, the surgeon shifts trigger 6 from its normal position to its actuated position. As explained above, this will cause a downward shifting o staple driver actuator 17 which, in turn, will cause shifting of staple driver 15 from its,normal position to its staFle forming position.
Fig~ure 22 differs from Figure 21 only in that the s-taple , , 20 driver 15 is illustrated in its staple forming position. By virtue of the engagement of the crown of staple 115 by the' staple driver notch 83, the staple will be formed about anvil surface 10 in the manner described with respect to Figure 20.
During the initial bending of the crown of staple 115, its tendency to, arch or bow upwardly and away from anvil surface 10 will be precluded by staple retaining surface 54a of the lug 5 of upper magazine men~er 8.
When the staple 115 is fully formed as shown in Figure 22 it will be firmly implanted in the skin or fascia of the p~atient.
The surgeon thereafter releases his grip on trigger 6, permitting it to be returned to its normal position by return sprLng 18.
At the same time, the staple driver actuator 17 will return to its retracted position and staple driver 15 will shift from lts st~aple forming position to its retracted position in staple driver channel 14. It will be evident f~om Figure 22 that staple 115 i~ its fully formed condition can now readily pass through the notch 46 in the front wall 36 of the lower magazine member 7.
The forward urging of the next succeeding s-taple in the row 20 11 thereof by feeder shoe 12 and its spring 13 will cause the next succeeding staple to,assist the fully formed staple to become diseng~ged from anvil surface 10. The surgical stapling instrument is then in condition to form and implant the next staple.
From the above description it will be evident that the force required to shif-t trigger 6 from its normal to its actuated position is only tha-t much as is required to shift the driver from its retracted to its staple forming position, resulting in the forming ~f the forwardmost staple about anvil surface 10. No part of the force applied to the trigger is required to shift a stap~e .
. .
__ z~
to the anvil surface 10 since this is accomplished solely and automatically by the feeder shoe 12 and its spring 13.
The surgical stapling instrument'of the present inve~tion has been described in its disposable form, all parts of the surgical stapling instrument ~with the exception of the anvil plate 9, feeder shoe 12, spring 13, return spring 18 and staple driver 15) being readily formable of an appropriate plastic material. It, of course, would be within the skill of the worker in the art to make the surgical stapling instrument of the present invention in a reusable form,. This "would requixe that means be provlded,to detachably mount the magazine ,5 on the instrument body 2 so that it could be ' replaced. Similarly, the upper and lowér members 7 and 8 of the magazine 5 could be detachably afEixed to~ether so that the magazine could be disassembled for reloading.
~Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from~the spirit of it.
:
I
~ 25 ' ~`, .
Claims (16)
1. A surgical stapling insturment for implanting and forming surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient, said instrument comprising an elongated body having a rear-ward portion constituting a handle portion and a forward portion, a staple driver and a staple driver actuator attached to said staple driver being housed within said body forward portion, a surgical staple magazine affixed to said body forward portion, an anvil plate mounted within said magazine, said anvil plate terminating at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface, a row of staples slidably mounted on said anvil plate, a feeder assembly mounted in said magazine to constantly urge and advance said row of staples along said anvil plate toward said anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of said row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by said driver and to disengage said forwardmost staple therefrom when formed, said staple driver being shiftable between a retracted position above said anvil surface and a staple forming position wherein it forms said forwardmost staple about said anvil surface, trigger means to shift said staple driver between said retracted and said staple forming positions, said trigger means being pivotally affixed to said body and operatively connected to said staple driver by way of said staple driver actuator, and means to bias said staple driver to said retracted position.
2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said feeder assembly mounted in said magazine to constantly urge and advance said row of staples along said anvil plate toward said anvil surface is independent of said trigger means.
3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein each staple of said row thereof comprises an elongated horizontal crown portion terminating at each of its ends in a downwardly depending leg portion, and including staple retaining means overlying said anvil surface to control the amount of bending of said crown portion of a staple being formed by said staple driver.
