US 10,588,634 B2Granted

Surgical stapler cartridge loading and unloading

AssigneeAesculap AG

InventorsBenjamin J. Matthias, Kevin L. Hudelson, Nicholas J. Terzulli, Thomas J. Palermo, Julian N. Nikolchev

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Abstract

An exemplary surgical method includes possessing a loader that holds a curved-tip cartridge, and a surgical stapler that includes an anvil and channel at a distal end thereof; causing at least one of the loader and the channel to move toward the other; as a result of the causing, engaging the loader and the curved-tip cartridge with the channel; and causing at least one of the loader and the channel to move away from the other, such that the curved-tip cartridge remains engaged with the channel. That method further may include actuating the surgical stapler; grasping the unloader; sliding the unloader toward the channel; disengaging the curved-tip cartridge from the channel with the unloader; and withdrawing the unloader away from said channel, wherein the withdrawing causes the curved-tip cartridge to disengage from the channel.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A loader engageable with a workpiece stapler channel and a workpiece curved-tip cartridge held by that stapler channel, the loader comprising:

a cavity defined within the loader, wherein at least a distal portion of the workpiece curved-tip cartridge is held within said cavity;
a proximal upper spring defined in an upper portion of the loader and extending downward into said cavity, said proximal upper spring biased downward against the workpiece curved-tip cartridge with a first force;
a proximal bottom spring defined in a lower portion of the loader and extending upward into said cavity, said proximal bottom spring biased upward against the workpiece curved-tip cartridge with a second force greater than said first force;
and
a distal bottom spring defined in the lower portion of the loader and extending upward into said cavity at a location distal to said proximal bottom spring, wherein said distal bottom spring engages a distal segment of the workpiece curved-tip cartridge in order to elevate a distal end of the workpiece curved-tip cartridge relative to its proximal end.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/646,524Filed 11 Jul 2017
Published: US 2019/0015101 A117 Jan 2019
Granted: 17 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61B 17/07207
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: the staples being applied sequentially
A61B 17/0644
Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue: penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
A61B 34/30
Computer-aided surgery; Manipulators or robots specially adapted for use in surgery: surgical robots
A61B 50/00
Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances