True multi-fire linear cutter
AssigneeCardica, Inc.
InventorBryan D. Knodel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One exemplary surgical apparatus may include: an anvil assembly to which a staple holder assembly detachably connected; feeder belts positioned at least partially within the staple holder assembly; staples separably attached to each feeder belt; a wedge assembly slidable within and along the staple holder assembly, the wedge assembly including an engagement feature; and a deployment handle. Upon closure of the anvil assembly and staple holder assembly relative to one another, the deployment handle engages the engagement feature. The deployment handle is movable along the anvil assembly to drive the wedge assembly relative to the staple holder assembly, feeder belts and staples in order to deform at least one staple to a closed state and separate at least one closed staple from the corresponding feeder belt.
Claims17
Surgical apparatus, comprising:
- an anvil assembly;
- a staple holder assembly detachably connected to said anvil assembly;
- a plurality of feeder belts positioned at least partially within said staple holder assembly, wherein at least one of said feeder belts includes a plurality of apertures defined therein;
- a plurality of staples separably attached to each of said feeder belts;
- a wedge assembly slidable within and along said staple holder assembly, said wedge assembly including an engagement feature comprising at least one latch bump configured to engage one of said apertures of said at least one feeder belt to advance said feeder belt during distal travel of said wedge assembly;
- and
- a deployment handle, wherein, upon closure of said anvil assembly and said staple holder assembly relative to one another, said deployment handle engages said engagement feature,
- wherein said deployment handle is movable along said anvil assembly to drive said wedge assembly relative to said staple holder assembly, said feeder belts and said staples in order to deform at least one of said staples to a closed state and separate at least one closed staple from one of said feeder belts.
A linear cutter, comprising:
- an anvil;
- a staple holder connected to and detachable in its entirety from said anvil;
- a plurality of feeder belts positioned at least partially within said staple holder;
- a plurality of staples separably attached to each said feeder belt;
- an adjustable tissue stop movably connected to at least one of said anvil and said staple holder, wherein said adjustable tissue stop controls the number of said staples deployed from said staple holder, and wherein said adjustable tissue stop includes a travel slot defined therein;
- and
- a wedge assembly including an engagement feature, at least part of which is slidable within and along said travel slot, wherein said travel slot controls an amount of travel of said wedge assembly to control a number of said staples deployed from said staple holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.