CA1281966C - Reloading unit for surgical fastening instruments - Google Patents
Reloading unit for surgical fastening instrumentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1281966C CA1281966C CA000545982A CA545982A CA1281966C CA 1281966 C CA1281966 C CA 1281966C CA 000545982 A CA000545982 A CA 000545982A CA 545982 A CA545982 A CA 545982A CA 1281966 C CA1281966 C CA 1281966C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- staples
- staple
- staple cartridge
- transfer
- instrument
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
- A61B17/068—Surgical staplers, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps
- A61B17/072—Surgical staplers, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus for providing a new charge of staples to a staple cartridge in surgical fastening instruments. A transfer magazine, housing the new charge of staples, is adapted to be positioned in alignment with the staple cartridge contained in the instrument. Upon closure of the instrument, a new charge of staples is transferred from the magazine to the staple cartridge thereby allowing for further usage of the instrument.
Apparatus for providing a new charge of staples to a staple cartridge in surgical fastening instruments. A transfer magazine, housing the new charge of staples, is adapted to be positioned in alignment with the staple cartridge contained in the instrument. Upon closure of the instrument, a new charge of staples is transferred from the magazine to the staple cartridge thereby allowing for further usage of the instrument.
Description
This invention relates generally to surgical fastener applying instruments, and more particularly to a reloading unit to facilitate reusing such instruments and their stapling assemblies.
Surgical fastening instruments have been developed utilizing stapling assemblies which include an array or charge of U-shaped staples to be utilized generally simultaneously. Included in the prior art, and illustrative thereof, are surgical fastening instruments which apply linear arrays of staples to body tissue clamped between a staple cartridge and anvil of a stapling assembly. In addition, surgical fasteners known in the prior art apply circular arrays of surgical staples to hollow body organs clamped between the staple cartridge and anvil. Illustrative of the former is U.S. 4,577,322 issued to Green et al. on March 4, 19~6, while the latter type instrument is illustrated in U.S. Patent 4,304,236 issued to Conta et al., on December 8, 1981.
While surgical fasteners of the above type have met with a great commercial acceptance, their usage has been limited to a single firing or discharge of an array of staples during a surgical procedure. Once these instruments have been so used, they are typically disposed of, and if another stapling procedure is required during the surgical procedure with the same patient, another instrument is employed. Such usage is expensive since the instrument is used only once and discarded.
Surgical fastening instruments are also available which are intended to be reused, thus providing multiple applications of surgical fastening. In such instruments, after the initial discharge of staples has taken place during a surgical procedure, reuse o the instrument is facilitated by replacing the entire stapling assembly. In other words, the stapling assembly which includes the staple cartridge and anvil and which may also include an alignment means, is replaced. Thus, the spent stapling assembly is removed fro~ the instrument and a new 6~
sterilized stapling assembly is inserted as a replacement therefor.
Staple assemblies are relatively expensive and replacement of numerous staple cartridges or staple assemblies during a single suryical procedure for certain applications become expensive and time consuming.
By the means disclosed herein, a reloading unit for surgical fasteners is provided which facilitates reuse of the instrument several times during a surgical procedure with the same patient. The reloading unit is further advantageous because of its relatively low cost and ease of reloading an otherwise disposable surgical fastener.
Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a transfer magazine for providing a charge of staples to a staple cartridge in a surgical fastening instrument which comprises: pusher means having a plurality of staple support members spaced from one another, each of said support members being generally shaped to conform to the inner surface of a staple, a plurality of staples disposed on said staple support members, and holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to mate with and hold each of said staples on said support members prior to transfer to the staple cartridge, said holding means being adapted to slidably move with respect to said staples and ~5 support members to release said staplers held therein and facilitate loading a charge of staples into the staple cartridge. of the surgical fastening instrument.
Another aspect of the invention provides a reloading unit for use with surgical fastening instruments having staple cartridges to provide a new charge of staples to said cartridge and reload said instrument thereby enabling reuse thereof in surgical procedures which comprises: pusher means in the form of a comb like member including a plurality of spaced prongs which serve as staple support members and generally conform to the inner shape of a staple, a plurality of U-shaped staples disposed over said staple support members, holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to hold and 2a slidably engage said staples disposed over sai~ support members, guide means disposed on said holding means for slidably engaging the side edges of the staple cartridge on the surgical fastening instrumellt, and alignment means for aligning the charge of staples in said trarlsfer magazine with said staple cartridge to allow for transfer of the new charge of said staples in said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge upon closure of said surgical fastening instrument.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method of performing multiple stapling functions utilizing a stapling instrument which comprises the steps of: firing the instrument to expend a charge of staples contained in a staple cartridge of the instrument, providing a new charge of staples in a transfer magazine for reloading said staple cartridge, said transfer magazine including therein a plurality of staples corresponding substantially to the number of staples carried in said staple cartridge, opening the instrument to separate the staple cartridge and anvil portions of the stapling assembly, positioning said transfer magazine between the open portions of said stapling assembly, aligning said transfer magazine and staple cartridge to facilitate transfer of said staples in said magazine to said cartridge with a closed end of each ~5 of said plurality of said staples first entering said cartridge thereby a].igning the free ends of the legs of the staple with the opening in said cartridge, and closing said stapling instrument sufficiently to cause said staple cartridge and anvil portions of said stapling assembly to close upon said transfer magazine disposed therebetween so as to cause transfer of the staple~ from said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge.
