A surgical instrument useful for laparoscopic surgery comprising an insulated shaft, a control means and a connection to an electrosurgical radiofrequency power source, its distal end being of general J-hook form having a tissue-engaging ledge, and the shaft supporting a tissue-engaging clamping or cutting member movable toward the ledge in response to the control means so that an artery or other tissue in the pocket of the J-hook can be clamped or cut while radiofrequency current is applied. Instrument constructions disclosed incorporate one or two clamping members and a cutting member arranged such that with actuation, the clamping member(s) engages the ledge before the cutting member, and, by selective actuation of the electrosurgical power source, coagulation current can be applied while clamping an artery or other tissue against the ledge to stop flow of blood, and by further actuation of the control and suitable current to the cutting member, the artery or tissue may be cut. Selector means enable movement of one and prevent movement of one of the members during actuation; bipolar or monopolar energization is employed; the relatively long leg of the J-member has portals. Communicating through a lumen in the shaft for infusion or aspiration of fluid; the distal end surface of the J-hook defines a cutting edge for blunt dissection; and the control means comprises a single actuatable member by actuator rods for sealing clamp and cutting members, while a compression spring associated with the actuating rod of the sealing clamp member compresses when the clamp member is stopped, in clamping action upon the artery or tissue while cutting of tissue thereafter proceeds. A diamond film on tissue-engaging surfaces of a clamp, grasping or cutting surgical instrument improves heat transfer between tissue and instrument.

Surgical instrument and method

A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device

Surgical Stapling Apparatus

A self-contained powered surgical stapling apparatus is provided which includes an elongate body, a fastener applying assembly including an anvil for forming a surgical fastener driven thereagainst, a motor assembly and power source for energizing the motor assembly disposed within the elongate body, and a pusher driven by the motor assembly for driving a surgical fastener toward the anvil to be formed thereby and fastened to body tissue. The apparatus is configured for utilization during conventional invasive surgical procedures as well as endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures by providing a detachable extension shaft.

Self-contained powered surgical apparatus

A surgical stapler instrument is provided for applying lateral lines of staples to tissue while cutting the tissue between those staple lines. The instrument includes a handle portion, an implement portion, a reciprocating section, a drive member and a movable actuator. The implement portion includes a staple cartridge and an anvil. The reciprocating section is adapted to move back and forth along an axis of the implement portion. The movable actuator is associated with the handle portion and is engaged with the drive member such that motion of the actuator causes the drive member to move back and forth between first and second drive positions separated by a first distance. A multiplier is further provided and is associated with the reciprocating section and the drive member for causing the reciprocating section to move back and forth between first and second reciprocating positions in response to movement of the drive member. The reciprocating section includes a work portion which, when moved distally, effects the firing of staples in the staple cartridge toward the anvil. The work portion is also provided with a reciprocating knife. The first and second reciprocating positions are separated by a second distance which differs from the first distance.

Surgical stapler instrument

A surgical stapling device for applying an array of surgical staples to tissue is provided. The stapling device includes an approximation mechanism for moving a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly between spaced and approximated positions and a firing mechanism for ejecting the array of staples from the cartridge assembly. A single trigger is operable to effect approximation and firing of the device. The device also includes an alignment pin assembly which can be selectively manually or automatically advanced. The anvil assembly includes a stiffener plate which allows the device to have a reduced head portion profile.

Surgical stapling device

The present disclosure is directed to a surgical stapling device (10) for performing circular anastomoses. The surgical stapling device includes a handle portion (12), an elongated body portion (14) and a head portion (16) including an anvil assembly (30) and a shell assembly (31). The handle portion (12) includes a rotatable approximation knob (22) for approximating the anvil and shell assemblies (30,31) and a firing trigger (20) for actuating a firing mechanism for ejecting staples positioned within the shell assembly (31). The firing trigger (20) forms one link of a two bar linkage provided to actuate the firing mechanism. The anvil assembly (30) includes a tiltable anvil which will tilt automatically after firing of the device and unapproximating the anvil and shell assemblies (30,31). The head portion (16) also includes a retractable trocar assembly (240) which is slidably positioned within an anvil retainer (38) and is automatically advanced and retracted upon attachment and detachment of the anvil assembly (30) onto the anvil retainer (38). A lockout tube (270) is provided and is positioned about the anvil retainer (38) for releasably engaging an anvil assembly (30). The lockout tube (270) prevents inadvertent detachment of the anvil assembly (30) from the anvil retainer (38). The surgical stapling device (10) also includes a firing lockout assembly which prevents actuation of the firing trigger (20) until an anvil has been attached to the device and the anvil (129) has been approximated. A tactile indication mechanism is also provided for notifying a surgeon that the device has been fired and for notifying a surgeon that the anvil head has been unapproximated a distance sufficient to permit the anvil head to tilt.

Surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses

Apparatus is disclosed for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue along an arcuate path. Each surgical fastener may be in the form of a two-part fastener having a pronged fastener portion for piercing body tissue, and an apertured retainer dimensioned and configured for engaged reception of the pronged fastener portion in interference fit therewith for gripping the body tissue therebetween. Alternatively, the fasteners may be in the form of deformable staples. The apparatus preferably includes arcuately shaped means for holding a plurality of the fastener portions in generally aligned relation, correspondingly arcuately shaped means spaced from the fastener portion holding means for gripping body tissue therebetween and for releasably holding a plurality of the retainers in generally aligned relation and positioned opposite the fasteners when the body tissue is positioned therebetween. Means is provided for sequentially advancing the pronged fastener portions toward the apertured retainers to cause the fastener portions to pierce the body tissue and to be received within the apertures of the retainers in engaged interference relation so as to cause the fastener portions and the retainers to be engaged while gripping the body tissue therebetween. A knife may be provided to cut the body tissue adjacent the fasteners as the fasteners are applied. A method for applying fasteners to body tissue on the apparatus of the invention along an arcuate path is also disclosed.

Arcuate apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners.

Apparatus for applying at least one row of two-part surgical fasteners to body tissue, each surgical fastener having a pronged fastener portion for piercing body tissue, and an aperture retainer dimensioned and configured for engaged reception of the pronged fastener portion in interference fit therewith for gripping the body tissue therebetween. The apparatus includes means for holding a plurality of the fastener portions in generally aligned relation, means spaced from the fastener portion holding means for gripping body tissue therebetween and for releasably holding a plurality of the retainers in generally aligned relation and positioned opposite the fasteners when the body tissue is positioned therebetween. Means is provided for sequentially advancing the pronged fastener portions toward the apertured retainers to cause the fastener portions to pierce the body tissue and to be received within the apertures of the retainers in engaged interference relation so as to cause the fastener portions and the retainers to be engaged while gripping the body tissue therebetween. In the preferred embodiment a knife edge is provided to cut the body tissue midway between opposed pairs of rows of the fasteners as the fasteners are applied. A method for applying two spaced apart pairs of rows of the fasteners to body tissue on the apparatus of the invention is also disclosed.

Apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners

A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples. A lockout mechanism is provided to disable the disposable loading units after firing.

Robert J. Geiste

Papers

Self-contained powered surgical apparatus

Surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses

Arcuate apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners.

Apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners

Lockout mechanism for a surgical stapler