US 9,168,040 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for surgical fastening

OwnerHelmut L. Kayan, James E. Jervisinventors

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for applying fasteners during endoscopic surgery are provided. The apparatus generally comprises a handle portion, a triggering mechanism and a fastener applicator. One embodiment of the invention forms the fastener around a single focal point on an anvil. Another embodiment vertically stacks the fasteners in a fastener applicator which is readily detachable from the handle portion by virtue of a rotational locking system and which may be replaced with a new fastener applicator having a fresh load of vertically stacked fasteners. The various embodiments may be variously combined together in a single device. The methods generally include the following steps: forming a fastener by placing it over a single focal point anvil and pressing the fastener against the single focal point anvil using a slide.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of fastening a surgical fastener in endoscopic surgery, the method comprising the steps of:

a) placing a fastener applicator in close proximity with a surgical target, the fastener applicator including:
a first half-section and a second half-section, the first half-section includes a flat side having a recessed region formed therein, the recessed region being configured and dimensioned to retain a plurality of vertically stacked fasteners therein, the second half-section includes a flat side having a recessed portion formed therein;
a fastener positioning spring attached to and flush with the recessed region of the first half-section, wherein the fastener positioning spring is biased to extend beyond the recessed region formed in the flat side of the first half-section;
and
a stop spring housed within recessed portion of the second half-section;
b) triggering the fastener applicator to drive a fastener against an anvil so as to form the fastener, wherein the fastener includes a back having a single bend therein;
c) discharging the fastener from the fastener applicator;
d) removing the fastener applicator from close proximity with said surgical target;
and
e) unrestraining the stop spring to allow the stop spring to extend beyond the recessed portion of the second half-section and into the recessed region of the first half-section.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/329,608Filed 19 Dec 2011 · division
Priority: 10 Jul 1998
Published: US 2012/0085807 A112 Apr 2012
Granted: 27 Oct 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

A61B 17/0684
For applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil: having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
A61B 17/068
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps
A61B
Medical diagnosis and surgery

Family

Application09/113,827Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Jul 1998
Application09/851,211Parent of this continuation · filed 8 May 2001
Application10/697,523Parent of this division · filed 30 Oct 2003
Application12/609,083Parent of this division · filed 30 Oct 2009
US 2012/0085807 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Apr 2012
US 8,091,755 B2Parent of this division
US 7,641,094 B2Parent of this division
US 6,652,538 B2Parent of this continuation
Application10/697,523Parent of this continuation
US 6,228,098 B1Parent of this continuation
US 2003/0045889 A1Published application
US 2004/0087969 A1Published application
US 2010/0049215 A1Published application
US 9,168,040 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.