US 8,136,712 B2 · Surgical stapler with discrete staple height adjustment and tactile feedback

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical stapler is provided that may comprise a body, a stapling head operably coupled to the body, an anvil movably supported relative to the stapling head for selective travel toward and away from the stapling head, and an anvil adjustment shaft supported by the body for selectively adjusting a position of the anvil relative to the stapling head. The adjustment shaft and/or the body may be configured to establish at least one predetermined staple forming height between the anvil and the stapling head irrespective of adjustment shaft rotation. Additionally, the adjustment shaft and/or the body may be configured to provide tactile feedback to a user rotating the anvil adjustment shaft, thereby providing the user of an indication of when an appropriate staple forming height has been reached. Various integrations of components described herein may also reduce the part count required for a surgical stapler, thereby reducing assembly time and manufacturing cost.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A surgical stapler, comprising:

a body comprising:
a handle portion;
and
a shaft portion extending from the handle portion;
a stapling head assembly releasably coupled to the shaft portion, the stapling head assembly comprising:
a staple cartridge for supporting one or more surgical staples;
and
at least one staple driver for engaging and driving the staples from the staple cartridge;
a drive system for applying drive motions to the staple driver;
an anvil movably supported relative to the staple cartridge for axial movement toward and away from the staple cartridge;
and
an anvil adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting an axial position of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil adjustment assembly comprises an adjustment shaft and a trocar coupled to the adjustment shaft for travel therewith, the trocar configured for removable attachment to the anvil, wherein one of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises an engagement portion, and wherein the other of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises:
a screw surface comprising at least one ramp portion, at least one dwell portion, and at least one delimiter separating the at least one dwell portion from the at least one ramp portion, the at least one ramp portion wherein the at least one delimiter comprises at least one of a bump, a protrusion, or a notch configured to operably engage the engagement portion to cause the adjustment shaft to move relative to the body when the adjustment shaft is rotated.

10 more elements

A surgical stapler, comprising:

a body comprising:
a handle portion;
and
a shaft portion extending from the handle portion;
a stapling head assembly comprising:
a staple cartridge portion;
and
an anvil movably supported relative to the staple cartridge portion for axial movement toward and away from the staple cartridge portion;
and
an anvil adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting an axial position of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge portion, wherein the anvil adjustment assembly comprises an adjustment shaft and a trocar, wherein the trocar is coupled to the adjustment shaft for travel therewith, wherein the trocar is configured for removable attachment to the anvil, wherein one of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises an engagement portion, and wherein the other of the adjustment shaft or the body comprises:
a screw surface comprising a ramp portion, a dwell portion, and at least one delimiter separating the dwell portion from the ramp portion, wherein the at least one delimiter comprises at least one of a bump, a protrusion, and a notch, and wherein the ramp portion is configured to operably engage the engagement portion to cause the adjustment shaft to move relative to the body when the adjustment shaft is rotated.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical stapler with discrete staple height adjustment and tactile feedback

Life of this patent

Surgical stapler with discrete staple height adjustment and tactile feedback

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32