Thus, the invention disclosed herein provides a reloading unit in the form of a transfer magazine for a surgical fastening apparatus which facilitates the multiple use of such apparatus. As indicated, the reloading unit includes a new charge or array of staples or fasteners and may be utilized in conjunction with arrays of both linear ~Z~3~9~i6 2b and circular surgical fasteners. The reloading unit may also be used to reload staple cartridges with singular or multiple rows of staples. The transfer magazine is thus adapted to provide a new charge of staples to the staples : ~ ' 1 cartridge and includes along therewith a pusher means and coopera-2 tive holding means. The pusher means includes a plurality ~f 3 spaced apart staple support members each of which is generally 4 shaped to conform to the inner surface of a staple. Over each of the support mem~ers is disposed a staple which typically is 6 U-shaped. A holding means, which includes a plurality of spaced 7 receptacles, is adapted to mate with and hold the stapleson the 8 support members prior to transfer to the staple cartridge. The 9 holding means is slidably engaged with the staples on the support lo members of the pusner means and is adapted to release the staples 11 held therein and facilitat~ loading of a charge of staples into 12 a staple cartridge of a surgical stapling or fastening instrument.
13 An important requirement with respect to the support 14 members disposed along the pusher means resides in the length of the particular members. In this respect, the length of the 16 support members must be sufficient to properly load the staples 1~ into the staple cartridge. It is thus preferred that the staple 18 support members be of a length sufficient to insert and load the 19 staples into the previously used staple cartriage to a depth ~here the staple ends do not protrude from the surface of the 21 staple cartridge. As can be appreciated, this loading is re 22 quired to avoid any tearing or cutting of body tissue being 23 inserted between the recharged staple cartridge and the anvil 24 of the newly loaded stapling assembly.
In the preferred embodiment, the pusher member is 26 provided in the form a comb-like bar with the staple support 27 members extended from the interconnecting rear bar portion.
28 The rear bar member thus acts as a stop and limits the extent 29 to which the staples and support member~ pass through the receptacles in the holding means. In addition, positioning and ~'~8~
alignment means are provided for loading and engaging the transfer magazine with the staple cartridge of the surgical fastener. In this respect, a pair of guide rails are provided on the holding means which slidably engage the respective outer sides of the staple cartridge. The receiving means includes an aperture for mating with an alignment pin on the stapling assembly of the surgical instrument. In this manner, the transfer magazine is loaded into the spent stapling assembly, being guided into alignment with the staple cartridge by means of the guide rails provided on the holding means. Alignment is achieved and maintained by passing an alignment pin, provided with the stapling assembly, through an aperture in the transfer magazine. Thus, the new charge of staples in the transfer magazine, which is aligned with the receptacles in th~ spent staple cartridge, may be transferred into the cartridge upon closure of the instrument.
The preferred embodiment further includes a housing or closure for the transfer magazine. An indicator opening is further provided in the housing to allow viewing of the pusher means. In this manner, one may readily ascertain whether or not a new charga of staples exists within the transfer magazine.
The method of practising the invention includes ~5 the firing or discharging of an array of staples in a surgical fastener of the type described above. Thereafter, a new charge of staples is provided in a transfer magazine for loading into the staple cartridge. The transfer magazine includes a plurality of staples substantially corresponding to the number of staples previously carried in the staple cartridge. After the instrument has been fired, it is opened to separate the staple cartridge and anvil portions of the stapling assembly. At that point, the transfer magazine containing the new charge of staples i5 positioned 1 between the open portions of the stapling assembly. The ~ransfe~
2 magazine is aligned with the staple cartridge to facilitate - 3 transfer of the staples from the magazine to the cartridge with 4 the clo,sed end of the ~shaped staple first entering the empty S receptacles in the cartridge. Such staple insertion thus 6 aligns the legs of the staple with the opening in the cartridge.
~ Transfer of the staples is accomplished by closing the stapling 8 assem~ly of the surgical instrument su~ficient to close the 9 cartridge and anvil upon the transfer magazine thereby effecting a transfer of the staples from the transfer magazine into the 11 empty receptacles in the staple cartridge.
12 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the step 13 of aligning includes utilization o~ a pin disposed on the stapling 14 assembly to align the transfer magazine therewith by extending the pin through an aperture in the transfer magazine upon closure 16 of the instrument. In addition, positionins of the transfer 17 magazine with respect to the staple cartridge is accomplished 18 by guiding the transfer magazine by means of rail members dis-19 posed along the sides thereof so as to slidably engage the spent staple eaxtridge.
21 The closing step in the preferred embodim~nt includes 22 the step of urging the pusher member in the transfer magazine 23 aginst the inner portion of the staples such that during the 24 step of closing, the pusher member causes the staples ~o be transferred from the transfer magazine to the empty opening in 26 the staple cartridge. As discussed, it is importan~ that 2~ during the closing step the staples are fully inserted into 28 the staple cartridge sufficient to prevent the protrusion of the 29 staple ends through the surface of the newly loaded cartridge.
While the reloading unit of the present in~ention is ~7~ 6 illustrated as being adapted for use with a linear surgical fastening instrument, it may also be used to reload staple cartridges having a circular array such as those used, for instance, in an end-to-end anastomosis device. Also, the reloading unit may be used with other linear stapled arrangements such as, for instance, a lateral anastomosis stapler of the type described in U.S. Patent 3,499,591.
