U.S. patent application number 12/114031 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for surgical stapler.
This patent application is currently assigned to ABBOTT VASCULAR INC.. Invention is credited to Thomas Anthony, James COLEMAN, Christy Cummins, Chris Martin, Sean Morris.
Application Number | 20080269801 12/114031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26320303 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080269801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
COLEMAN; James ; et
al. |
October 30, 2008 |
SURGICAL STAPLER
Abstract
A surgical stapler comprises a hollow shaft 10 and a tube 92
slidable axially within the shaft between a forward position
wherein one end 96 of the tube projects beyond a free end of the
shaft to enter a puncture site in a blood vessel and a rearward
position wherein the end of the locator tube is retracted within
the shaft. A surgical staple 40 straddles the tube 92 and is
slidable thereon forwardly towards an anvil 24 against which the
staple may be deformed to staple together the opposite edges of the
puncture site. A cam mechanism drives the staple forwardly along
the tube 92 into deforming engagement with the anvil and at the
same time retracts the tube into the shaft in time to allow the
legs of the staple to close onto the puncture site.
Inventors: |
COLEMAN; James; (Terenure,
IE) ; Cummins; Christy; (Naas, IE) ; Martin;
Chris; (Dublin, IE) ; Anthony; Thomas;
(Rathfarnham, IE) ; Morris; Sean; (Athlone,
IE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WORKMAN NYDEGGER
1000 EAGLE GATE TOWER,, 60 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Assignee: |
ABBOTT VASCULAR INC.
Redwood City
CA
|
Family ID: |
26320303 |
Appl. No.: |
12/114031 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11113549 |
Apr 25, 2005 |
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12114031 |
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|
10455768 |
Jun 4, 2003 |
6926731 |
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11113549 |
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09948813 |
Sep 7, 2001 |
6582452 |
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10455768 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/213 ;
227/175.1; 606/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/00672
20130101; A61B 17/0684 20130101; A61B 17/1285 20130101; A61B
2017/00668 20130101; A61B 17/068 20130101; A61B 17/0057 20130101;
A61B 17/0682 20130101; A61B 2090/062 20160201; A61B 17/0644
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/213 ;
227/175.1; 606/216 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/00 20060101
A61B017/00; A61B 17/068 20060101 A61B017/068; A61B 19/00 20060101
A61B019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 8, 2000 |
IE |
S2000/0722 |
Sep 8, 2000 |
IE |
S2000/0724 |
Claims
1. A medical staple comprising: a body having an axis and a
longitudinal opening; and at least two opposed longitudinal tines
spaced about said axis, each tine in contact with said body and
having a distal end extending distally of the body; the staple
having a closed configuration wherein at least the distal ends of
the tines are disposed adjacent to or contacting each other and an
open configuration wherein at least the distal ends of the tines
are separated from each other; and wherein the staple is
transformable via deformation of the body.
2. The medical staple of claim 1, wherein the two or more tines are
transversely opposed to each other.
3. The medical staple of claim 1, wherein the two or more tines are
radially opposed to each other.
4. The medical staple of claim 1, wherein the tines are biased by
the body.
5. The medical staple of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal opening
is capable of receiving a member there through.
6. The medical staple of claim 1, wherein each of the tines
comprises at least one tissue-engaging prong.
7. The medical staple of claim 6, wherein the at least one
tissue-engaging prong is capable of at least partially piercing
tissue adjacent the wound.
8. The medical staple of claim 7, wherein each of the tines are
identical in size and shape and are disposed opposite each other
such that the tissue engaging prongs are in at least a mutually
adjacent mating relationship when the staple is in the closed
configuration.
9. The medical staple of claim 1, wherein each of the tines
mirrored about a plane through the longitudinal opening.
10. A wound closure system comprising: a staple comprising: a body
having an axis and a longitudinal opening; at least two opposed
longitudinal tines spaced about the axis, each tine in contact with
the body and having a distal end extending distally of the body;
the staple having a closed configuration wherein at least the
distal ends of the tines are disposed adjacent to or contacting
each other and an open configuration wherein at least the distal
ends of the tines are separated from each other; and a stapler
comprising a rod having a distal tip, the rod being slidably
positionable with respect to the staple, the distal tip being
adapted for deforming the body to transform the staple.
11. The wound closure system of claim 10, wherein the distal tip
comprises a flared portion that is positionable for deforming the
body.
12. The wound closure system of claim 11 wherein the stapler
further comprises a pusher having a distal end sized and shaped for
abutting a proximal end of the staple.
13. The wound closure system of claim 11, wherein the flared
portion is disposed adjacent to the tines.
14. The wound closure system of claim 11, wherein the flared
portion impinges on at least a portion of the tines.
15. The wound closure system of claim 11, wherein the flared
portion deforms at least a portion of the tines.
