Anvil for circular stapler
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsRobert H. Schnut, John C. Robertson, Richard J. Gallagher, David N. Fowler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anvil assembly for a surgical fastening instrument is disclosed. The anvil is constructed to pivot relative to an anvil shaft to facilitate movement of the anvil and instrument during use. The anvil also has an improved surface for severing structures and a sloped surface for guiding a knife during use.
Claims24
An anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument comprising:
- a shaft having proximal and distal end portions;
- an anvil pivotally associated with the shaft distal end portion;
- and
- a retaining member at least partially disposed within the anvil, the retaining member being movable from a first position, wherein the anvil is prevented from pivoting relative to the shaft, and a second position, wherein the anvil is pivotable relative to the shaft.
An anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument comprising:
- a shaft having proximal and distal end portions;
- an anvil pivotally associated with the shaft distal end portion;
- and
- a retaining member movable from a first position, wherein a portion of the retaining member is in contact with the distal end portion of the shaft, to a second position, wherein the portion of the retaining member in contact with the distal end portion of the shaft has moved from the first position.
An anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument comprising:
- a shaft having proximal and distal end portions;
- an anvil pivotally associated with the shaft distal end portion;
- and
- biasing means disposed between the shaft and the anvil for pivotally moving the anvil relative to the shaft.
An anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument comprising:
- a shaft having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis;
- an anvil pivotally associated with the distal end portion of the shaft;
- and
- a spring disposed between the shaft and the anvil for pivotally biasing the anvil relative to the shaft longitudinal axis.
In an anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument, the anvil assembly having an anvil and a shaft having a longitudinal axis extending from the anvil, the improvement comprising:
- pivotal association between the anvil and shaft and a spring disposed between the shaft and the anvil for pivotally biasing the anvil relative to the shaft longitudinal axis.
An anvil assembly for a circular stapling instrument comprising:
- a shaft having proximal and distal end portions;
- an anvil pivotally associated with the shaft distal end portion;
- and
- locking means for locking the anvil in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the shaft, the locking means at least partially contacting a portion of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.