EP0476523A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for applying two-part surgical fasteners
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1991-09-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-09-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus (10) for applying at least one row of two-part surgical fasteners to body tissue, each surgical fastener having a pronged fastener portion (22) for piercing body tissue, and an apertured retainer (52, 54) 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 (16) for holding a plurality of the fastener portions in generally aligned relation, means (47) 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 (34, 36) 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 (35) is provided to cut the body tissue midway between opposed pairs of rows of the fastners 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. A locking mechanism can be provided in the form of a hook (42) which engages the cam bar retainer after firing the staples to prevent forward movement of the cam bar retainer.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Green
- 👤 Henry Bolanos
- 👤 Robert J. Geiste
- 👤 Wayne P. Young
- 👤 Stephen W. Gerry
- 👤 Frank M Rende, Iii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/07207; A61B2017/0042; A61B2017/00446; A61B2017/00451; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/07228; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0801; A61B2090/08021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
Apparatus (10) for applying at least one row of two-part surgical fasteners to body tissue, each surgical fastener having a fastener portion (22) and a retainer (52, 54) dimensioned and configured to receive the fastener portion into engaged relation therewith, which comprises: a) means (16) for releasably holding a plurality of said fastener portions; b) means (47) spaced from said fastener holding means for releasably holding a plurality of said retainers in positions opposite the respective fastener portion; and c) means (34, 36) for sequentially advancing each said fastener portion toward said retainers so as to cause said fastener portion to engage said retainers while fastening body tissue therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fastener portions and retainers are arranged in longitudinal alignment with the axis of the apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, adapted to fasten body tissue, and further comprising means (35) to cut the body tissue adjacent the location of application of said fasteners.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said fastener holding means comprises a fastener carrying cartridge (10) and said retainer carrying means comprises a retainer carrying cartridge (47).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of retainer mounting elements (300) located in said retainer cartridge for releasably engaging and holding said retainers (200), said retainer mounting elements being slidably mounted within at least one channel (410b) in the retainer cartridge and said retainer mounting elements release their respective retainers in response to the engagement of the fastener portions with their respective retainers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said fastener cartridge and said retainer cartridge are removably mounted in the apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the retainer mounting elements each comprise a base portion (302) and at least one upright post (304) for engaging an aperture in the retainer and frictionally holding said retainer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, further comprising backstop means for bracing the retainers when engaging with the fastener portions, said backstop means comprising a horizontal shelf portion (412) of the cartridge upon which said retainers at least partially rest and said retainer cartridge includes lower (410b) and upper (410a) channels having vertical side walls, and wherein the lower channel is of lesser width than the upper channel and located below said upper channel thereby forming at least one shelf portion, said lower channel having a plurality of vertical guide rails (414) and said retainer mounting elements each have at least one vertical notch (306) for cooperating with a respective one of said vertical guide rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said two-part surgical fastener portions are bio-absorbable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retainer has at least one aperture (200a, 200b) dimensioned and configured for engaged reception of a pronged portion (106) of said fastener portion in interference fit therewith for gripping the body tissue therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fastener pushers (24, 28) positioned above said fastener portions on the side opposite said retainer members, said fastener pushers being dimensioned and positioned such that advancement thereof toward said fastener portions cause said fastener portions to engage said retainer members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for sequential advancement of fasteners comprises a pair of cam bars (34, 36) positioned for slidable movement distally and proximally within a frame for sequential engagement with said fastener pushers, said cam bars being dimensioned and configured to sequentially advance said fastener pushers toward said fastener portions to effect engagement of said fastener portions with said retainer members and each said fastener pusher has at least one camming surface for effecting movement thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of said cam bars, each said fastener pusher further having dual oppositely sloped surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A surgical fastening apparatus comprising: a channel member; a pusher assembly slidably mounted within said channel member, said pusher assembly having at least one cam bar longitudinally movable through said channel member for sequentially firing fasteners, and a cam bar retainer for mounting said cam bar; a projection formed on an outer surface of said cam bar retainer; and hook means engageable with said projection upon retraction of said cam bar retainer after firing the fasteners to thereby block forward movement of said cam bar retainer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said projection is substantially teardrop shaped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein said projection is formed on a bottom surface of said cam bar retainer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, 14 of 15, wherein said channel member includes a vertical side wall and said hook means is secured to said side wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 further comprising a knife assembly mounted to said cam bar retainer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claime in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein said projection is disposed in a distal portion of said cam bar retainer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein said pusher assembly is mounted in a fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge being removeable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for applying at least two pairs of rows of two-part surgical fasteners to body tissue, each surgical fastener including a fastener portion having a U-shaped configuration having a pair of prongs and a mating retainer having a pair of members defining apertures for engaged reception of said prongs, by a method comprising: a) holding a plurality of said fastener portions in two pairs of spaced appart generally parallel rows on one part of a two-part apparatus; b) releasably holding a plurality of said retainers in two pairs of correspondingly spaced apart generally parallel rows on a second part of said two-part apparatus in a manner such that said apertured members of said retainers face said pairs of prongs of said fastener portions when said two-part apparatus is assembled; c) positioning tissue to be fastened between said respective two parts of said apparatus and locking said two parts together; and d) sequentially driving said fastener portions of said two-part fasteners toward said retainers by advancing fastener driving means sufficient to cause said pronged portions to be driven through the tissue and to be engageably received within said apertures of said retainers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising means for cutting the tissue generally medially between said rows of pairs of fastener portions while driving said fastener portions toward said retainers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21, including means on said fastener driving means to prevent separation of said half portions of said apparatus during the step of driving said fastener portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, 21 or 22, including at least two rails defining retainer support shelves and extending longitudinally of said apparatus whereby said retainers are firmly supported on support means while driving said fastener portions into engagement therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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