16. A method for closing a wound comprising: providing a staple
having a body that is in contact with at least two tines; engaging
tissue surrounding the wound with the tines; and moving the tines
between an open and a closed configuration to close the wound.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the tines between an
open and a closed configuration to close the wound further
comprises deforming the staple.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/113,549, filed Apr. 25, 2005, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/455,768, filed
Jun. 4, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,731, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/948,813 filed Sep. 7, 2001,
now U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,452, which claims priority to Ireland
Application No. S2000/0722, filed Sep. 8, 2000 and Ireland
Application No. S2000/0724, filed Sep. 8, 2000, the disclosures of
which are each incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an instrument, herein
called a surgical stapler, for closing a puncture in a
liquid-carrying vessel by applying a staple across the puncture so
as to effect a closure. The invention relates particularly to
surgical staplers for closing punctures in blood vessels
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When performing catheterisation procedures, such as
angiography or angioplasty, a catheter is generally introduced into
the vascular system by first penetrating the skin, underlying
tissues and blood vessel with a sharpened hollow needle. Next, a
guidewire is commonly inserted through the lumen of the hollow
needle and is caused to enter the selected blood vessel.
Subsequently the needle is typically stripped off the guidewire and
a combination of a dilator and/or introducer (or an introducer
alone) are fed over the guidewire and pushed through the skin to
enter the blood vessel. The guidewire can then be removed and a
desired catheter to carry out the procedure is fed through the
lumen of the introducer and advanced through the vascular system
until the working end of the catheter is appropriately positioned.
Following the conclusion of the catheterisation procedure the
working catheter will be withdrawn and subsequently the dilator
and/or introducer will also be removed from the wound. Following
this procedure the vessel puncture must be closed in order to
prevent loss of blood through the puncture hole.
[0004] Typically the wound is closed by maintaining external
pressure over the vessel until the puncture naturally seals. This
procedure can take approximately 30 minutes with the length of time
usually being greater if the patient is hypertensive or
anticoagulated. The procedure can also be uncomfortable for the
patient and involves costly professional time on the part of the
hospital staff. Other pressure techniques such as pressure
bandages, sandbags or clamps have been employed but these also
involve ensuring the patient remains motionless for an extended
period of time and is monitored to ensure the effectiveness of the
procedure.
[0005] A number of devices have been developed in recent times
which provide an obstruction in the area of the puncture in order
to prevent bleeding. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,852,568 and
4,890,612 disclose a device which utilises a collagen plug which
when placed at the blood vessel opening absorbs body fluids, swells
and affects a seal. Other plug like devices, for example U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,222,974 and 5,282,827, describe a plug and anchor device,
the anchor being positioned inside the vessel and the collagen plug
outside the vessel thereby sandwiching the puncture between both
and effecting a closure.
[0006] WO 98/17179 discloses a surgical stapler having a blood
locator tube adjacent the stapling head. A guidewire passes through
an opening at the end of the tube and up through a hollow bore in
the tube, so that the stapler can be fed onto the guidewire and
down onto the puncture site. When the device reaches the puncture
site, the tip of the tube enters the blood flow within the artery
and blood passes through the tube and out of the distal end at a
point visible to the clinician. The clinician can then actuate the
stapling mechanism in the knowledge that the stapling head is at
the puncture site in the arterial wall.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
instrument for closing a puncture in a liquid-carrying vessel by
stapling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a surgical stapler is provided having a shaft, a locator
slidable axially of the shaft between a forward position wherein
the locator projects beyond a free end of the shaft to enter a
puncture site in a liquid-carrying vessel in a human or animal,
thereby to locate the free end of the shaft at the puncture site,
and a rearward position wherein the locator is retracted relative
to the shaft, a surgical staple straddling the locator and slidable
forwardly thereon, said staple having forwardly pointing legs
disposed respectively on opposite sides of the locator, an anvil
against which the staple may be deformed to staple together
opposite edges of the puncture site, and an actuator for driving
the staple forwardly along the locator into deforming engagement
with the anvil and for retracting the locator in co-ordination with
the movement of the staple such that the locator is withdrawn from
between the legs of the staple in time to allow the legs of the
staple to staple together opposite edges of the puncture site.
[0009] In another aspect the invention provides a method of
stapling closed a puncture site in a liquid-carrying vessel in a
human or animal body, comprising the steps of: introducing a
stapling mechanism to the location of the vessel; positioning the
stapling mechanism at the puncture site by means of a locator
associated with the stapling mechanism and projecting forwardly
thereof, the locator sensing the position of the puncture site by
entering the vessel at the site; delivering a staple to, and
deforming the staple to close, the puncture site; and in
co-ordination with the delivery and deformation of the staple,
withdrawing the locator from the puncture site such that the
locator is fully withdrawn from the vessel by the time the staple
is fully deformed to close the puncture site. Preferably, the steps
of delivering and deforming the staple and in co-ordination
therewith withdrawing the locator are effected by operating a
single control on a stapler actuating mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a surgical
stapler according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 1(A) is an enlarged perspective view of the free end of
the shaft of the stapler of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stapler of FIG. 1 with
the left-hand side handle removed;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the stapler of FIG. 1 with
the right-hand side handle and shaft removed;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the components
seen in FIG. 3 further omitting the left-hand side handle;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the internal
components at the free end of the shaft;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the internal components at
the free end of the shaft in the pre-fire position and omitting the
left-hand side of the shaft;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the components of FIG. 6 in
the pre-fire position;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the components of FIG. 6 in
the pre-fire position;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the internal components of
the free end, showing the position of the components in mid-cycle
with fully formed staple;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the components of FIG. 9 in
the post-fire position;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the blood locator tube with
enlarged views of the front and rear portions, FIG. 11A and FIG.
