Metal injection molded anvil for circular surgical stapler
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorAnil K. Nalagatla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is used to manufacture an anvil of a circular surgical stapler. The anvil includes a head and a coupling feature that extends proximally from the head. The method includes forming each of the head and the coupling feature using at least one metal injection molding process. The method also includes after forming the coupling feature, machining a through bore into the coupling feature that extends completely through the coupling feature along a longitudinal axis of the coupling feature.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing an anvil of a circular surgical stapler, wherein the anvil includes a head and a shank that extends proximally from the head, the method comprising:
- (a) simultaneously forming each of the head and the shank using the same metal injection molding process;
- and
- (b) after simultaneously forming each of the head and the shank using the same metal injection molding process, machining a through bore into the shank that extends completely through the shank along a longitudinal axis of the shank.
A method of manufacturing an anvil of a circular surgical stapler, wherein the anvil includes a head and a coupling feature extending proximally from the head, the method comprising:
- (a) forming the head including an annular array of staple forming pockets using a first metal injection molding process;
- (b) forming using a second metal injection molding process;
- and
- (c) coupling a polymeric insert that includes a plurality of splines with the coupling feature, wherein the plurality of splines is configured to align with features of the circular surgical stapler.
A method of manufacturing an anvil of a circular surgical stapler, wherein the anvil includes a head and a shank that extends proximally from the head, the method comprising:
- (a) forming the head and the shank simultaneously or sequentially using first and second metal injection molding processes;
- (b) after forming at least the shank, machining a through bore into the shank that extends completely through the shank along a longitudinal axis of the shank;
- and
- (c) coupling the head and the shank together before or after machining the through bore so that the through bore extends completely through an entirety of the anvil and the head circumferentially surrounds the through bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.