U.S. patent application number 15/465645 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-13 for surgical stapler.
The applicant listed for this patent is Covidien LP. Invention is credited to Thomas Wenchell.
Application Number | 20170196563 15/465645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40821890 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170196563 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wenchell; Thomas |
July 13, 2017 |
Surgical Stapler
Abstract
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge
section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners, an
anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when
advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections
clamping tissue therebetween. The first and second cam members are
movable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners. A cam
member supporting member fixed within the cartridge section has an
upper surface on which the cam members are slidable. The upper
surface of the cam member supporting member has a first upper
surface portion on a first plane and a second lower surface portion
in a different substantially parallel second plane such that the
first and second cam members slide in offset planes on the upper
surface to fire the fasteners.
Inventors: |
Wenchell; Thomas; (Durham,
CT) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Covidien LP |
Mansfield |
MA |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
40821890 |
Appl. No.: |
15/465645 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14534283 |
Nov 6, 2014 |
9636113 |
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15465645 |
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14247524 |
Apr 8, 2014 |
8905288 |
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14534283 |
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12335732 |
Dec 16, 2008 |
8727199 |
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14247524 |
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61018685 |
Jan 3, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/0725 20130101;
A61B 2017/07235 20130101; A61B 17/07207 20130101; A61B 17/068
20130101; A61B 2017/07242 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/072 20060101
A61B017/072 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying
apparatus, the cartridge assembly comprising: a first fastener
pusher configured to engage a first fastener having a first length;
a second fastener pusher configured to engage a second fastener
having a second length greater than the first length of the first
fastener; a cartridge channel including a first surface having a
first height and a second surface having a second height, the first
height of the first surface being greater than the second height of
the second surface, wherein the first surface is configured to be
axially aligned with the first fastener and the second surface is
configured to be axially aligned with the second fastener; and a
cam bar movable along the cartridge channel to facilitate
displacement of the first fastener pusher and the second fastener
pusher to eject the first fastener and the second fastener,
respectively.
3. The cartridge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first
fastener pusher is spaced-apart from the first surface of the
cartridge channel a first distance and the second fastener pusher
is spaced-apart from the second surface of the cartridge channel a
second distance greater than the first distance.
4. The cartridge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
cartridge channel includes a longitudinal centerline, the first
surface of the cartridge channel extending along the longitudinal
centerline and the second surface of the cartridge channel
including a first lateral portion extending along one side of the
first surface and a second lateral portion extending along an
opposite side of the first surface.
5. The cartridge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cam bar
includes a first cam member and a second cam member, the first cam
member movable along the first surface of the cartridge channel and
the second cam member movable along the second surface of the
cartridge channel.
6. The cartridge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first
cam member includes a first trajectory moving along the first
surface of the cartridge channel and the second cam member includes
a second trajectory moving along the second surface of the
cartridge channel, the first trajectory of the first cam member
being parallel to the second trajectory of the second cam
member.
7. The cartridge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first
cam member includes a first camming surface and the second cam
member includes a second camming surface, the first camming surface
of the first cam member and the first surface of the cartridge
channel defining a first angle and the second camming surface of
the second cam member and the second surface of the cartridge
channel defining a second angle, wherein the first angle is equal
to the second angle.
8. The cartridge assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first
cam member and the second cam member each include a distally
tapered configuration such that a distance defined between the
first camming surface and the first surface of the cartridge
channel decreases in a distal direction, and a distance defined
between the second camming surface and the second surface of the
cartridge channel decreases in the distal direction.
9. The cartridge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first
cam member and the second cam member are positioned and configured
such that the first fastener pusher and the second fastener pusher
are displaced perpendicularly in relation to the first surface of
the cartridge channel and the second surface of the cartridge
channel and parallel in relation to one another.
10. The cartridge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first
cam member and the second cam member are positioned and configured
such that the first fastener pusher and the second fastener pusher
are displaced transversely in relation to a direction of movement
of the first cam member and the second cam member,
respectively.