11B respectively;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a side sectional elevation of the front portion
of an alternative embodiment of the blood locator tube of the
stapler;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the front portion of the
blood locator tube shown in FIG. 12;
[0025] FIG. 13(A) is a perspective view of the front portion of an
alternative embodiment of the blood locator tube shown in FIG.
12;
[0026] FIG. 14(A) is a perspective view of the surgical staple in
the pre-fire (pre-deformed) state;
[0027] FIG. 14(B) is a perspective view of the surgical staple in
the post-fire (deformed) state;
[0028] FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the cam
mechanism;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a side elevation of the cam mechanism;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a side elevation of the shaft section of the
device and suction port; and
[0031] FIG. 18 is an end view of the surgical staple, locator tube
and insert.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring to the drawings, an exemplary stapler can include
a rigid shaft 10 extending from a moulded plastic housing 12 shaped
in the form of a pistol-like handle. The shaft 10, which is hollow
to accommodate various moving components to be described, comprises
right and left-hand sides 10A, 10B respectively which are secured
together at the distal free end by a section of heat shrinkable
tubing 91 in combination with interference pins and mating cavities
15A and 15B (FIGS. 4 and 5) along the edges of the distal tip, and
at the proximal end by pins 17A mating in an interference fit with
corresponding cavities 17B (FIGS. 2 and 3) captured within the
housing 12. Likewise, the housing 12 comprises left and right-hand
sides 12A, 12B respectively.
[0033] The major part of the exposed length of the shaft 10 has a
constant circular cross-section, but at its free end the shaft 10
has a portion 14 of increased diameter having a "bullet" profile.
One end of this bullet portion 14 is tapered down toward a staple
exit slot 16 while the other end is tapered down to the remaining
section of the shaft, which extends back into the housing 12. The
ratio of the maximum diameter of the bullet portion 14 to the
diameter of the remaining section of exposed shaft is approximately
5:4. Heat shrink sleeve 91 sits flush with the surface of the
bullet portion 14, to ensure a traumatic entry, percutaneously,
into the tissue.
[0034] The reason for the bullet profile is so that the shaft 10 is
as atraumatic as possible during introduction to the body to
minimise the amount of force and tissue dilation required when
tracking the device percutaneously over a guidewire 18 and onto the
surface of a blood vessel adjacent a puncture hole, as will be
described. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the bullet
portion 14 is oval in cross-section with the major axis of the oval
being coincident with the staple exit slot 16, so as to minimise
the circumferential length for a given staple width.
[0035] The bullet portion 14 of the shaft 10 houses a staple 40 and
a staple delivery mechanism (FIGS. 4 to 7). The staple delivery
mechanism comprises a tiltable anvil 24 and a pair of rod-like
actuating members, namely an elongated anvil support 30 and an
elongated staple former 52, the latter being slidable in the shaft
10 and operated by a trigger-operated cam mechanism 62 in the
handle housing 12.
[0036] The anvil 24 has a pair of upstanding fingers 24A at the
front and a pair of downwardly inclined tilt arms 24B at the rear.
The anvil 24 is tiltably mounted in the bullet portion 14 by a pair
of wings 26 which are pivotable in recesses 28 in the right-hand
side 10A of the shaft 10 (the wings 26 are retained in the recesses
by the underside of projections 54 on the former 52).
[0037] Tilting of the anvil 24 is effected by the cam mechanism 62
via the anvil support 30, which is slidable axially within the
right-hand shaft side 10A in channel 32. The front end of the anvil
support 30 is bifurcated to form two arms 34 having lateral
projections 36 (FIGS. 6 and 7). The arms slide in rebates 38 in the
right-hand shaft side 10A. The anvil support 30 is movable, by the
cam mechanism 62, from a forward position, FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein
the arms 34 extend under the anvil's support wings 25 to support
the anvil forming fingers 24A directly in front of a surgical
staple 40 to be delivered, to a rearward position, FIG. 10, wherein
the arms 34 are withdrawn under the downwardly inclined tilt arms
24B at the rear of the anvil 24 so as to tilt the anvil
anti-clockwise clockwise (as seen in FIG. 10) and displace the
fingers 24A out of the path of the staple 40. The angle of incline
of tilt arms 24B may be increased to cause separation of the two
shaft halves, in addition to displacing the fingers 24A out of the
path of the formed staple, to aid in staple release. This is
achieved by the anvil (in its fully tilted position) applying
pressure to the underside of former 52 and the upper surface of the
right shaft 10A.
[0038] Referring additionally to FIGS. 11, 11A and 11B, a hollow
blood locator tube 92 is slidable axially within the shaft 10 in a
channel 44 in the anvil support 30 and in an opposing U-shaped
channel 53 in the staple former 52. The tube 92 extends the full
length of the shaft 10 and has a constant, generally oval or
elongated cross-section, except at its distal tip 14 where the
locator tube 92 is formed into a narrow opening 96 and at a crimped
region 94 towards the rear of the tube 92 which is formed to allow
only the guidewire 18 and not blood to exit the rear of the locator
tube.