It is accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a reloading unit for use in conjunction with surgical fastening instruments to allow for multiple irings thereof.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a reloading unit which permits multiple uses o~ a surgical fastening instru~ent and which is relatively inexpensive and simple to use, thus resulting in a substantial reduction of cost when multiple fastening procedures are employed on a patient.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a surgical fastening instrument and reloading unit suitable for use therewith to facilitate multiple uses of the instrument with rapid and effective reloading during a surgical procedure.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in cross-section, of a surgical fastening instrument suitable for use with an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stapling assembly of a surgical Eastening instrument and the reloading unit of an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a top cross-sectional view oE an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention taken in cross-section along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a stapling assemhly having an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention inserted therein;
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Fig. 5 is a top cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view, partially in cross-section, depicting an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention being inserted into the open spent staple cartridge of a surgical fastening instrument;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation view similar to that of Fig. 6, with the reloading unit positioned within the stapling assembly;
Fig. 8 is a side elevation view similar to Fig. 6 and 7, depicting the stapling assembly and reloading unit in the closed reloaded position; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation view similar to that of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, depicting the reloaded open stapling assembly with the reloading unit being removed therefrom.
The reloading unit of the present invention is described for use in connection with a linear surgical fastening instrument of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,573,622. Thus, the reloading unit depicted herein includes an array of longitudinal U-shaped staples. When used in conjunction with instruments having staple arrays in other forms, such as circular, as described in U.S.
Patent 4,304,326, the reloading unit is provided with a comparable shaped array of staples, such as, for instance, a circular array. The reloading unit may also be provided with single or multiple rows of staples depending upon the type of sur~ical fastening instrument which is to be reloaded.
With reference to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the linear surgical fastening instrument 10 includes a manually operated clamp actuator lever 20 and a manually operable fastener actuator lever or trigger 30 adjacent to handle portion 40 of the instrument. At the other end of the instrument 10 is a stapling assembly 50 which includes an anvil portion 51 and a staple cartridge 52. A resiliently biased alignment pin 53 is urged toward the open position by means of lever spring 54 which is ., .. . ~ , . ..
coupled to the clamp actuator lever 20 by means of longitudinal bar 55.
While the details of the structure and operation of the surgical fastening instrument 10 are described in the U.S. Patent ~,537,622, lts overall operation is described with reference to the above identified parts. In this connection, manual closure of clamp actuator 20 causes bar 55 to move forward and move the anvil portion 51 and staple carrying portion 52 with respect to one another. In a surgical procedure, such closure clamps the body tissue therebetween for fastening which is accomplished by squeezing the trigger 30. Closure of clamp actuator 20 also moves the spring lever 54 towards the stapling assembly 50. In this manner, alignmen~ pin 53 is inserted into the receptacle 56 provided in the anvil portion 51 of the stapling assembly 50.
With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the reloading unit 60 of the present invention includes a housing portion 61 extending rearwardly from the staple holding plate 62.
Holding plate 62 includes a plurality of apertures 63 through which engage the . . ~ c ~ 966 1 staples 75 and hold each staple o~ the support membe~ 72 prior 2 to transfer to the staple cartridge 52. In the illustrative 3 embodiment, two r~ws of apertures 63 are provided. Depending 4 from holding plate 62 are a pair of guide rails 64. An additional aperture 6~ is provided in holding plate 62 to receive alignment 6 pin 53 on surgical instrument 10. A pusher bar 70 is provided 7 in the form of a comb-like structure having a rearward bar 71 8 ~rom which extends a plurality of teeth 72 which pass through 9 apertures 63 in holding plate 620 Teeth 72 of pusher bar 70 areshaped to conform substantially to the inner surface of the 11 U-shaped staples 75 to be loaded into the staple cartridge 52.
12 Thus, teeth 72 function as support members ~or the U-shaped staples 13 75, both of which are slidably movable with respect to holding 14 plate 62. Rearward bar 71 serves as a stop member, and limits the movement of pusher bar 70 with respect to holding plate 62.
16 Housing 61 includes an opening 66 in at least one wall 17 thereof through which staples 75 being supported on pusher bar 18 70 may be viewed. In this manner, it may readily be determined 19 whether or not the reloading unit 60 includes a fresh charge of staples 75. Housing 61 also includes open end 67 which is 21 adapted to be inserted over anvil portion 51 when the reloading 22 unit 60 is utilized. It is not~d that housing portion 61 may 23 alternatively be provided as a removable member.
24 ~fter surgical fastening instrument 10 has been fired and the initial load of staples provided with the instrument are 26 discharged, reloading unit 60 which is provided therewith in a 27 sterilized package may be used to reload instrument 10. While 28 it is expected that a single reloading unit will typically be 29 used with each surgical fastening in~txument thereby allowing 30 for two firings with a single instrument, it is pos~ible to l66 1 provide additional reloading units which would allow the in-2 strument to be used additional times.
3 When the instrument is ready to be reloaded, the 4 instrument is placed in the open position, i.~., the anvil portion 51 and staple cartridge 52 are in spaced relatio~, and 6 reloading unit 60 is inserted as depicted in Fig. 6 with the 7 opening 67 in housing 61 being inserted over anvil p~rtion 51.
a Loading is preferably accomplished by sliding reloading unit 9 60 along the empty staple cartridge 52 of the stapling assembly lo 50. Guide rails 64 are thus provided and spaced from one another 11 a distance to accommodate the width of the staple cartridge 52.
12 With the reloading unit 60 fully inserted within the open jaws 13 of stapling assembly 50, as illustrated in Fig. 7, aperture 65 14 provided in holding plate 62 is in alignment with pin 53. Thus, lS insertion of the reloading uni~ 60, utilizing guide rails 64 and 16 the alignment aperture 65, assures proper mating of the staples 17 in reloading unit 60 with the empty staple cartridge 52. In 18 the alternate embodiment using a removable housing, the housing 19 is removed from the pusher bar 70 and hoIding plate 62 prior to insertion of the reloading unit.
21 ~eloading of stapling assembly 50 is accomplished by 22 first closing clamp actuator 20 which causes the alignment pin 23 53 to pass ~hrough the aperture 65 and which moves the anvil 51 24 of stapling assembly 50 int~ a bearing relationship with rear wall of the pusher member 70. Each of the staples 75 in reloading 26 unit 60 is thus transferred to the empty array of openings in 27 the stapie carrying portion 51 of cartridge 50. In this manner, ~8 anvil 51 is urged against pusher member 70 and holding plate 62 29 is held in position against staple cartridge 52 of stapling assembly 50. Closure of the stapling assem~ly 50 causes pusher 1 member 70, which is slidable with respect to holding plate 62, 2 to push the staples 75 through apertures 63 in holding plate 62 3 and into` the empty receptacles 80 in the staple cartridge 52.
4 Simultaneously with loading a new charge of staples into staple cartridge 52, instrument 10 is set for firing.
6 In reloading the instrument, the U shaped staples 75 ? are inserted into the empty receptacles 80 of staple car-~ tridge 52 with the base or transverse leg of U-shaped staple 9 75 entering first. This is accomplished by the pusher bar teeth 72 bearing against the rear flat portion of staple 75 resulting 11 in the pointed ends of staple 75 entering the staple cartridge 1~ 52 last. In order to properly reload instrument 10, it is 13 important to shape the teeth 72 substantially to conform to the i4 inner portions of staple 75 and be of a length sufficient to insure proper insertion of the staple. In this respect, teeth 16 72 on pusher member 70 are of a length sufficient to cause the 17 inserted staple 75 to have its legs inserted below the surface 18 of staple cartridge 52. Inser~ion to this depth will insure that 19 the staples do not tear or bruise the skin as it is inserted into the jaws of the stapling assembly 50 during a surgical 21 procedure.
22 Utiliæation of the reloading unit 60 with a surgical 23 instrument, such as the described linear surgical fastener 10, 24 substantially reduces the effective cost for multiple stapling procedures on a single patient. Moreover, the procedure vf 26 reloading the instrument may be accomplished effectively and 27 quickly without any cumbersome technique. Thus, the reloading 28 unit of the present invention is ideally suited for use in 29l surgical procedures.
It is recognized that although the above description 1 is directed ~o a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is 2 noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent 3 to those skilled in the art and, therefore, may be made without S departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
.tl l43 1"~
29 .
Surgical fastening instruments have been developed utilizing stapling assemblies which include an array or charge of U-shaped staples to be utilized generally simultaneously. Included in the prior art, and illustrative thereof, are surgical fastening instruments which apply linear arrays of staples to body tissue clamped between a staple cartridge and anvil of a stapling assembly. In addition, surgical fasteners known in the prior art apply circular arrays of surgical staples to hollow body organs clamped between the staple cartridge and anvil. Illustrative of the former is U.S. 4,577,322 issued to Green et al. on March 4, 19~6, while the latter type instrument is illustrated in U.S. Patent 4,304,236 issued to Conta et al., on December 8, 1981.
While surgical fasteners of the above type have met with a great commercial acceptance, their usage has been limited to a single firing or discharge of an array of staples during a surgical procedure. Once these instruments have been so used, they are typically disposed of, and if another stapling procedure is required during the surgical procedure with the same patient, another instrument is employed. Such usage is expensive since the instrument is used only once and discarded.
Surgical fastening instruments are also available which are intended to be reused, thus providing multiple applications of surgical fastening. In such instruments, after the initial discharge of staples has taken place during a surgical procedure, reuse o the instrument is facilitated by replacing the entire stapling assembly. In other words, the stapling assembly which includes the staple cartridge and anvil and which may also include an alignment means, is replaced. Thus, the spent stapling assembly is removed fro~ the instrument and a new 6~
sterilized stapling assembly is inserted as a replacement therefor.
Staple assemblies are relatively expensive and replacement of numerous staple cartridges or staple assemblies during a single suryical procedure for certain applications become expensive and time consuming.
By the means disclosed herein, a reloading unit for surgical fasteners is provided which facilitates reuse of the instrument several times during a surgical procedure with the same patient. The reloading unit is further advantageous because of its relatively low cost and ease of reloading an otherwise disposable surgical fastener.
Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a transfer magazine for providing a charge of staples to a staple cartridge in a surgical fastening instrument which comprises: pusher means having a plurality of staple support members spaced from one another, each of said support members being generally shaped to conform to the inner surface of a staple, a plurality of staples disposed on said staple support members, and holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to mate with and hold each of said staples on said support members prior to transfer to the staple cartridge, said holding means being adapted to slidably move with respect to said staples and ~5 support members to release said staplers held therein and facilitate loading a charge of staples into the staple cartridge. of the surgical fastening instrument.
Another aspect of the invention provides a reloading unit for use with surgical fastening instruments having staple cartridges to provide a new charge of staples to said cartridge and reload said instrument thereby enabling reuse thereof in surgical procedures which comprises: pusher means in the form of a comb like member including a plurality of spaced prongs which serve as staple support members and generally conform to the inner shape of a staple, a plurality of U-shaped staples disposed over said staple support members, holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to hold and 2a slidably engage said staples disposed over sai~ support members, guide means disposed on said holding means for slidably engaging the side edges of the staple cartridge on the surgical fastening instrumellt, and alignment means for aligning the charge of staples in said trarlsfer magazine with said staple cartridge to allow for transfer of the new charge of said staples in said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge upon closure of said surgical fastening instrument.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method of performing multiple stapling functions utilizing a stapling instrument which comprises the steps of: firing the instrument to expend a charge of staples contained in a staple cartridge of the instrument, providing a new charge of staples in a transfer magazine for reloading said staple cartridge, said transfer magazine including therein a plurality of staples corresponding substantially to the number of staples carried in said staple cartridge, opening the instrument to separate the staple cartridge and anvil portions of the stapling assembly, positioning said transfer magazine between the open portions of said stapling assembly, aligning said transfer magazine and staple cartridge to facilitate transfer of said staples in said magazine to said cartridge with a closed end of each ~5 of said plurality of said staples first entering said cartridge thereby a].igning the free ends of the legs of the staple with the opening in said cartridge, and closing said stapling instrument sufficiently to cause said staple cartridge and anvil portions of said stapling assembly to close upon said transfer magazine disposed therebetween so as to cause transfer of the staple~ from said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge.
Thus, the invention disclosed herein provides a reloading unit in the form of a transfer magazine for a surgical fastening apparatus which facilitates the multiple use of such apparatus. As indicated, the reloading unit includes a new charge or array of staples or fasteners and may be utilized in conjunction with arrays of both linear ~Z~3~9~i6 2b and circular surgical fasteners. The reloading unit may also be used to reload staple cartridges with singular or multiple rows of staples. The transfer magazine is thus adapted to provide a new charge of staples to the staples : ~ ' 1 cartridge and includes along therewith a pusher means and coopera-2 tive holding means. The pusher means includes a plurality ~f 3 spaced apart staple support members each of which is generally 4 shaped to conform to the inner surface of a staple. Over each of the support mem~ers is disposed a staple which typically is 6 U-shaped. A holding means, which includes a plurality of spaced 7 receptacles, is adapted to mate with and hold the stapleson the 8 support members prior to transfer to the staple cartridge. The 9 holding means is slidably engaged with the staples on the support lo members of the pusner means and is adapted to release the staples 11 held therein and facilitat~ loading of a charge of staples into 12 a staple cartridge of a surgical stapling or fastening instrument.
13 An important requirement with respect to the support 14 members disposed along the pusher means resides in the length of the particular members. In this respect, the length of the 16 support members must be sufficient to properly load the staples 1~ into the staple cartridge. It is thus preferred that the staple 18 support members be of a length sufficient to insert and load the 19 staples into the previously used staple cartriage to a depth ~here the staple ends do not protrude from the surface of the 21 staple cartridge. As can be appreciated, this loading is re 22 quired to avoid any tearing or cutting of body tissue being 23 inserted between the recharged staple cartridge and the anvil 24 of the newly loaded stapling assembly.
In the preferred embodiment, the pusher member is 26 provided in the form a comb-like bar with the staple support 27 members extended from the interconnecting rear bar portion.
28 The rear bar member thus acts as a stop and limits the extent 29 to which the staples and support member~ pass through the receptacles in the holding means. In addition, positioning and ~'~8~
alignment means are provided for loading and engaging the transfer magazine with the staple cartridge of the surgical fastener. In this respect, a pair of guide rails are provided on the holding means which slidably engage the respective outer sides of the staple cartridge. The receiving means includes an aperture for mating with an alignment pin on the stapling assembly of the surgical instrument. In this manner, the transfer magazine is loaded into the spent stapling assembly, being guided into alignment with the staple cartridge by means of the guide rails provided on the holding means. Alignment is achieved and maintained by passing an alignment pin, provided with the stapling assembly, through an aperture in the transfer magazine. Thus, the new charge of staples in the transfer magazine, which is aligned with the receptacles in th~ spent staple cartridge, may be transferred into the cartridge upon closure of the instrument.
The preferred embodiment further includes a housing or closure for the transfer magazine. An indicator opening is further provided in the housing to allow viewing of the pusher means. In this manner, one may readily ascertain whether or not a new charga of staples exists within the transfer magazine.
The method of practising the invention includes ~5 the firing or discharging of an array of staples in a surgical fastener of the type described above. Thereafter, a new charge of staples is provided in a transfer magazine for loading into the staple cartridge. The transfer magazine includes a plurality of staples substantially corresponding to the number of staples previously carried in the staple cartridge. After the instrument has been fired, it is opened to separate the staple cartridge and anvil portions of the stapling assembly. At that point, the transfer magazine containing the new charge of staples i5 positioned 1 between the open portions of the stapling assembly. The ~ransfe~
2 magazine is aligned with the staple cartridge to facilitate - 3 transfer of the staples from the magazine to the cartridge with 4 the clo,sed end of the ~shaped staple first entering the empty S receptacles in the cartridge. Such staple insertion thus 6 aligns the legs of the staple with the opening in the cartridge.
~ Transfer of the staples is accomplished by closing the stapling 8 assem~ly of the surgical instrument su~ficient to close the 9 cartridge and anvil upon the transfer magazine thereby effecting a transfer of the staples from the transfer magazine into the 11 empty receptacles in the staple cartridge.
12 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the step 13 of aligning includes utilization o~ a pin disposed on the stapling 14 assembly to align the transfer magazine therewith by extending the pin through an aperture in the transfer magazine upon closure 16 of the instrument. In addition, positionins of the transfer 17 magazine with respect to the staple cartridge is accomplished 18 by guiding the transfer magazine by means of rail members dis-19 posed along the sides thereof so as to slidably engage the spent staple eaxtridge.
21 The closing step in the preferred embodim~nt includes 22 the step of urging the pusher member in the transfer magazine 23 aginst the inner portion of the staples such that during the 24 step of closing, the pusher member causes the staples ~o be transferred from the transfer magazine to the empty opening in 26 the staple cartridge. As discussed, it is importan~ that 2~ during the closing step the staples are fully inserted into 28 the staple cartridge sufficient to prevent the protrusion of the 29 staple ends through the surface of the newly loaded cartridge.