4. A surgical stapling instrument for implanting and forming surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient, said instrument comprising an elongated body having a top, sides and forward and rearward ends, said body having a rear-ward portion constituting a handle portion and a forward portion, a staple driver and a staple driver actuator attached to said staple driver being housed within said body forward portion, a surgical staple magazine affixed to said body forward portion at the lower edges of said body forward end and sides, an anvil plate mounted within said magazine and extending substantially the length thereof, said anvil plate terminating at its foward end in a coextensive anvil surface, a row of staples slidably mounted on said anvil plate, a feeder assembly mounted in said magazine to constantly urge and advance said row of staples along said anvil plate toward said anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of said row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by said driver and to disengage said forwardmost staple therefrom when formed, said magazine forming a channel for the lower end of said staple driver, said anvil surface being located beneath said channel, said staple driver being shiftable between a retracted position above said anvil surface and a staple forming position wherein it forms said forwardmost staple about said anvil surface, trigger means to shift said staple driver between said retracted and said staple forming positions, said trigger means being pivotally affixed to said body forward portion and operatively connected to said staple driver actuator, said trigger means being pivotable between a normal position wherein said staple driver is in its retracted position and an actuated position wherein said staple driver is in said staple forming position, and means to bias said staple driver to said retracted position and said trigger means to said normal position.
5. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said feeder assembly mounted in said magazine to constantly urge and advance said row of staples along said anvil plate toward said anvil surface is independent of said trigger means.
6. The structure claimed in claim 4 including a pair of lugs on said staple driver actuator extending laterally to either side thereof, each of said staple driver actuator lugs extending through a slot in the adjacent one of said body sides, said trigger having a rearward handle portion and a bifurcated forward portion, said bifurcations being located to either side of said body forward portion and being pivoted thereto, each of said bifurcations having a free end provided with a slot so sized as to receive the end of one of said staple driver actuator lugs.
7. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said means to bias said staple driver to its retracted position and said trigger to its normal position comprises a compression spring, a seat for one end of said compression spring, said seat being mounted on said surgical staple magazine, the other end of said compression spring engaging said staple driver actuator.
8. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said surgical staple magazine comprises upper and lower elongated members, said lower member having a bottom, side walls and a front wall spaced from said bottom, said anvil plate being mounted within said lower member on said bottom thereof and extending longitudinally thereof, said upper member having a top, down-wardly depending side walls and a front wall, said upper member having a forward face with a notch formed therein and extending from top to bottom thereof, said notch being of a width to accommodate said lower end of said staple driver, said upper member being mounted within said lower member above said anvil plate and with said forward face of its front wall abutting said front wall of said lower member, said notch in said forward face of said upper member front wall and said front wall of said lower member defining said channel for said lower end of said staple driver, a row of surgical staples slidably mounted on said anvil plate and beneath said upper member, said front wall of said lower member having a notch formed therein of such width as to permit the passage there-through of a staple from said anvil surface only after said staple has been formed about said anvil surface.
9. The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein said feeder assembly comprises a feeder shoe and a spring means therefor, said feeder shoe being slidably mounted on said anvil plate behind said row of staples and beneath said upper member, said top of said upper member having a longitudinal slot therein, a lug on said feeder shoe extending upwardly through said slot in said top of said magazine upper member, said spring being mounted at the forward end of said top of said upper member, said spring engaging said lug of said feeder shoe to constantly urge said feeder shoe forwardly along said anvil plate.
10. The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein each staple of said row thereof comprises an elongated horizontal crown portion terminating at its ends in downwardly depending leg portions, and including a lug located in and centrally of said notch formed in said forward face of said upper member, said lug overlying said anvil surface and comprising a staple retaining means to control the amount of bending of said crown portion of a staple being formed by said staple driver.
11. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said spring comprises a ribbon of spring metal spirally coiled at both ends, said forward portion of said top of said magazine upper member having a pair of sockets formed therein, each of said coils being located in one of said sockets, an intermediate portion of said spring passing about and engaging said feeder shoe lug.
12. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said staple driver, said anvil plate, said feeder shoe, said feeder shoe spring and said return spring are metallic, the remainder of said surgical stapling instrument being molded of plastic material.