[0039] Under the action of the cam mechanism 62 the tube 92 is
slidable axially in the shaft 10 between a forward position, FIGS.
6 and 7, wherein its front end projects beyond the bullet portion
14 of the shaft 10 under the influence of a leaf spring 88 to be
described, and a rearward position, FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein the
front end of the tube 92 is retracted within the bullet portion 14
behind the fingers 24A of the anvil 24 during the rotation of cam
62.
[0040] The purpose of the blood locator tube 92 is to follow a
previously placed guidewire 18 to a puncture site in a blood
vessel, thereby to locate the free end of bullet portion 14 of the
shaft 10 against the exterior wall of the blood vessel at the
puncture site. To properly locate the bullet portion 14 the front
end of the tube 92 must actually pentrate the blood vessel wall at
the puncture site and this is indicated by blood flowing back
through the tube 92 and out through a blood outlet port 93 (FIG.
11) in the tube. A channel (not shown) in the part of the left-hand
side 10B of the shaft 10 within the housing 12 provides
communication between the port 93 and a blood exit port 50 (FIG. 1)
on the side of the housing 12B, so that the blood flowing back
through the tube 92 is visible at the exterior of the housing.
[0041] A blood exit port adapter 51 (FIG. 1) may be secured into
the opening of the blood exit port 50 via a matching male luer
taper 51A to enhance the visibility of the exiting blood. The blood
exit port adapter has a reduced internal diameter, relative to the
opening of the blood exit port 50, which for a constant blood flow
increases the pressure of exiting blood causing a jet effect of
exiting blood.
[0042] In the absence of the blood exit port adapter, the blood
exit port's female luer taper opening matches that of the standard
medical syringe's male luer taper making it possible at any time
during the device's use to inject fluid via the blood exit port
into the lumen of the locator tube to exit at its distal tip. This
may be necessary from time to time to clear the locator tube's
lumen of congealed blood and of trapped soft tissue. Alternatively,
radiopaque contrast medium may be injected via the locator tube to
confirm the relative location of the locator tube's distal tip to
that of the blood vessel wall by fluoroscopy, or any injectable
fluids may be injected for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.
[0043] The blood outlet port 93 is sized to have a minimum area
corresponding to the available blood entry area at the distal tip;
however, is narrower (in a transverse aspect) than the diameter of
the guidewire 18 to prevent the guidewire inadvertently exiting the
blood outlet port during insertion, instead of exiting from the
intended proximal end of the locator tube.
[0044] It has been found that the naturally formed shape of
puncture wounds in arterial walls is elongated rather than round.
Whereas the hole is formed by introducing instruments generally of
round cross section, the wall tends to open generally along a
transverse line which lies in the direction of the circumference of
the artery (rather than along the axis of the artery). By having a
generally oval blood locator tube, the locator tube (when
introduced by the clinician with the major axis of the oval
perpendicular to the axis of the artery), will fit more naturally
within the arterial opening. The consequence of this is that the
wound edges which are to be stapled together, lie closer together
than if a tube of circular cross section were to be used.
[0045] This in turn has the consequence that the staple used need
not be so large, and in turn, the dimensions of the shaft, which
must accommodate the staple when in its unformed state, can be
reduced, leading to less trauma for the tissue into and from which
the shaft is introduced.
[0046] A further consequence of having a generally oval or
elongated cross section for the locator tube is that the tube will
be more disposed to the centre of the puncture than with a rounded
tube. The present embodiment has a staple which straddles the
locator tube, thereby increasing the likelihood of the staple
closing the elongated wound at its centre rather than towards one
or other of the extremities of the wound.
[0047] The opening 96 at the front of the tube 92 has an
approximately circular portion 96A at the extreme forward tip of
the tube which is of greater diameter than the width of the
remaining portion 96B of the opening 96. The portion 96B is in the
form of a slot which is aligned with the major axis of the
elongated cross-section of the tube 92 and slopes rearwardly from
the circular portion 96A. The guidewire 18, which passes through
the tube 92, FIG. 11, is chosen to be of sufficiently smaller
diameter than the diameter of the opening 96A at the front end of
the tube 92 for the guidewire 18 to be easily inserted into the
tube 92 and pass through the opening 96A. However, the guidewire is
also chosen to be too large to fit within the remainder 96B of the
opening 96. In this way guidewire 18 is constrained to remain in
opening 96A, and the size of opening 96A sets an upper limit on the
diameter of guidewire which can be used with the device. One could
introduce a narrow neck or constriction into the opening 96 just
above opening 96A (at the points indicated by 96C) to ensure that
very small guidewires were constrained within the enlarged opening
96A, but in general this is unnecessary as the guidewire will
normally be supplied with the device, or the device will only be
supplied for use with a particular gauge of guidewire.
[0048] The rear crimp 94 and tip opening 96A are positioned to
encourage the guidewire to lie along the bottom curved surface of
the tube, i.e. that portion of the tube lying in a direct line
between the opening in the crimped end and the opening 96A. This
helps prevent guidewire 18 from laying up against the inside of
blood exit port 93 and preventing egress of blood, FIGS. 11A and
11B.
