# US 2014/0151430 A1 · Circular anvil introduction system with alignment feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151430 A1 - Document ID: US20140151430A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,455 - 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; Cortney E. Henderson; Frederick E. Shelton, IV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151430A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples} - A61B 17/1114: {of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus is provided for stapling tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil and a trocar selectively coupled with the anvil. The anvil may have an inner opening and a plurality of staple pockets aligned around a surface of the anvil. The anvil may be inserted trans-orally through an esophagus prior to being coupled with the trocar. The trocar may include a shaft and a locking assembly. The locking assembly may secure the anvil in position relative to the trocar when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. The apparatus may also include an alignment assembly to align the staple pockets of the anvil relative to the apparatus. The apparatus may also include an introduction assembly to guide the anvil through the esophagus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises: (i) a body, wherein the body has a disc shape, (ii) an inner opening formed through the body, and (iii) a plurality of staple pockets, wherein the plurality of staple pockets are positioned along a surface of the body; wherein the anvil is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and (b) a trocar selectively coupled with the anvil, wherein the trocar comprises: (i) a shaft, and (ii) a locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly comprises a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein the locking assembly is operable to secure the anvil in position relative to the trocar when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil comprises a first plurality of staple pockets positioned along a top surface and a second plurality of staple pockets positioned along a bottom surface of the body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly comprises at least one resilient tab extending from the shaft of the trocar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the locking assembly comprises a pair of resilient tabs extending from the shaft of the trocar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tab is resiliently biased by a resilient member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one tab is configured to engage a top surface of the anvil when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the anvil further comprises a sleeve extending from the anvil, wherein the sleeve comprises at least one opening, wherein the at least one tab is configured to engage the at least one opening when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sleeve is configured to extend through the inner opening of the anvil, wherein the sleeve comprises at least one opening adjacent to a first end of the sleeve and at least one opening adjacent to a second end of the sleeve, such that the sleeve is configured to couple either the first end or the second end of the sleeve with the trocar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sleeve comprises a flexible section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly comprises an expanding member configured to engage the anvil when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the expanding member comprises a recess configured to engage a wall of the inner opening of the anvil when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a camming member, wherein the camming member is translatable within the shaft of the trocar, wherein the camming member is operable to move the locking assembly from the collapsed position to the expanded position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the trocar further comprises at least one fin configured to engage a bottom surface of the anvil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one fin is operable to lock the camming member relative to the shaft of the trocar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly comprises an inner member translatable relative to the shaft of the trocar, a first expanding member secured to the inner member, and a second expanding member coupled to the first expanding member and secured to the shaft of the trocar. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises: (i) an inner opening, (ii) a plurality of staple pockets, wherein the plurality of staple pockets are positioned along a surface of the anvil, and (iii) a plurality of alignment features positioned around the inner opening; wherein the anvil is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and (b) a trocar selectively coupled with the anvil, wherein the trocar extends from a stapling head assembly, wherein the trocar comprises: (i) a shaft, and (ii) an alignment assembly configured to engage the alignment features of the anvil, wherein the alignment assembly is operable to rotationally align the anvil relative to the trocar such that the staple pockets of the anvil are positioned relative to staples within the stapling head assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the trocar comprises at least one tab extending from the shaft of the trocar, wherein the anvil comprises at least one recess, wherein the at least one tab is configured to engage the at least one recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the trocar comprises a plurality of ribs extending along the shaft, wherein the anvil comprises at least one protrusion extending within the inner opening, wherein the protrusion of the anvil is configured to engage the plurality of ribs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the trocar comprises at least one alignment recess along the shaft, wherein the anvil comprises at least one protrusion extending within the inner opening, wherein the protrusion of the anvil is configured to engage the at least one alignment recess. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises: (i) an inner opening, and (ii) a plurality of staple pockets, wherein the plurality of staple pockets are positioned along a surface of the anvil; wherein the anvil is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and (b) an anvil introduction system, wherein the anvil introduction system comprises a sleeve positioned through the inner opening of the anvil, wherein the sleeve is configured to bend beyond about 90 degrees, wherein the anvil introduction system is operable to guide the anvil through the bodily lumen.