13. The structure claimed in claim 9 including a pair of lugs on said staple driver actuator extending laterally to either side thereof, each of said staple driver actuator lugs extending through a slot in the adjacent one of said body sides, said trigger having a rearward handle portion and a bifurcated forward portion, said bifurcations being located to either side of said body forward portion and being pivoted thereto, each of said bifurcations having a free end provided with a slot so sized as to receive the end of one of said staple driver actuator lugs.
14. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said means to bias said staple driver to its retracted position and said trigger to its normal position comprises a compression spring, a seat for one end of said compression spring, said seat being mounted on said surgical staple magazine, the other end of said compression spring engaging said staple driver actuator.
15. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said lower member of said magazine has at least one central longitudinal slot in said bottom thereof, said anvil plate having at least one central longitudinally extending slot therein overlying said at least one slot in said lower member, whereby said row of staples can be viewed from the underside of said magazine.
16. The structure claimed in claim 11 wherein said means to bias said staple driver to its retracted position and said trigger to its normal position comprises a compression spring, a seat for one end of said compression spring, said seat being mounted on said top of said upper magazine member overlying said sockets and said feeder shoe spring coils therein, the other end of said compression spring engaging said staple driver actuator.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/961,740 US4179057A (en) | 1978-11-17 | 1978-11-17 | Disposable surgical stapling instrument |
| US961,740 | 1992-10-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1122491A true CA1122491A (en) | 1982-04-27 |
Family
ID=25504918
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA320,850A Expired CA1122491A (en) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-02-05 | Disposable surgical stapling instrument |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4179057A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5568363A (en) |
| AT (1) | AT373139B (en) |
| AU (1) | AU528622B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7902536A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1122491A (en) |
| DD (1) | DD143394A5 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX145700A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL177654C (en) |
| YU (1) | YU59479A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA79660B (en) |
Families Citing this family (52)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1981001953A1 (en) * | 1980-01-15 | 1981-07-23 | Hospital Prod Int Pty | Surgical stapler |
| US4391402A (en) * | 1980-05-27 | 1983-07-05 | American Cyanamid Company | Surgical stapling control means |
| US4406392A (en) * | 1980-05-27 | 1983-09-27 | American Cyanamid Company | Surgical stapling instrument |
| KR840000759B1 (en) * | 1980-05-27 | 1984-06-08 | American Cyanamid Co | Surgical stapling instrument |
| JPS579444A (en) * | 1980-05-27 | 1982-01-18 | American Cyanamid Co | Surgical stapling appliance |
| CA1170536A (en) * | 1980-08-25 | 1984-07-10 | United States Surgical Corporation | Surgical staples |
| EP0061466A1 (en) * | 1980-09-18 | 1982-10-06 | Hospital Products Limited | Disposable surgical stapler |
| WO1982000968A1 (en) * | 1980-09-18 | 1982-04-01 | Dippert M | Surgical stapler drive mechanism |
| US4458835A (en) * | 1980-09-26 | 1984-07-10 | American Cyanamid Company | Surgical stapling control means |
| US4591086A (en) * | 1980-09-26 | 1986-05-27 | American Cyanamid Company | Surgical stapling instrument |
| US4375866A (en) * | 1981-01-22 | 1983-03-08 | Edward Weck & Company, Inc. | Skin clip applier |
| US4411378A (en) * | 1981-01-28 | 1983-10-25 | Senco Products, Inc. | Disposable surgical stapling instrument having an anvil with coextensive lateral flanges |