While the reloading unit of the present in~ention is ~7~ 6 illustrated as being adapted for use with a linear surgical fastening instrument, it may also be used to reload staple cartridges having a circular array such as those used, for instance, in an end-to-end anastomosis device. Also, the reloading unit may be used with other linear stapled arrangements such as, for instance, a lateral anastomosis stapler of the type described in U.S. Patent 3,499,591.
It is accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a reloading unit for use in conjunction with surgical fastening instruments to allow for multiple irings thereof.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a reloading unit which permits multiple uses o~ a surgical fastening instru~ent and which is relatively inexpensive and simple to use, thus resulting in a substantial reduction of cost when multiple fastening procedures are employed on a patient.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a surgical fastening instrument and reloading unit suitable for use therewith to facilitate multiple uses of the instrument with rapid and effective reloading during a surgical procedure.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in cross-section, of a surgical fastening instrument suitable for use with an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stapling assembly of a surgical Eastening instrument and the reloading unit of an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a top cross-sectional view oE an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention taken in cross-section along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a stapling assemhly having an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention inserted therein;
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Fig. 5 is a top cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view, partially in cross-section, depicting an embodiment of the reloading unit of the present invention being inserted into the open spent staple cartridge of a surgical fastening instrument;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation view similar to that of Fig. 6, with the reloading unit positioned within the stapling assembly;
Fig. 8 is a side elevation view similar to Fig. 6 and 7, depicting the stapling assembly and reloading unit in the closed reloaded position; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation view similar to that of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, depicting the reloaded open stapling assembly with the reloading unit being removed therefrom.
The reloading unit of the present invention is described for use in connection with a linear surgical fastening instrument of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,573,622. Thus, the reloading unit depicted herein includes an array of longitudinal U-shaped staples. When used in conjunction with instruments having staple arrays in other forms, such as circular, as described in U.S.
Patent 4,304,326, the reloading unit is provided with a comparable shaped array of staples, such as, for instance, a circular array. The reloading unit may also be provided with single or multiple rows of staples depending upon the type of sur~ical fastening instrument which is to be reloaded.
With reference to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the linear surgical fastening instrument 10 includes a manually operated clamp actuator lever 20 and a manually operable fastener actuator lever or trigger 30 adjacent to handle portion 40 of the instrument. At the other end of the instrument 10 is a stapling assembly 50 which includes an anvil portion 51 and a staple cartridge 52. A resiliently biased alignment pin 53 is urged toward the open position by means of lever spring 54 which is ., .. . ~ , . ..
coupled to the clamp actuator lever 20 by means of longitudinal bar 55.
While the details of the structure and operation of the surgical fastening instrument 10 are described in the U.S. Patent ~,537,622, lts overall operation is described with reference to the above identified parts. In this connection, manual closure of clamp actuator 20 causes bar 55 to move forward and move the anvil portion 51 and staple carrying portion 52 with respect to one another. In a surgical procedure, such closure clamps the body tissue therebetween for fastening which is accomplished by squeezing the trigger 30. Closure of clamp actuator 20 also moves the spring lever 54 towards the stapling assembly 50. In this manner, alignmen~ pin 53 is inserted into the receptacle 56 provided in the anvil portion 51 of the stapling assembly 50.
With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the reloading unit 60 of the present invention includes a housing portion 61 extending rearwardly from the staple holding plate 62.
Holding plate 62 includes a plurality of apertures 63 through which engage the . . ~ c ~ 966 1 staples 75 and hold each staple o~ the support membe~ 72 prior 2 to transfer to the staple cartridge 52. In the illustrative 3 embodiment, two r~ws of apertures 63 are provided. Depending 4 from holding plate 62 are a pair of guide rails 64. An additional aperture 6~ is provided in holding plate 62 to receive alignment 6 pin 53 on surgical instrument 10. A pusher bar 70 is provided 7 in the form of a comb-like structure having a rearward bar 71 8 ~rom which extends a plurality of teeth 72 which pass through 9 apertures 63 in holding plate 620 Teeth 72 of pusher bar 70 areshaped to conform substantially to the inner surface of the 11 U-shaped staples 75 to be loaded into the staple cartridge 52.
12 Thus, teeth 72 function as support members ~or the U-shaped staples 13 75, both of which are slidably movable with respect to holding 14 plate 62. Rearward bar 71 serves as a stop member, and limits the movement of pusher bar 70 with respect to holding plate 62.
16 Housing 61 includes an opening 66 in at least one wall 17 thereof through which staples 75 being supported on pusher bar 18 70 may be viewed. In this manner, it may readily be determined 19 whether or not the reloading unit 60 includes a fresh charge of staples 75. Housing 61 also includes open end 67 which is 21 adapted to be inserted over anvil portion 51 when the reloading 22 unit 60 is utilized. It is not~d that housing portion 61 may 23 alternatively be provided as a removable member.
24 ~fter surgical fastening instrument 10 has been fired and the initial load of staples provided with the instrument are 26 discharged, reloading unit 60 which is provided therewith in a 27 sterilized package may be used to reload instrument 10. While 28 it is expected that a single reloading unit will typically be 29 used with each surgical fastening in~txument thereby allowing 30 for two firings with a single instrument, it is pos~ible to l66 1 provide additional reloading units which would allow the in-2 strument to be used additional times.
3 When the instrument is ready to be reloaded, the 4 instrument is placed in the open position, i.~., the anvil portion 51 and staple cartridge 52 are in spaced relatio~, and 6 reloading unit 60 is inserted as depicted in Fig. 6 with the 7 opening 67 in housing 61 being inserted over anvil p~rtion 51.
a Loading is preferably accomplished by sliding reloading unit 9 60 along the empty staple cartridge 52 of the stapling assembly lo 50. Guide rails 64 are thus provided and spaced from one another 11 a distance to accommodate the width of the staple cartridge 52.