[0049] The curvilinear nature of opening 96 increases the available
inlet area to match that of the available area within the body of
the locator tube with the guidewire 18 in situ.
[0050] The slot-like opening 96B slopes away from the circular
opening 96A for ease of insertion into the vessel opening and to
reduce the potential of trauma to the inner wall of the vessel
opposite the opening being stapled. This is achieved because the
guidewire 18 protruding from opening 96A will tend to push the
opposite wall of the vessel away from the locator tube tip, and the
point at which the guidewire protrudes (due to it being constrained
in the opening 96A) is the farthest part forward of the tip. Thus,
the shape of the tip is streamlined away from opening 96A to
prevent any part of the tip gouging into or otherwise damaging the
inner vessel walls. Also, the peripheral edges 95 of the opening 96
are bent inwardly to as to avoid sharp edges which might damage
soft tissue and the vessel wall.
[0051] The distal end of an alternative embodiment of a locator
tube 42 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. This embodiment also has a
substantially constant elongated cross-section, which in this case
converges to an approximately circular guidewire opening 46 at the
extreme forward tip of the tube. The guidewire 18, which passes
through the tube 42, is usually chosen to be of sufficiently
smaller diameter than the diameter of the opening 46 for there to
be an adequate gap for the blood to pass back through the tube 42
even in the presence of the guidewire. However, further openings
46A are provided in opposite sides of the tube 42 just behind the
front opening 46 to allow more ready access of the blood to the
interior of the tube in cases where the guidewire 18 may not leave
a large enough gap for passage of blood solely through the opening
46. The three openings 46, 46A, 46A in fact form respective
portions of a single front opening, being in reality three
connected lobes, all connected by constricted channels 47, and all
in communication with the interior of the tube.
[0052] An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 13(A) where the
three openings 46, 46A and 46A, while collectively constituting the
front opening of the tube 42, are independent of each other. Again,
opening 46 at the front of the tube is sized to receive a maximum
size of guidewire and openings 46A are sized to allow a sufficient
flow of blood to enter the locator tube.
[0053] A problem can arise in devices of this type where an
oversized guidewire is used which occludes the hollow interior of
the blood locator tube and thereby prevents blood flow back through
the tube. To prevent this situation the lobe 46 through which the
guidewire emerges in the tip of the tube of FIGS. 12, 13 and 13A is
of a lesser diameter than the internal bore of the tube. The
dimensions of this lobe 46 set a maximum for the guidewire diameter
for use with the device, and ensure that even when this maximum
diameter guidewire is used, there is still sufficient internal
clearance within the tube bore to allow a strong blood flow through
the tube from the other lobes 46A.
[0054] The staple 40 straddles the blood locator tube 92 within the
bullet portion 14 of the shaft 10, see FIGS. 6 and 8, and is
slidable thereon forwardly towards the free end of the bullet
portion 14. In particular (see also the enlarged view of FIG. 14),
the staple 40 comprises a back or base portion 40A from which
extend perpendicularly at each end respective legs 40B which
terminate in sharpened points. The base portion 40A and legs 40B
lie in substantially a common plane except for a centre portion 40C
of the base portion 40A which is deformed in a direction
perpendicular to the legs 40B so as to have an Q (omega) shape
generally complementary to the external cross-sectional profile of
the blood locator tube 92 and internal cross-section of an insert
160, to be described. The base section 40A is pre-bent to between
150.degree. and 170.degree. at points A and B equidistant from the
centre of the base, positioned to maximise the closure of the
closed staple (and is relevant to the depth of forming wings 54 on
the former 52). The base section is also deformed at points C &
D so as to narrow the cross sectional width of the wire at both
points thereby directing the staple to bend at these points. The
staple 40 is mounted on the blood locator tube 92 such that the
centre portion 40C of the staple sits on the upper half of the tube
92, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, where the narrow open section of the
omega shape is approximately equal to the width of the tube and
with the legs 40B pointing forwardly on opposite sides of the tube
92. The depth of the centre portion 40C of the staple 40 is such
that the legs 40B of the staple lie substantially directly on
opposite sides of the central axis of the tube 92. This will ensure
that the staple 40 is positioned centrally across the puncture hole
in the blood vessel. In order to avoid the guidewire 18 fouling the
staple 40 when the latter is closed on the puncture site, the hole
96A is offset below the plane containing the legs 40B of the
staple, FIG. 8.
[0055] The metal insert 160 is received in a recess in the
left-hand shaft side 10B within the bullet section 14. The insert
160 provides mechanical support for the omega section 40C of the
staple 40 during the staple forming process and is engaged by the
former 52 during the staple ejection phase of the process so as to
separate both halves of the bullet section for easy staple release.
The insert is profiled to generally correspond with the external
profile of the omega shaped portion 40C of the staple. At the
distal end the insert profile tapers down to closely approximate
the omega-shaped portion of the staple 40C (FIG. 18). This has the
effect of offering mechanical support to the omega-shaped portion
of the staple during the staple forming process, during which the
base section is bent about the anvil fingers. This bending motion
in turn causes the omega to open up or flatten out. The metal
insert prevents this from happening only allowing the staple base
to deform around the anvil. The omega interlock system between the
staple 40 and insert 160 (FIG. 18) also stabilises the staple,
vertically, within the staple exit plain during the forming
process, whilst allowing easy staple release once formed, due to
the relatively small contact area between staple and insert.