| AU548936B2 (en) * | 1981-01-28 | 1986-01-09 | Senco Products Inc. | Disposable surgical stapler |
| US4364507A (en) * | 1981-03-23 | 1982-12-21 | Savino Dominick J | Variable closure surgical stapling apparatus with retractable anvil |
| US4645111A (en) * | 1981-07-08 | 1987-02-24 | Howmedica, Inc. | Surgical stapler with retractable anvil |
| US4410125A (en) * | 1981-10-02 | 1983-10-18 | United States Surgical Corporation | Surgical stapler apparatus with curved staple pusher |
| US4450839A (en) * | 1982-02-26 | 1984-05-29 | Ethicon, Inc. | Surgical clip applier with serpentine spring clip feeder |
| US4425915A (en) * | 1982-02-26 | 1984-01-17 | Ethicon, Inc. | Surgical clip applier with in-line cartridge and interruptable biased feeder |
| DK103483A (en) * | 1982-04-15 | 1983-10-16 | Ethicon Inc | SILICONE COATED SURGICAL PAPER |
| US4523707A (en) * | 1982-05-04 | 1985-06-18 | Blake Joseph W Iii | Surgical stapler |
| US4664305A (en) * | 1982-05-04 | 1987-05-12 | Blake Joseph W Iii | Surgical stapler |
| US4493322A (en) * | 1982-09-28 | 1985-01-15 | Senco Products, Inc. | Surgical stapling instrument |
| US4640451A (en) * | 1982-11-08 | 1987-02-03 | Kollektivgesellschaft Eberhard, Steiner & Dr. Stocker | Combination hole punch and stapler |
| US4630766A (en) * | 1983-06-01 | 1986-12-23 | Senco Products, Inc. | Fastener driving apparatus and methods and fastener supply |
| US4550870A (en) * | 1983-10-13 | 1985-11-05 | Alchemia Ltd. Partnership | Stapling device |
| US4558810A (en) * | 1983-12-09 | 1985-12-17 | Richard-Allan Medical Industries, Inc. | Surgical stapler construction |
| US4583670A (en) * | 1983-12-23 | 1986-04-22 | Alfredo Alvarado | Surgical stapling |
| US4671279A (en) * | 1984-04-24 | 1987-06-09 | Beta Phase, Inc. | Surgical staple applying method |
| US4796793A (en) * | 1984-05-10 | 1989-01-10 | Ethicon, Inc. | Surgical stapler and methods |
| DE3615405C2 (en) * | 1986-05-07 | 1995-06-22 | Diener Helmut | Wound clip pliers |
| US4789090A (en) * | 1986-11-03 | 1988-12-06 | Blake Joseph W Iii | Surgical stapler |
| US4887601A (en) * | 1987-11-06 | 1989-12-19 | Ophthalmic Ventures Limited Partnership | Adjustable surgical staple and method of using the same |
| JPH02198683A (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1990-08-07 | Shunichi Terada | Waste water cleaning device |
| US5427298A (en) * | 1993-10-28 | 1995-06-27 | Tegtmeier; C. Allen | Method and apparatus for indicating quantity of fasteners in a fastening device |
| US6149660A (en) * | 1996-04-22 | 2000-11-21 | Vnus Medical Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for delivery of an appliance in a vessel |
| US5908149A (en) * | 1997-03-12 | 1999-06-01 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | Skin stapler with multi-directional release mechanism |
| US5938101A (en) * | 1997-05-14 | 1999-08-17 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | Skin stapler with movable anvil |
| US5937951A (en) * | 1997-07-18 | 1999-08-17 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | Skin stapler with rack and pinion staple feed mechanism |
| US6601748B1 (en) * | 2001-12-15 | 2003-08-05 | Modern Medical Equip. Mfg., Ltd. | Surgical stapler |
| AUPS209502A0 (en) * | 2002-05-02 | 2002-06-06 | Australian Surgical Devices Pty Ltd | Surgical stapler |
| US7059509B2 (en) * | 2002-05-28 | 2006-06-13 | Phillip Clay Brown | Surgical stapling device |
| US7004950B1 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2006-02-28 | Collins James R | Tissue aligning surgical stapler and method of use |
| US7048171B2 (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2006-05-23 | Dale H. Kosted | Surgical stapler with removable staple cartridge |
| JP2006081687A (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2006-03-30 | Max Co Ltd | Medical stapler |
| JP2007000461A (en) * | 2005-06-24 | 2007-01-11 | Max Co Ltd | Wound margin capturing structure for medical stapler |
| US8356740B1 (en) * | 2009-03-09 | 2013-01-22 | Cardica, Inc. | Controlling compression applied to tissue by surgical tool |
