Self contained gas powered surgical apparatus

A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising:

• a) a frame:
• b) a pneumatic system disposed in said frame including a supply of pressurized gas pneumatically connected to a pneumatic actuator means, said pneumatic actuator means including an actuator, and a piston reciprocally slidable within a cylinder connected to said supply of pressurized gas;
• c) sequencing means operatively associated with said pneumatic system for providing a continuous flow of said pressurized gas to said cylinder sufficient to complete a cycle of firing independent or the position of said actuator;
• d) an endoscopic portion extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic portion including:
• i) an elongated housing having a distal end portion which comprises means to support a plurality of surgical fasteners,
• ii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface, said anvil member being mounted with respect to said elongated housing such that at least the distal end of said anvil member is movable in directions generally transverse to said longitudinal axis between an open position spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface,
• iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position, and
• iv) means ejecting said surgical fasteners from said fastener support means;
• and
• e) linkage means for connecting said pneumatic actuator means to said means for ejecting said surgical fasteners such that said means for ejecting said surgical fasteners is pneumatically driven.

A self contained gas powered surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising:

• a) a frame having clamping means and
• b) an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from the frame, said elongated portion including:
• i) an extension tube having a distal end mounted collar tube, the extension tube rotatably connected to the clamping means of the frame for rotatable and longitudinal movement through the elongated portion between a first open position and a second closed position;
• ii) a cover tube mounted to the frame for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis;
• iii) an elongated support fixed to the cover tube, said elongated support retaining a cartridge assembly including plurality of surgical fasteners slidably mounted therein and having a tissue engaging surface and said elongated support retaining an anvil member having a fastener forming surface, the anvil member being movable between an open position corresponding to the first position of the extension tube and a closed position corresponding to the second position of the extension tube wherein the fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with the tissue engaging surface of the cartridge assembly;
• and
• iv) means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge assembly, said means including a channel and a cam bar adapter mounting at least one cam bar for ejecting surgical fasteners, said channel adapted for longitudinal movement within the elongated support and rotational movement with the endoscopic portion,
• c) a self contained pneumatic system mounted in said frame and including a supply of low pressure gas and a pneumatic actuator mechanism associated with said gas supply, said pneumatic actuator mechanism including a piston connected to said channel, a cylinder and a firing mechanism mounted to initiate a cycle of firing such that when said firing mechanism is activated, gas from said gas supply passes into said cylinder independent of subsequent positioning of said firing mechanism to drive said piston and channel in a longitudinally distal direction to cause said channel to move said cam bar distally to eject said surgical fasteners through a complete firing cycle after initial actuation;
• d) clamp lockout means associated with said clamping means for preventing approximation of said anvil and cartridge unless both are in alignment;
• and
• e) locking means associated with said pneumatic system for preventing firing of said apparatus after a predetermined number of firings.

A self contained gas powered surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) an endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic portion including:
• i) an elongated housing having a distal member for mounting a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly having a proximal and a distal end portion and including plurality of surgical fasteners slidably mounted therein, and having a tissue engaging surface;
• ii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface, said anvil member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and being mounted with respect to said elongated housing such that at least said distal end portion of said anvil member is movable between an open position spaced from said housing and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface of said cartridge assembly;
• iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position;
• iv) means for sequentially ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge assembly, whereby said fasteners sequentially engage said fastener forming surface;
• and
• c) a pneumatic system disposed in said frame and including a self contained supply of pressurized gas, a pneumatic actuator mechanism associated with said gas supply, and a trigger mechanism mounted for engagement with said actuator mechanism to initiate a firing cycle, said pneumatic system adapted to actuate said means for ejecting said surgical fasteners, said pneumatic system operating said means for sequentially ejecting said surgical fasteners, independent of the position of said trigger mechanism after initial actuation, to complete the firing cycle.