[0056] The staple former 52 has a cross-section conforming to that
of the blood locator tube 92 and is slidable on the blood locator
tube 92 axially within the shaft 10. The former 52 is located
behind the staple 40 on the tube 92 and is operated by the cam
mechanism 62. At its front end the former 52 has a pair of forming
arms 54 which are so shaped that, when the former 52 is driven
forward by the cam mechanism 62, the staple 40 is driven against
and deformed around the anvil fingers 24A so that the legs 40B of
the staple close together (FIG. 9) onto the puncture site. The
surface of the forming arms which contact the staple 55 may be so
profiled to match the cross-sectional geometry of the staple. This
matching profile stabilises the staple on the forming surfaces of
the forming arms 54 during the high pressure contact with the
staple during staple forming and closure. During the forward
movement of the staple, the staple legs slide toward the anvil 24
along a track defined by the staple exit slot 16 between the
opposite halves the bullet portion 14. The slot 16 provides a
slight interference fit on the staple legs 40B to prevent the
staple 40 moving forward during storage of the device or prior to
firing. The slot 16 further prevents the staple rotating in the
horizontal plane (FIGS. 7 and 10) during its forward travel. Once
forming of the staple around the anvil is completed the forming
force is removed from the former 52 by a drop-off in the cam, the
anvil is lowered and the former advanced again to eject the staple
from the device. During this forward movement (ejection phase), the
sloped edges 52A and 52B of the former engage with the metal insert
160 to prise open the bullet section of the shaft assembly thus
facilitating staple release.
[0057] The cam mechanism 62 can be seen in FIG. 3 and in enlarged
views of FIGS. 15 and 16. The mechanism 62 consists of a first cam
58 and a second cam 60 mounted on a common axis 62 which sits in a
recess 64 in the left-hand side 10A of the shaft (FIG. 4) and a
corresponding recess (not shown) in the right-hand side 10B.
Trigger 56 is similarly mounted in the shaft by a pair of stub
axles 66 which are received in a trigger seating recess 68 in each
half of the shaft 10, FIG. 4.
[0058] An actuating pin 70 extends through the first and second
cams 58, 60. This actuating pin is acted on by a cam actuating
surface 72 (FIG. 3) provided on the trigger 56, so that when the
trigger is squeezed the actuating surface moves the actuating pin
in an anticlockwise direction around the axis 62. Because the
actuating pin extends through both cams 58, 60 of the mechanism 62,
the cams are both rotated simultaneously through the same angle as
determined by the trigger squeeze. The use of this cam mechanism
ensures accurate timing and positive mechanical displacements of
all the moving components and accurate movement of the components
relative to each other. The geometry of the trigger pivot pins 66
and actuating surface 72 relative to the cam pivot 62 and cam
actuating pin 70 is configured to minimise the trigger rotation to
only 23 degrees whilst the cam rotates a total of 90 degrees. This
configuration also provides a mechanical advantage that the trigger
delivers to the cam-actuating pin 70 of approximately 1:4. This
geometry is further configured to deliver the best mechanical
advantage at the phase during the staple forming cycle, which
requires the highest forming forces, having the advantage of
minimising the trigger effort and ensuring a constant trigger
effort over the full cycle. Trigger 56 further comprises a ratchet
lever 73B, shown in FIG. 3, which engages with ratchet strip 73A,
which is mounted in the right handle 12A, FIG. 3. This non-return
ratchet system ensures the firing cycle of the staple is
uninterrupted, non-repeatable and provides a positive indication
that the device has been used.
[0059] Referring back to FIG. 3, a leaf spring 88 positioned in a
recess in the left-hand side 10A of the shaft and a corresponding
recess (not shown) in the right-hand side 10B. The free ends of the
spring are formed into a loop so as to pivot freely in the curved
corner recesses in which it sits and to aid assembly. The apex of
this spring is positioned in a slot 74 in the crimped portion 94 of
the blood locator tube 92 thus assuming the role of cam follower
for the blood locator tube. This blood locator tube cam follower 74
is acted on by the first cam 58. Similarly, the first cam 58 acts
on a former cam follower 76, whereas the second cam 60 acts on
anvil-support cam followers 78A and 78B. The shape of the first and
second cams 58, 60 are shown in elevation in FIG. 16 (the second
cam 60 is shown in dotted outline as it is concealed by the first
cam). FIG. 16 also shows actuating pin 70, and a reinforcing strut
80 mounted between the first and second cams diametrically opposite
the actuating pin 70.
[0060] The cams are shown in the starting positions in FIGS. 15 and
16. Squeezing the trigger fully (through an angle of 23 degrees)
causes the cams to rotate anticlockwise through 90 degrees.
[0061] The apex of the leaf spring 88 which engages with and
operates as a cam follower for the blood locator tube (leaf spring
apex) acts against the rear surface 82 of the first cam 58. As the
first cam rotates anticlockwise from the position shown in FIG. 15,
the distance between the blood locator tube cam follower 74 and the
axis 62 is increased. This causes the blood locator tube to be
drawn backwards as the trigger is squeezed.