11. A cartridge assembly for use in a surgical fastener applying
apparatus, the cartridge assembly comprising: a first fastener
pusher configured to engage a first fastener having a first length;
a second fastener pusher configured to engage a second fastener
having a second length greater than the first length of the first
fastener; a cartridge channel including a first surface having a
first height and a second surface having a second height, the first
height of the first surface being greater than the second height of
the second surface, wherein a length difference between the first
length of the first fastener and the second length of the second
fastener is proportional to a height difference between the first
height of the first surface and the second height of the second
surface; and a cam bar movable along the cartridge channel to
facilitate displacement of the first fastener pusher and the second
fastener pusher to eject the first fastener and the second
fastener, respectively.
12. The cartridge assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first
fastener pusher is spaced-apart from the first surface of the
cartridge channel a first distance and the second fastener pusher
is spaced-apart from the second surface of the cartridge channel a
second distance greater than the first distance.
13. The cartridge assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of
the first fastener pusher and the second fastener pusher includes
an equivalent height.
14. The cartridge assembly according to claim 11, further including
a longitudinal track extending through the cartridge channel, the
cartridge channel having a first lateral side and a second lateral
side on opposite sides of the longitudinal track, wherein the
longitudinal track is configured to accommodate movement of a
cutting member.
15. The cartridge assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cam
bar includes a first cam member and a second cam member, the first
cam member movable along the first surface of the cartridge channel
on the first lateral side and the second cam member movable along
the second surface of the cartridge channel on the first lateral
side.
16. The cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein the first cam
member is connected to the second cam member such that the first
cam member and the second cam member move as a single unit.
17. The cartridge assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first
cam member includes a first camming surface and the second cam
member includes a second camming surface, the first camming surface
of the first cam member and the first surface of the cartridge
channel defining a first angle and the second camming surface of
the second cam member and the second surface of the cartridge
channel defining a second angle, wherein the first angle is equal
to the second angle.
18. The cartridge assembly according to claim 17, wherein the first
cam member and the second cam member each include a distally
tapered configuration such that a distance defined between the
first camming surface and the first surface of the cartridge
channel decreases in a distal direction, and a distance defined
between the second camming surface and the second surface of the
cartridge channel decreases in the distal direction.
19. The cartridge assembly according to claim 15, wherein the cam
bar further includes a third cam member and a fourth cam member,
the third cam member movable along the first surface of the
cartridge channel on the second lateral side and the fourth cam
member movable along the second surface of the cartridge channel on
the second lateral side.
20. The cartridge assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first
cam member and the third cam member each includes a first
trajectory moving along the first surface of the cartridge channel
and the second cam member and the fourth cam member each includes a
second trajectory moving along the second surface of the cartridge
channel, the first trajectory of the first cam member and the third
cam member being parallel to the second trajectory of the second
cam member and the fourth cam member.
21. The cartridge assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first
fastener includes a plurality of first fasteners arranged into a
first row and a second row on opposite sides of the longitudinal
track and the second fastener includes a plurality of second
fasteners arranged into a first row and a second row on opposite
sides of the longitudinal track.
22. The cartridge assembly according to claim 18, wherein the first
cam member and the third cam member are configured to eject the
first row and the second row of the plurality of first fasteners,
respectively, and the second cam member and the fourth cam member
are configured to eject the first row and the second row of the
plurality of second fasteners, respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/534,283 filed on Nov. 6, 2014, which
is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/247,524 filed on Apr. 8, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,905,288,
which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/335,732, filed on Dec. 16, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.
8,727,199, which claims priority from provisional application Ser.
No. 61/018,685, filed Jan. 3, 2008, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a surgical stapling device
and more particularly to a surgical stapling device having
pusher-engaging cam members that are slidable on offset planes.
