Surgical stapler with toggling distal tip
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsJeffery D. Bruns, Nicholas Fanelli, Robert J. Simms, Scott A. Jenkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.
Claims20
A surgical stapling device comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- and
- an end effector defining a longitudinal axis and including:
- a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge;
- a second jaw defining a longitudinal axis and comprising an anvil including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the first jaw coupled to the second jaw at a proximal end thereof such that the end effector is moveable from an open position to a clamped position;
- a tip having a proximal portion and a distal portion and having a thickness that decreases towards the distal portion of the tip, the tip being movably coupled to a distal end of the second jaw for movement between a first position substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and a second position defining an acute angle with the longitudinal axis;
- and
- the distal end of the second jaw engaged with the tip to releasably retain the tip in one of the first or second positions, wherein the distal end of the second jaw includes a resilient cantilevered segment supported on the distal end of the second jaw.
An anvil assembly comprising:
- an anvil including a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a tip having a proximal portion and a distal portion and having a thickness that decreases towards the distal portion of the tip, the tip being movably coupled to the anvil for movement between a first position substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis and a second position defining an acute angle with the longitudinal axis;
- and
- the distal end of the anvil engaged with the tip to releasably retain the tip in one of the first or second positions, wherein the distal end of the second jaw includes a resilient cantilevered segment supported on the distal end of the anvil.
An anvil assembly comprising:
- an anvil including a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a tip having a proximal portion and a distal portion and having a thickness that decreases towards the distal portion of the tip, the tip being movably coupled to the anvil for movement between a first position substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis and a second position defining an acute angle with the longitudinal axis;
- and
- means, disposed on a distal end of the anvil, for releasably retaining the tip in one of the first or second positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.