Method for annealing stapler anvils
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsDonald A. Morin, Bartolo Sciano, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anvil member for use in a surgical stapler is annealed by localized heating, preferably induction heating. A shaped shielding means is used to cradle the anvil so as to expose the staple crimping portion of the anvil. The heating is performed so as to anneal only the delimited staple crimping portion of the anvil. All other portions of the anvil are either shielded by the cradle or are out of the heating range.
Claims21
A method for annealing a delimited portion of an anvil member for use in a surgical stapler said method comprising:
- a) providing a means for heating;
- b) placing said anvil member in cradle means, said cradle means comprising a member fabricated from a thermally conductive material and possessing means configured and dimensioned to receive said anvil such that a first part of the exterior surface of the anvil is in thermally conductive contact with the interior surface of the receiving means and a second part of the exterior surface of the anvil is exposed;
- c) positioning said cradle in proximity to said heating means such that the delimited portion of the second part of the exterior surface of the anvil member is within the heating range of said heating means;
- and
- d) operating said heating means such that the delimited exposed portion of the anvil member is heated to an annealing temperature.
A method for annealing a delimited portion of an anvil member for use in a surgical stapler, said method comprising:
- a) providing a means for induction heating
- b) placing said anvil member in a heat sink configured and dimensioned to receive said anvil member such that a first part of the exterior surface of the anvil is in thermally conductive contact with said heat sink and a second part of the exterior surface of the anvil is exposed;
- c) positioning said heat sink in proximity to said inducting heating means such that the delimited portion of the second part of the exterior surface of the anvil is within heating range of said induction heating means;
- d) operating said induction heating means such that said delimited portion of the anvil member is heated to an annealing temperature;
- and
- e) terminating the heating operation when said annealing temperature is reached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.