[0004] Background of the Related Art
[0005] There are several known types of surgical stapling
instruments specifically adapted for use in various procedures. In
many such surgical devices, tissue is first grasped or clamped
between opposing jaw structures and then joined by surgical
fasteners. The fasteners are typically in the form of surgical
staples. These staples generally include a pair of legs adapted to
penetrate tissue and connected by a backspan from which they
extend. In use, the staples are formed to a "B" configuration.
Two-part fasteners are also known and include legs that are barbed
and connected by a backspan which are engaged and locked into a
separate retainer piece that is usually located in the anvil. In
some devices, a knife is provided to cut the tissue which has been
joined by the fasteners.
[0006] In these devices, one of the jaw structures carries a staple
cartridge having one or more laterally spaced rows of staples,
which are aligned with corresponding rows of anvil depressions on
an opposing jaw structure. The tissue is initially gripped or
clamped such that individual fasteners can be ejected from the
cartridge, through the slots, and forced through the clamped
tissue. The staples are ejected by longitudinal movement of a
driver and forced through the clamped tissue, forming against the
staple forming depressions of the anvil. The staples can be
arranged in a linear or non-linear row.
[0007] A common issue in transecting tissue and/or in anastomosis
procedures employing the surgical stapling instruments is the
balance between anastomotic strength and the degree of hemostasis
achievable. It is known to include different size staples in a
surgical stapling instrument having a constant gap (uniform
distance) between an anvil and a staple cartridge.
[0008] A common concern in these surgical procedures is hemostasis,
or the rate at which bleeding of the target tissue is stopped. It
is commonly known that by increasing the amount of pressure applied
to a wound, the flow of blood can be limited, thereby decreasing
the time necessary to achieve hemostasis. To this end, conventional
surgical fastening apparatus generally apply two or more rows of
fasteners about the cut-line to compress the surrounding tissue in
an effort to stop any bleeding and to join the cut tissue together.
Each of the fasteners will generally apply a compressive force to
the tissue sufficient to effectuate hemostasis, however, if too
much pressure is applied, this can result in a needless reduction
in blood flow to the tissue surrounding the cut-line. Accordingly,
the joining of tissue together in this manner may result in an
elevated level of necrosis, a slower rate of healing, and/or a
greater convalescence. On the other hand, if not enough pressure is
applied, proper hemostasis may not be achieved.
[0009] Consequently, it would be advantageous to provide a surgical
fastening apparatus capable of limiting the flow of blood in the
tissue immediately adjacent the cut tissue to effectuate hemostasis
and wound closure, while maximizing blood flow in the surrounding
tissue to facilitate healing.
SUMMARY
[0010] The present disclosure relates to forming different sized
staples by advancing cam members on different planes. In preferred
embodiments, the cam members have common sizes and angles and the
pushers have common sizes and angles which among other advantages,
can facilitate the manufacturing process.
[0011] More specifically, a cartridge section having offset or
stepped surfaces for cam members to travel along is disclosed
herein. The offset or stepped surfaces allow the cam members to
travel in different planes, which enables in preferred embodiments
cam members of substantially the same height and pushers of
substantially the same height to be used to fire staples of
different sizes against an anvil.
[0012] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a surgical
fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a
cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners and an anvil section
having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the
cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue
therebetween. First and second cam members are movable within the
cartridge section to fire the fasteners. A cam member supporting
member is fixed within the cartridge section and has an upper
surface on which the cam members are slidable. The upper surface of
the cam member supporting member has a first upper surface portion
on a first plane and a second lower surface portion on a different
substantially parallel second plane such that the first and second
cam members slide in offset planes on the upper surface to fire the
fasteners.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second cam members
are of substantially the same height. In a preferred embodiment,
the plurality of fasteners include a first set of fasteners having
legs of a first length and a second set of fasteners having legs of
a second longer length.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the first upper surface portion
is closer to the anvil section than the second lower surface
portion, and the second cam member slides along the second lower
surface to fire the second set of fasteners.