| US8056789B1 (en) | 2009-06-03 | 2011-11-15 | Cardica, Inc. | Staple and feeder belt configurations for surgical stapler |
| JP5632621B2 (en) * | 2010-02-26 | 2014-11-26 | マニー株式会社 | Medical stapler and magazine |
| JP5628542B2 (en) * | 2010-03-31 | 2014-11-19 | マニー株式会社 | Medical stapler |
| CN102764144A (en) * | 2012-06-05 | 2012-11-07 | 西安凯棣医疗器械有限责任公司 | Skin stapler with automatic staple releasing spring structure |
| US9572575B2 (en) * | 2012-09-25 | 2017-02-21 | Newgen Surgical, Inc. | Skin stapler with components optimized for construction with plant based materials |
| CN113576571B (en) * | 2021-07-31 | 2023-06-06 | 合肥启灏医疗科技有限公司 | Nasal septum nail fixing device and nasal septum nail fixing system |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2874384A (en) * | 1957-04-16 | 1959-02-24 | Rockford Medical Foundation | Surgical device |
| US3873016A (en) * | 1973-11-30 | 1975-03-25 | Meyer Fishbein | Pliers type surgical stapler for joining disunited skin or fascia |
| US4109844A (en) * | 1976-11-18 | 1978-08-29 | Senco Products, Inc. | Surgical stapling instrument |
-
1978
- 1978-11-17 US US05/961,740 patent/US4179057A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1979
- 1979-02-05 CA CA320,850A patent/CA1122491A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-02-08 AU AU44060/79A patent/AU528622B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-02-14 ZA ZA79660A patent/ZA79660B/en unknown
- 1979-02-15 NL NLAANVRAGE7901198,A patent/NL177654C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-02-20 AT AT0130079A patent/AT373139B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-02-22 MX MX176700A patent/MX145700A/en unknown
- 1979-03-05 JP JP2460579A patent/JPS5568363A/en active Granted
- 1979-03-12 YU YU00594/79A patent/YU59479A/en unknown
- 1979-04-25 BR BR7902536A patent/BR7902536A/en unknown
- 1979-05-07 DD DD79212698A patent/DD143394A5/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ATA130079A (en) | 1983-05-15 |
| JPS5568363A (en) | 1980-05-23 |
| BR7902536A (en) | 1980-11-04 |
| DD143394A5 (en) | 1980-08-20 |
| NL177654B (en) | 1985-06-03 |
| AT373139B (en) | 1983-12-27 |
| YU59479A (en) | 1982-08-31 |
| JPS6236694B2 (en) | 1987-08-08 |
| AU4406079A (en) | 1980-05-22 |
| NL177654C (en) | 1985-11-01 |
| NL7901198A (en) | 1980-05-20 |
| AU528622B2 (en) | 1983-05-05 |
| MX145700A (en) | 1982-03-24 |
| ZA79660B (en) | 1980-03-26 |
| US4179057A (en) | 1979-12-18 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1122491A (en) | Disposable surgical stapling instrument | |
| CA1163519A (en) | Disposable surgical stapling instrument | |
| CA1101749A (en) | Surgical stapling instrument | |
| US4619262A (en) | Surgical stapling device | |
| CA1182710A (en) | Pressure sensitive and working gap controlled medical stapling device | |
| EP0392750B1 (en) | Fascia stapler | |
| CA1212882A (en) | Surgical stapling instrument | |
| US5350400A (en) | Malleable, bioabsorbable, plastic staple; and method and apparatus for deforming such staple | |
| US4583670A (en) | Surgical stapling | |
| JP2614995B2 (en) | Manually operated fastening device | |
| CA1244739A (en) | Disposable linear surgical stapling instrument | |
| US5395034A (en) | Linear surgical stapling instrument | |
| CA1132875A (en) | Surgical staplers and staple | |
| US4043504A (en) | Staple cartridge and feed means for use with a surgical stapling instrument | |
| JPS60212152A (en) | Surgical stapler and mount cartridge assembly | |
| EP0039560A1 (en) | Stapler cartridge | |
| US4317535A (en) | Stapler with tapered anvil | |
| EP0436166B1 (en) | Surgical stapler | |
| EP0027336A1 (en) | Passive clincher and stapler incorporating same | |
| US4366924A (en) | Stapler having an abutment for limiting stapler repenetration | |
| EP0499355B1 (en) | Medical stapler | |
| EP0168244A2 (en) | Surgical stapling device | |
| JPS6138692B2 (en) | ||
| GB2092504A (en) | Anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument | |
| KR20050016474A (en) | Surgical stapling device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |