# US 2014/0151429 A1 · Trans-oral circular anvil introduction system with dilation feature

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- Number: US 2014/0151429 A1
- Document ID: US20140151429A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/693,430
- Filed: 2012-12-04
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04
- Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
- Inventors: Charles J. Scheib; John P. Measamer; Frederick E. Shelton, IV
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151429A1

## CPC

- 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 17/1114: {of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus}
- A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples}
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 2017/00278: {Transorgan operations, e.g. transgastric}
- A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00557: {inflatable (A61B2017/22051 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00818: {Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system}
- A61B 2017/0725: {with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots}
- A61B 2017/1132: {End-to-end connections}
- A61B 2017/1142: {Purse-string sutures}
- A61B 2017/1157: {applying the staples radially}
- A61B 2090/08021: {of the patient or his organs}
- A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An anvil introduction system is operable to provide smooth insertion of an anvil of a surgical stapling device through a bodily lumen such as the esophagus. The anvil introduction system is coupled to the anvil and includes a dilation feature. The dilation feature has a collapsed position and an expanded position. The dilation feature may cover staple pockets and an outer edge of the anvil with the dilation feature is in the expanded position. The anvil may be inserted through the bodily lumen with the dilation feature in the expanded position. The dilation feature may then be collapsed in order to complete an end-to-end anastomosis of the bodily lumen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a distal surface,
(ii) a proximal surface, and
(iii) a plurality of staple pockets, wherein the plurality of staple pockets are formed on the proximal surface of the anvil;
wherein the anvil is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and
(b) an anvil introduction system coupled with the anvil, wherein the anvil introduction system comprises an dilation feature, wherein the dilation feature is configured to transition between:
(i) a collapsed position, and
(ii) an expanded position, wherein the dilation feature covers the staple pockets of the anvil in the expanded position;
wherein the dilation feature is configured to be in the expanded position when the anvil is inserted through the bodily lumen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil is configured to be inserted trans-orally.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil introduction system is removeably coupled with the anvil.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil further comprises a shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an anvil securing feature coupled to the shaft of the anvil, wherein the anvil securing feature is operable to secure the anvil to the bodily lumen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the anvil securing feature comprises a collar wrapped around at least a portion of the shaft of the anvil and a flange protruding outwardly from the collar.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the anvil introduction system further comprises a tube coupled to the anvil shaft, wherein the tube is configured to pull the anvil through the bodily lumen.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dilation feature defines a tapered configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dilation feature comprises a bladder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bladder is configured to receive a fluid to transition the bladder from the collapsed position to the expanded position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fluid is either air or saline.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dilation feature comprises a plurality of expanding members.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the anvil introduction system further comprises a sliding feature, wherein the sliding feature is operable to transition the dilation feature from the collapsed position to the expanded position in response to translation of the sliding feature.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sliding feature comprises a sliding collar, a cam collar positioned distal to the sliding collar, and at least one connecting member coupling the sliding collar to the cam collar.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the dilation feature further comprises a mesh wrapped around the plurality of expanding members.

### Claim 16

An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a top surface,
(ii) a lower surface, and
(iii) a plurality of staple pockets, wherein the plurality of staple pockets are formed on the lower surface of the anvil;
wherein the anvil is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and
(b) an anvil grasping feature secured to the anvil, wherein the anvil grasping feature extends outwardly from the top surface of the anvil, wherein the grasping feature is operable to be grasped to pull the anvil through the bodily lumen such that the top surface leads as the anvil is pulled through the bodily lumen.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the grasping feature comprises a flexible tab.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the grasping feature comprises a shaft extending from the top surface of the anvil and a convex shaped top extending outwardly from the shaft.

### Claim 19

A method for introducing an apparatus for stapling tissue into tissue, the apparatus comprising an anvil and an anvil introduction system coupled with the anvil, wherein the anvil introduction system comprises a dilation feature, the method comprising:
(a) coupling the anvil introduction system to the anvil;
(b) expanding the dilation feature of the anvil introduction system to an expanded position; and
(c) pulling the anvil through tissue to a desired position with the dilation feature in the expanded position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising coupling a trocar of a surgical stapling instrument to the anvil.