# US 11,109,862 B2 · Surgical stapling device with flexible shaft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,109,862 B2 - Document ID: US11109862B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/711,609 - Filed: 2019-12-12 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-12 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Justin Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109862B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling} - A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 2017/00323: {Cables or rods} - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/07214: {Stapler heads} - A61B 2017/07228: {Arrangement of the staples} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2017/2903: {transferring rotary motion} - A61B 2017/2905: {flexible} - A61B 2017/2912: {transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston} - A61B 2017/2933: {camming or guiding means} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical stapling device includes a housing assembly that is coupled to a tool assembly by a flexible elongate body that having an outer tube, a middle tube, and an inner cable. Each of the outer tube and the inner cable has a proximal end portion fixedly connected to the housing assembly and a distal end portion that is fixedly connected to the tool assembly. The middle tube is positioned within the outer tube about the inner cable and is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to operate the tool assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical stapling device comprising: a housing assembly including a body defining a cavity, and a drive mechanism positioned within the cavity; an elongate body including an outer tube, a middle tube extending through the outer tube, and an inner cable extending through the middle tube, the outer tube, middle tube, and inner cable being formed of flexible materials; and a tool assembly including an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly, and a clamp member, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil assembly between open and clamped positions and including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, the cartridge body defining a plurality of staple receiving slots, each of the staple receiving slots receiving one of the plurality of staples, the clamp member movable within the tool assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the cartridge body; the inner cable including a proximal end portion fixedly coupled to the body of the housing assembly and a distal end portion fixedly coupled to the tool assembly, the middle tube including a proximal end portion coupled to the drive mechanism and a distal end portion coupled to the clamp member, and the outer tube having a proximal end portion coupled to the body of the housing assembly and a distal end portion coupled to the tool assembly; wherein the drive mechanism is actuable to advance the middle tube within the outer tube along the inner cable to advance the clamp member between its retracted and advanced positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive nut that is movable within the cavity of the body of the housing assembly between retracted and advanced positions, the proximal end portion of the middle tube coupled to the drive nut. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical stapling device of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism includes a lead screw rotatably supported within the cavity, the lead screw operably engaged with the drive nut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical stapling device of claim 3, wherein the drive nut defines a threaded bore, the lead screw extending through the threaded bore and being rotatable to move the drive nut between its retracted and advanced positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, further including an inner cable tensioning mechanism including a shaft and a turnabout supported on the shaft within the cavity of the body of the housing assembly, the inner cable wrapped about the turnabout. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical stapling device of claim 5, wherein the shaft includes a threaded screw and the body of the housing assembly defines a threaded bore, the threaded screw received within the threaded bore of the body of the housing assembly and being rotatable to adjust the position of the turnabout within the housing to adjust tension of the inner cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical stapling device of claim 6, wherein the turnabout includes a distal end portion defining a curved surface, the inner cable extending along the curved surface of the turnabout. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The surgical stapling device of claim 7, wherein the middle tube defines a longitudinal slot positioned within the cavity of the body of the housing assembly, the inner cable extending through the longitudinal slot of the middle tube and about the turnabout. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly includes an actuation sled, the actuation sled movable within the cartridge body from a retracted position to an advanced position in response to movement of the clamp member from its retracted position to its advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the cartridge body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surgical stapling device of claim 9, wherein the cartridge assembly includes a knife, the knife movable from a retracted position to an advanced position in response to movement of the clamp member from its retracted position to its advanced position to cut tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge assemblies. ### Claim 11 A surgical stapling device comprising: a housing assembly including a body defining a cavity, and a drive mechanism positioned within the cavity; an elongate body including an outer tube, a middle tube extending through the outer tube, and an inner cable extending through the middle tube, the outer tube, middle tube, and inner cable formed from flexible materials; and a tool assembly supported on the elongate body including an operating member; the inner cable including a proximal end portion fixedly coupled to the body of the housing assembly and a distal end portion fixedly coupled to the tool assembly, the middle tube including a proximal end portion coupled to the drive mechanism and a distal end portion coupled to the operating member, and the outer tube having a proximal end portion coupled to the body of the housing assembly and a distal end portion coupled to the tool assembly; and an inner cable tensioning mechanism including a shaft and a turnabout supported on the shaft within the cavity of the body of the housing assembly, the inner cable wrapped about the turnabout; wherein the drive mechanism is actuable to advance the middle tube within the outer tube along the inner cable to advance the operating member between its retracted and advanced positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling device of claim 11, wherein the tool assembly further includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, and the operating member includes a clamp member, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil assembly between open and clamped positions and including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, the cartridge body defining a plurality of staple receiving slots, each of the staple receiving slots receiving one of the plurality of staples, the clamp member movable within the tool assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the cartridge body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling device of claim 11, wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive nut that is movable within the cavity of the body of the housing assembly between retracted and advanced positions, the proximal end portion of the middle tube coupled to the drive nut. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical stapling device of claim 13, wherein the drive nut defines a threaded bore, the lead screw extending through the threaded bore and being rotatable to move the drive nut between its retracted and advanced positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical stapling device of claim 14, wherein the shaft includes a threaded screw and the body of the housing assembly defines a threaded bore, the threaded screw received within the threaded bore of the body of the housing assembly and being rotatable to adjust the position of the turnabout within the housing to adjust tension of the inner cable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical stapling device of claim 15, wherein the turnabout includes a distal end portion defining a curved surface, the inner cable extending along the curved surface of the turnabout. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical stapling device of claim 16, wherein the middle tube defines a longitudinal slot positioned within the cavity of the body of the housing assembly, the inner cable extending through the longitudinal slot of the middle tube and about the turnabout. ### Claim 18 A surgical stapling device comprising: a housing supporting a drive mechanism; an elongate body including an outer tube, a middle tube extending through the outer tube, and an inner cable extending through the middle tube, the outer tube, middle tube, and inner cable being formed of a flexible materials; and a tool assembly including an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly, and a clamp member, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil assembly between open and clamped positions and including a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, the cartridge body defining a plurality of staple receiving slots, each of the staple receiving slots receiving one of the plurality of staples, the clamp member movable within the tool assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from the cartridge body; the inner cable including a proximal end portion fixedly coupled to the body of the housing assembly and a distal end portion fixedly coupled to the tool assembly, the middle tube including a proximal end portion coupled to the drive mechanism and a distal end portion coupled to the clamp member, and the outer tube having a proximal end portion coupled to the body of the housing assembly and a distal end portion coupled to the tool assembly; wherein the drive mechanism is actuable to advance the middle tube within the outer tube along the inner cable to advance the clamp member between its retracted and advanced positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical stapling device of claim 18, further including an inner cable tensioning mechanism supported on the housing, the inner cable tensioning mechanism including a threaded screw and a turnabout supported on the threaded screw, the inner cable wrapped about the turnabout, the housing defining a threaded bore, the threaded screw received within the threaded bore of the body of the housing assembly and being rotatable to adjust the position of the turnabout within the housing to adjust tension of the inner cable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The surgical stapling device of claim 19, wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive nut that is movable along the housing assembly between retracted and advanced positions, the proximal end portion of the middle tube coupled to the drive nut.