[0015] The cartridge may include third and fourth cam members, the
third and fourth cam members being movable on substantially
parallel offset planes. The second and fourth cam members are
preferably positioned outboard of the first and third cam members
and configured to fire fasteners having a length greater than a
length of fasteners fired by the first and third cam members.
[0016] In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a plurality of
fastener pushers configured to engage the fasteners as they are
advanced by the cam members, the fastener pushers preferably being
of substantially the same height. The pushers are preferably
movable by the cam members in a direction substantially transverse
to the direction of movement of the cam members.
[0017] The present disclosure also provides a surgical fastener
applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a
cartridge containing first and second sets of fasteners and an
anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when
advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections
clamping tissue therebetween. A first cam member is movable within
the cartridge section to advance the first set of fasteners against
the anvil to fully form the fasteners, the first cam member movable
in a first plane. A second cam member is movable within the
cartridge section along with the first cam member to advance the
second set of fasteners to fully form the fasteners, the second cam
member movable in a second plane offset from the first plane and
further from the anvil section than the first plane when the anvil
and cartridge sections are positioned to clamp tissue
therebetween.
[0018] In one embodiment the cam members are of substantially the
same height. In one embodiment, the first set of fasteners has legs
of a first length and the second set of fasteners has legs of a
second longer length.
[0019] Preferably, the cartridge includes a plurality of fastener
pushers configured to engage the fasteners as they are advanced by
the cam members, the fastener pushers preferably being of
substantially the same height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described
herein below with references to the drawings, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a view in partial cross-section showing the cams
bars on different planes.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two cam bars and two staple
pushers of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a portion of the cam bars
and cam bar support separated from the supporting channel;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a surgical
stapler having the offset cam bars of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the surgical stapler of FIG.
3 with the anvil and cartridge assemblies separated;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective of an alternate embodiment of a
surgical stapler of the present disclosure having offset camming
members; and
[0027] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the distal portion
of the surgical stapler of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Embodiments of the presently disclosed stapler will now be
described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like
numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of
the several views. As is common in the art, the term "proximal"
refers to that part or component closer to the user or operator,
i.e. surgeon or physician, while the term "distal" refers to that
part or component further away from the user.
[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the cam
bar/pusher arrangement of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3 and 4
illustrate one type of surgical stapler that can incorporate the
cam bar/pusher arrangement of FIG. 1.
[0030] Turning first to FIGS. 3 and 4, the stapler 10 has a
cartridge receiving half section 12, an anvil half section 14, and
handles 48 and 50 for facilitating clamping of the sections 12 and
14. Cartridge half section 12 has a channel 18 (FIG. 2A) to receive
cartridge assembly 16 which includes a plurality of staples 130 and
a plurality of pushers 120 to advance the staples 130 from the
cartridge 19 through slots 23. A cam bar assembly is advanced by
distal advancement of manual firing lever 56. The cam bar assembly
is slidable on cam bar supporting member 150 for longitudinal
advancement in the cartridge 19 to advance the pushers 120 in a
direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the
stapler and substantially transverse to the direction of movement
of the cam bars. Engagement of the pushers 120 by the cam members
advances the staples 130 through the tissue and into contact with
the anvil depressions of the anvil half section 14. Preferably
there are two staggered rows of slots 23 formed on either side of a
slotted knife track in the cam bar assembly which guides a knife
between the rows of staples. A single staple is positioned in each
of the slots 23. Staple pushers 120 are aligned with each slot 23
so that a single staple pusher is positioned under the staple
retained in the slot. The pushers can optionally be attached to
each other in groups of two offset oriented pusher pairs. More
details of the stapler are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.