[0062] The former cam follower 76 acts against the front surface 84
of the first cam 58. Again the distance between former cam follower
76 and axis 62 increases through the initial stages of the trigger
being squeezed. The profile of surface 84 is designed with two
distinct non-linear efficiencies, transitioned from low mechanical
efficiency/high displacement to high mechanical efficiency/low
displacement. The first rise rate being for displacement of the
staple from its starting position to initial forming against the
anvil, which requires the largest displacement of the staple with
minimal load. The second non-linear rise rate is designed to
correlate the cams mechanical efficiency with the load profile
required to form the closed staple, minimising the trigger effort
required and ensuring a constant trigger effort over the full
cycle. A V-shaped section 84A of front section 84 causes the former
52 to momentarily suspend its forward motion when the staple has
been fully formed. The effect of this is to momentarily release the
pressure off the formed staple against the anvil, allowing the
anvil to be dropped. The geometry of the distal tip of the former
is designed to provide sufficient intrinsic spring tension to allow
the forming arms 54 to further squeeze the formed staple, once the
anvil has dropped, to further closed the formed staple. As the cam
continues to rotate the raised profile 84B on the cam causes the
former to advance forward again, ejecting the staple clear of the
device.
[0063] It can be seen that a raised hump 82A on the profile of the
rear surface 82 of the first cam is located almost diametrically
opposite the V-shaped section 84A. The reason for this is to
increase the rate at which the blood locator tube is drawn out of
the puncture site just before the staple is fully formed and
released. The intention is to leave the tube in the puncture as
late as possible to provide support for the walls of the blood
vessel for as long as possible And also to ensure that the head of
the device remains centred over the puncture hole. The blood
locator tube 92 is biased forward by the blood locator tube leaf
spring 88 which also maintains pressure between the apex of the
spring and the rear surface 82 of the first cam 58.
[0064] The blood locator tube leaf spring 88 allows the locator
tube to be displaced in a proximal direction (back into the shaft
of the device) against the spring tension in the event that the
locator tube meets any significant resistance during insertion of
the device, to prevent unnecessary trauma to soft tissues, the
vessel or its rear wall.
[0065] An example of where this is particularly useful is if the
stapler is advanced too far into the vessel, so that the tip of the
tube 92 meets the inner wall. The blood locator tube will then be
displaced back into the shaft, and may be designed to protrude
through the end of the handle housing to give a visual indication
that the device has been inserted against the wall. Furthermore,
the device may be designed so that the blood outlet port 93 on the
tube 92 is brought out of registry with the blood exit port 50 in
the handle housing when the tube is displaced backwards, so that
the clinician will note the flow of blood ceasing when the tube
meets the inner vessel wall in this way.
[0066] The cam mechanism 62, however, provides positive mechanical
displacements for withdrawing the locator tube at the appropriate
timing, to ensure there is no chance of the staple being formed
whilst the locator tube is in a forward position and potentially
interfering with the staple formation.
[0067] A further reason to leave the blood locator tube in the
puncture hole as late as possible is that the continued retraction
of the tube everts or turns outwards the opposed edges of the
puncture wound and aids penetration of the staple legs into the
arterial wall. Eversion of the edges of the puncture helps prevent
thrombus formation within the vessel. Yet another reason to leave
the blood locator tube in the puncture hole as late as possible is
to ensure that the stapler head remains centred over the hole
during the staple delivery process. When the locator tube is fully
retracted, only the guidewire is left within the wound, and this
will be easily retracted from the closed wound after the stapler
has been removed from the puncture site.
[0068] The anvil-support cam follower 78B acts against the rear
surface 90 of the second cam 60. It can be seen that this rear
surface 90 provides the greatest increase in distance relative to
the axis to the section 90A from about 60 to 90 degrees below the
horizontal. The reason for this is that the anvil is maintained in
place until the staple has been formed and the pressure on the
former has been relaxed slightly to allow the anvil to drop. The
anvil is maintained in place for the initial 60 degrees of rotation
by the anvil-support cam follower 78A being in contact with cam
surface 98 of cam 60, preventing the anvil-support 30 from moving
from its starting position. The cam surface 98 for the first 60
degrees of cam rotation is at a constant distance from the cam axle
62 (in dwell).
[0069] In use, the stapler is initially in the "pre-fire"
configuration shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. The front end of the blood
locator tube 92 is in a fully forward position projecting beyond
the free end of the bullet portion 14 of the shaft 10, the
anvil-support 30 is in a fully forward position with its arms 36
extending under the anvil's support wings 25 ensuring the anvil
fingers 24A are directly in front of the staple 40, the former 52
is in a fully retracted position away from the anvil fingers 24A,
and the staple 40 is in its fully back position up against the
forming arms 54.