12 With the reloading unit 60 fully inserted within the open jaws 13 of stapling assembly 50, as illustrated in Fig. 7, aperture 65 14 provided in holding plate 62 is in alignment with pin 53. Thus, lS insertion of the reloading uni~ 60, utilizing guide rails 64 and 16 the alignment aperture 65, assures proper mating of the staples 17 in reloading unit 60 with the empty staple cartridge 52. In 18 the alternate embodiment using a removable housing, the housing 19 is removed from the pusher bar 70 and hoIding plate 62 prior to insertion of the reloading unit.
21 ~eloading of stapling assembly 50 is accomplished by 22 first closing clamp actuator 20 which causes the alignment pin 23 53 to pass ~hrough the aperture 65 and which moves the anvil 51 24 of stapling assembly 50 int~ a bearing relationship with rear wall of the pusher member 70. Each of the staples 75 in reloading 26 unit 60 is thus transferred to the empty array of openings in 27 the stapie carrying portion 51 of cartridge 50. In this manner, ~8 anvil 51 is urged against pusher member 70 and holding plate 62 29 is held in position against staple cartridge 52 of stapling assembly 50. Closure of the stapling assem~ly 50 causes pusher 1 member 70, which is slidable with respect to holding plate 62, 2 to push the staples 75 through apertures 63 in holding plate 62 3 and into` the empty receptacles 80 in the staple cartridge 52.
4 Simultaneously with loading a new charge of staples into staple cartridge 52, instrument 10 is set for firing.
6 In reloading the instrument, the U shaped staples 75 ? are inserted into the empty receptacles 80 of staple car-~ tridge 52 with the base or transverse leg of U-shaped staple 9 75 entering first. This is accomplished by the pusher bar teeth 72 bearing against the rear flat portion of staple 75 resulting 11 in the pointed ends of staple 75 entering the staple cartridge 1~ 52 last. In order to properly reload instrument 10, it is 13 important to shape the teeth 72 substantially to conform to the i4 inner portions of staple 75 and be of a length sufficient to insure proper insertion of the staple. In this respect, teeth 16 72 on pusher member 70 are of a length sufficient to cause the 17 inserted staple 75 to have its legs inserted below the surface 18 of staple cartridge 52. Inser~ion to this depth will insure that 19 the staples do not tear or bruise the skin as it is inserted into the jaws of the stapling assembly 50 during a surgical 21 procedure.
22 Utiliæation of the reloading unit 60 with a surgical 23 instrument, such as the described linear surgical fastener 10, 24 substantially reduces the effective cost for multiple stapling procedures on a single patient. Moreover, the procedure vf 26 reloading the instrument may be accomplished effectively and 27 quickly without any cumbersome technique. Thus, the reloading 28 unit of the present invention is ideally suited for use in 29l surgical procedures.
It is recognized that although the above description 1 is directed ~o a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is 2 noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent 3 to those skilled in the art and, therefore, may be made without S departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
.tl l43 1"~
29 .
Claims (15)
1. A transfer magazine for providing a charge of staples to a staple cartridge in a surgical fastening instrument which comprises:
pusher means having a plurality of staple support members spaced from one another, each of said support members being generally shaped to conform to the inner surface of a staple;
a plurality of staples disposed on said staple support members, and holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to mate with and hold each of said staples on said support members prior to transfer to the staple cartridge, said holding means being adapted to slidably move with respect to said staples and support members to release said staplers held therein and facili-tate loading a charge of staples into the staple cartridge of the surgical fastening instrument.
pusher means having a plurality of staple support members spaced from one another, each of said support members being generally shaped to conform to the inner surface of a staple;
a plurality of staples disposed on said staple support members, and holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to mate with and hold each of said staples on said support members prior to transfer to the staple cartridge, said holding means being adapted to slidably move with respect to said staples and support members to release said staplers held therein and facili-tate loading a charge of staples into the staple cartridge of the surgical fastening instrument.
2. A transfer magazine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pusher means includes a stop member disposed adjacent the end of said staple support members opposite the staple bearing end so as to limit the movement of said pusher means with respect to said holding means.
3. A transfer magazine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holding means includes on each side thereof a guide rail for slidably engaging side edges of the staple cartridge in the surgical fastening instrument.
4. A transfer magazine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surgical fastening instrument includes an alignment pin thereon between the staple cartridge and anvil, and which further includes on said holding means an aperture for mating with the alignment pin on said surgical fastening instrument to effect alignment of the charge of staples in said transfer magazine with said staple cartridge thereby allowing for transfer of the new charge of said staples in said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge upon closure of said surgical fastening instrument.
5. A transfer magazine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pusher means comprises a comb-like bar having each of said staple support members interconnected to one another at the rearward end thereof, said rearward end thereby acting as a stop means with respect to limiting slidable engagement with said holding means.
6. A transfer magazine in accordance with claim 1 which further includes housing means covering said pusher means and the rear surface of said holding means.
7. A transfer magazine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing means including an indicator opening at least one side wall thereof to facilitate viewing said pusher means to ascertain whether said transfer magazine includes a charge of staples therein,
8. A transfer magazine in sccordance with claim 1 wherein said staple support members are of length sufficient to reload staples into the staple cartridge to a depth such that the staple ends do not protrude through the surface thereof.