No. 7,140,527, issued Nov. 28, 2006, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,730,
issued Jan. 6, 2006, the entire contents of each of these
applications is incorporated herein by reference.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the cam member
arrangement of the present disclosure, the pushers 120 are advanced
by the camming surfaces 112a, 112b of cam members 110a, 110b which
as shown are in the form of cam bars 110a, 110b. FIG. 2 illustrates
a distal portion of two of the cam bars 110, 110b and two of the
pushers 120a, 120b; FIG. 1 illustrates four cam bars (110a-110d)
and four of the pushers 120a-120d. The camming surfaces 112a, 112b
are preferably longitudinally staggered with respect to each other
to distribute the firing forces
[0032] More specifically, four cam bars (members) 110a-110d, four
pushers 120a-120d and four staples 130a-130d are shown in FIG. 1.
The cam bars 110a-110d are preferably of substantially the same
size (height) and angle. The staple pushers 120a-120d are also
preferably of substantially the same size (height). Cartridge half
section 12 also includes a cam bar (member) supporting member 150
fixedly mounted within channel 18 and having an offset plane 151 on
its upper surface. The upper surface includes a lower surface
portion 152 and a substantially parallel upper surface portion 154
on each side of the longitudinal centerline and which form surfaces
on which the respective cam bars (members) 110a-110d slide distally
to sequentially fire a longitudinal row of staples contained in the
staple cartridge 19. As shown, cam bar 110a is positioned on (and
slidable longitudinally along) lower surface portion 152 of offset
plane 151 and is in contact with pusher 120a, which contacts staple
130a. Cam bar 110b is positioned on (and slidable longitudinally
along) upper surface portion 154 of offset plane 151 and is in
contact with pusher 120b, which contacts staple 130b. Similar to
cam bar 110b, cam bar 110c is positioned on upper surface portion
154; similar to cam bar 110a, cam bar 110d is positioned on lower
surface portion 152 to contact respective pushers 120c, 120d to
fire staples 130c, 130d. Thus, cam bars 110a and 110d are outboard
of cam bars 110b, 110c.
[0033] As can be appreciated with reference to the Figures, the
difference in heights of surface portions 152, 154 of offset plane
151 enables staples 130 of different sizes (leg lengths) to be
fired into anvil pockets of anvil assembly 14 (shown schematically
in FIG. 1) for formation by the anvil. Accordingly, the staples of
smaller sizes (130b and 130c) are aligned with cam bars 110b and
110c, respectively, on upper surface portion 154. The staples of
larger sizes (130a and 130d) are aligned with cam bars 110a and
110d, respectively, on lower surface portion 152. It is envisioned
in a preferred embodiment that the height difference "d1" between
surface portions 152 and 154 of offset plane 151 is approximately
twice the height difference "d2" between larger staples (130a and
130d) and smaller staples (130b and 130c). Other height differences
are also contemplated. Preferably, the smaller staples are in the
inside rows and the larger staples are in the outside rows. In this
manner, the longer staples are provided on the outer rows where the
tissue might be thicker as a result of clamping by the instrument
jaws (anvil and cartridge) as some of the fluid of the tissue is
squeezed out so that the tissue is compressed further at the center
portions of the cartridge and anvil than at the lateral edges,
thereby leaving thicker tissue at the edges. In this manner, the
stapler is capable of limiting the flow of blood in the tissue
immediately adjacent the cut tissue to effectuate hemostasis and
wound closure, while maximizing blood flow in the surrounding
tissue to facilitate healing.
[0034] It should be appreciated that the offset planes of the
present disclosure can also be used with other staplers, including,
for example, other linear staples and endoscopic linear staplers,
such as disclosed for example in FIG. 5 described below.
[0035] It is also contemplated that as an alternative to two
surface heights of the cam member support 150 (or support 240
described below), more than two surface heights can be used. For
instance, the offset planes can include surfaces of three different
heights to provide advancement of cam members at three different
levels. This can be used, for example, for applying three different
size staples.
[0036] A method of firing staples of different sizes is also
provided. The method includes causing first and third cam members
(bars) 110b, 110c to travel along a first plane and causing second
and fourth cam members (bars) 110a, 110d, outboard of the first and
third cam members 110b, 110c, to travel along a second plane, where
the first plane and the second plane are offset from each other.