[0070] In this configuration the external end of a previously
positioned guidewire 18 is inserted into the hole 96A in the front
end of the blood locator tube 92 and fed through the tube 92 until
it exits a guidewire exit port at the rear of the housing 12. The
stapler is now fed along the guidewire 18 until the tip 95 of the
tube 92 enters the blood vessel lumen through the vessel's puncture
hole. This is indicated by blood flowing out of the blood exit port
50 or, if present, the adapter 51. At this point the front end of
the bullet portion 14 of the shaft 10 will be resting against the
exterior wall of the blood vessel.
[0071] Now the trigger 56 is squeezed, causing the cams of the cam
mechanism 62 to rotate through 90 degrees. As mentioned, the rear
end of each of the blood locator tube 92, anvil-support 30 and
former 52 are coupled to the cam mechanism via cam followers and
the following co-ordinated movement of these components takes place
as the cams rotate through 90 degrees.
[0072] (A).
[0073] 0 degrees: Stapler in pre-fire configuration.
[0074] 32 degrees: Former 52 forward sufficiently to clamp staple
against anvil fingers 24A, blood locator tube begins to retract. At
this point the staple legs will have punctured the wall of blood
vessel, but the staple is not yet fully deformed.
[0075] 50 degrees: Former 52 forward sufficiently to deform the
staple legs around the anvil fingers 24A and close the staple on
the puncture site: blood locator tube 42 fully retracted. At some
point between 32 and 50 degrees, the blood locator tube will have
withdrawn from between the staple legs in time to allow them to
close. This should be left as late as possible to provide support
for the walls of the blood vessel for as long as possible.
[0076] 65 degrees: Clamp force released from staple (due to drop
off in cam profile). Anvil support 30 starting to retract.
[0077] 75 degrees: Anvil support 30 retracted sufficiently to act
against anvil sloped tilt arms 24B. Anvil fingers 24A begin to
drop.
[0078] 83 degrees: Anvil support 30 fully retracted. Anvil fingers
24A dropped down to allow release of staple. Intrinsic tension in
former arms 54 further closes the staple. Former 52 begins to move
forward again to eject staple. Former 52 begins to interfere with
the insert 160 to spread bullet portion 14 of the shaft to allow
for clear staple release.
[0079] 90 degrees: Former 52 fully forward; staple ejected from the
device.
[0080] The use of cams in cam mechanism 62 ensures the accuracy of
sequence and relative timing between events as well as ensuring
positive mechanical displacements of all components.
[0081] In a further embodiment to the above described device, on
the completion of the cycle described above, further rotation of
the cam causes the anvil support 30 to return to its fully forward
position, lifting the anvil fingers 24A to their raised position
behind the formed staple being held in forming arms 54. The former
is then retracted in a proximal direction (back into the shaft)
causing the rear of the closed staple to crash into the raised
anvil fingers 24A, to be positively ejected from within the forming
arms 54 and the device. The additional movements of the anvil
support and former may be facilitated by additional cam lobes on
cam 58; or alternatively spring driven, assisted and timed by
appropriately positioned radial slots in cam 58 to allowing the cam
follower of the anvil support to move forward and the cam follower
of the former to move rearwards.
[0082] In a further embodiment the trigger activates an automatic
firing cycle, not shown. A tension spring attached to the cams is
released from its extended state so as to rotate the actuation cam
through a 90 degree arc causing the same component movements as
described above.
[0083] In an alternative embodiment, not shown, once the staple has
been formed the forward end of the former 52 retracts and engages
pull arms on the anvil-support 30 causing it to move in a rearward
direction. As it does so, it engages with the rear end of the anvil
24, which is angled downward into the path of the moving slide.
Centrally opposed wings extend from the anvil and are located so as
to pivot in opposed wing slots formed in the right-hand side 10A of
the shaft. Once engaged with the slide the rear end of the anvil is
pushed upward causing it to pivot about the wings and arc the
forward end of the anvil downward. As it does so, it disengages
from the staple so that the device can be removed from the puncture
tract along the guidewire.
[0084] In a further embodiment the reverse profile 82 on the first
cam 58 which engages with the cam follower 74 on the blood locator
tube 92 is extended so that when the staple forming cycle is
completed the first cam continues to rotate causing the blood
locator tube to move further in a proximal direction. At its distal
end the blood locator tube has wings which as it moves in a
proximal direction engages with the pull arms of the anvil-support
30 causing it to move in a proximal direction and engage the anvil
tilt arms thereby disengaging the distal end of the anvil from the
formed staple. In this embodiment the second cam is redundant and
can be omitted.
[0085] In a further embodiment, FIG. 17, the bullet head 14 of the
shaft 10, which approximates the blood vessel wall 208, includes a
number of suction ports 200. These ports are in communication with
a suction adapter 202 via capillaries 204 within the shaft section.
Suction, from a standard wall suction outlet or independent suction
pump, is supplied to the suction adapter 202 via an on/off tap 206.
Once the device is in position on the arterial wall, as indicated
by blood flowing from the blood exit port, the tap 206 is turned to
the "on" position thereby delivering suction to the ports 200 on
the bullet head 14. This in turn suctions the blood vessel wall 208
against the face of the head 14 so as to stabilise it during
delivery of the staple. Once delivered the suction is deactivated
so as to remove the device from the blood vessel wall and tissue
tract.
[0086] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described
herein and may be modified or varied without departing from the
scope of the invention.
* * * * *