9. A reloading unit for use with surgical fastening instruments having staple cartridges to provide a new charge of staples to said cartridge and reload said instrument thereby enabling reuse thereof in surgical procedures which comprises:
pusher means in the form of a (???b-like member including a plurality of spaced prongs which serve as stable support members and generally conform to the inner shape of a staple;
a plurality of U-shaped staples disposed over said staple support members;
holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to hold and slidably engage said staples disposed over said support members;
guide means disposed on said holding means for slidably engaging the side edges of the staple cartridge on the surgical fastening instrument; and alignment means for aligning the charge of staples in said transfer magazine with said staple cartridge to allow for transfer of the new charge of said staples in said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge upon closure of said surgical fastening instrument.
pusher means in the form of a (???b-like member including a plurality of spaced prongs which serve as stable support members and generally conform to the inner shape of a staple;
a plurality of U-shaped staples disposed over said staple support members;
holding means having therein a plurality of receptacles adapted to hold and slidably engage said staples disposed over said support members;
guide means disposed on said holding means for slidably engaging the side edges of the staple cartridge on the surgical fastening instrument; and alignment means for aligning the charge of staples in said transfer magazine with said staple cartridge to allow for transfer of the new charge of said staples in said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge upon closure of said surgical fastening instrument.
10. A reloading unit in accordance with claim 9 which further includes housing means for enclosing said pusher means and receiving means, said housing means including therein indicator means to permit viewing of said pusher means to determine if said reloading unit includes a charge of staples therein.
11. A method of performing multiple stapling functions utilizing a stapling instrument which comprises the steps of:
firing the instrument to expend a charge of staples contained in a staple cartridge of the instrument;
providing a new charge of staples in a transfer magazine for reloading said staple cartridge, said transfer magazine including therein a plurality of staples corresponding substantially to the number of staples carried in said staple cartridge;
opening the instrument to separate the staple cartridge and anvil portions of the stapling assembly;
positioning said transfer magazine between the open portions of said stapling assembly;
aligning said transfer magazine and staple cartridge to facilitate transfer of said staples in said magazine to said cartridge with a closed end of each of said plurality of said staples first entering said cartridge thereby aligning the free ends of the legs of the staple with the opening in said cartridge; and closing said stapling instrument sufficiently to cause said staple cartridge and anvil portions of said stapling assembly to close upon said transfer magazine disposed therebetween so as to cause transfer of the staples from said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge.
firing the instrument to expend a charge of staples contained in a staple cartridge of the instrument;
providing a new charge of staples in a transfer magazine for reloading said staple cartridge, said transfer magazine including therein a plurality of staples corresponding substantially to the number of staples carried in said staple cartridge;
opening the instrument to separate the staple cartridge and anvil portions of the stapling assembly;
positioning said transfer magazine between the open portions of said stapling assembly;
aligning said transfer magazine and staple cartridge to facilitate transfer of said staples in said magazine to said cartridge with a closed end of each of said plurality of said staples first entering said cartridge thereby aligning the free ends of the legs of the staple with the opening in said cartridge; and closing said stapling instrument sufficiently to cause said staple cartridge and anvil portions of said stapling assembly to close upon said transfer magazine disposed therebetween so as to cause transfer of the staples from said transfer magazine to said staple cartridge.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said aligning step includes the step of extending a pin member through said stapling assembly and said transfer magazine upon closure of said instrument.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein said positioning step includes the step of guiding said transfer magazine with respect to the staple cartridge portion of said stapling assembly by means of rail members disposed on said transfer magazine.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein said closing step includes urging a pusher member in said transfer magazine against the inner portion of said charge of staples thereby causing said staples to be transferred to the openings in said staple cartridge.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said closing step includes the step of inserting said staples into said staple cartridge sufficiently to prevent the protrusion of the staple ends through the surface thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/935,407 US4714187A (en) | 1986-11-26 | 1986-11-26 | Reloading unit for surgical fastening instruments |
| US935,407 | 1986-11-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1281966C true CA1281966C (en) | 1991-03-26 |
Family
ID=25467070
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000545982A Expired - Fee Related CA1281966C (en) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-09-02 | Reloading unit for surgical fastening instruments |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4714187A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0269226B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS63135148A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE99522T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU600978B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1281966C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3788714T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2046988T3 (en) |
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| US3278107A (en) * | 1963-07-24 | 1966-10-11 | Cv Heljestrand Ab | Instrument for applying so-called staple sutures |
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| DE3404104C1 (en) * | 1984-02-07 | 1985-10-10 | Aesculap-Werke Ag Vormals Jetter & Scheerer, 7200 Tuttlingen | Replenishing apparatus for a surgical suturing device for the stomach or the intestines |
| US4573622A (en) * | 1984-10-19 | 1986-03-04 | United States Surgical Corporation | Surgical fastener applying apparatus with variable fastener arrays |
-
1986
- 1986-11-26 US US06/935,407 patent/US4714187A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1987
- 1987-09-02 CA CA000545982A patent/CA1281966C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-10-01 AU AU79267/87A patent/AU600978B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-10-02 EP EP87308742A patent/EP0269226B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-10-02 DE DE3788714T patent/DE3788714T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-10-02 ES ES87308742T patent/ES2046988T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-10-02 AT AT87308742T patent/ATE99522T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1987-10-05 JP JP62251437A patent/JPS63135148A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ATE99522T1 (en) | 1994-01-15 |
| ES2046988T3 (en) | 1994-02-16 |
| US4714187A (en) | 1987-12-22 |
| AU600978B2 (en) | 1990-08-30 |
| AU7926787A (en) | 1988-06-02 |
| DE3788714T2 (en) | 1994-06-23 |
| DE3788714D1 (en) | 1994-02-17 |
| JPS63135148A (en) | 1988-06-07 |
| EP0269226B1 (en) | 1994-01-05 |
| EP0269226A1 (en) | 1988-06-01 |
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