The second plane is further from the anvil surface when the
cartridge 19 and anvil are in position clamping tissue
therebetween. As the cam bars 110a-110d travel along the upper
surface of cam member support 150, they contact respective pushers
which then drive the respective staples out of the corresponding
cartridge slot, through tissue clamped between the anvil and
cartridge, and into anvil pockets for formation into B-shaped
staples. This method applies staples of different lengths. For
example, staples of shorter length would be applied to clamped
tissue closer to the center of the jaws and staples of longer
length would be applied to clamped tissue further from the
center.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the raised (stepped) surfaces for
supporting the cam bars can be formed on a plastic or other
material insert in the bottom of channel 18 of the cartridge half
section 12. The insert can be one piece formed with surfaces on
different planes, e.g. by varying the thickness of the portions,
or, alternatively, separate inserts to achieve the differing
heights can be utilized.
[0038] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternate embodiment utilizing
the concept of cam members on offset planes. Six camming members
206a-206e are illustrated, attached together, with the two outer
cam members on each side advanceable along one plane and the two
middle cam members advanceable along a higher plane. More
specifically, camming members 206a, 206b, 206e and 206f form the
two outer rows of the cam bar assembly on each side of a
longitudinal axis of the assembly. Cam members 206c and 206d are
positioned in the middle (between the two outer rows) and
configured for firing the two inner rows of staples. A cam member
support 240 has an upper surface with an offset plane 241 such that
it is stepped as shown to provide substantially parallel offset
planes to offset the height of the two inner cam members 206c, 206d
from the four outer cam members 206a, 206b, 206e, 206f More
specifically, cam member supporting member 240 is fixedly
positioned within channel 230 of cartridge assembly 220 and its
upper surface includes first and second lower surface portions 242,
244, and an intermediate upper surface portion 246 in between. The
intermediate surface portion 246 has a raised surface such that it
is higher, e.g. closer to the anvil assembly 214 when the
instrument is clamped, than the outer lower surface portions 242,
244. The higher positioned cam members 206c, 206d slide along the
raised intermediate surface portion 246. The cam bars slide
distally to sequentially advance staple pushers in a direction
substantially transverse to the movement of the cam members
206a-206f to fire longitudinal rows of staples contained in
cartridge 227 through the tissue and against anvil member 225 to
form the staples. In a preferred embodiment, the staples having
legs of shorter length are fired by intermediate cam members 206c,
206d and the larger staples having legs of longer length are fired
by the outer set of cam members 206a, 206b, 206e, and 206f The
outer surface portions 242 and 244 of offset plane 241 are lower,
e.g. further from the anvil assembly 214 when the instrument is
clamped, to accommodate the outer cam members 206a, 206b, 206e,
206f to fire staplers of longer length than the length of the
staples in the inner rows.
[0039] This cam arrangement can be used with the endoscopic
surgical stapler of FIG. 5, which has an elongated tubular portion
212, an anvil assembly 214 pivotally mounted at a distal end
portion of the elongated tubular portion 212 and a cartridge
assembly 220. The anvil and cartridge assemblies 214, 220 are moved
into approximation to clamp tissue therebetween. A handle 230 is
squeezed to clamp the anvil and fire the staples in the manner
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,256 issued Jun. 9, 1998 and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,865,361 issued Feb. 2, 1999, the entire contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment, staples of longer leg length are
placed in the four outer rows and staples of shorter leg length are
placed in the two inner rows. Preferably, the cam members are of
substantially the same height, as are the pushers.
[0041] Although described for fastener applying apparatus for
firing staples formed by an anvil, the offset plane of this
disclosure could also be used in fastener applying apparatus for
firing two part fasteners.
[0042] While the above description contains many specifics, these
specifics should not be construed as limitations on the scope of
the present disclosure, but merely as illustrations of various
embodiments thereof. Therefore, the above description should not be
construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various
embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other
modifications within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
* * * * *