GB2092504A - Anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

The anvil plate is designed to narrow the opening through which the forwardmost staple in the instrument is formed. The anvil plate 22 (Figure 2) has a longitudinally extending raised central portion 23, with an extension 24 comprising an integral one-piece part of the raised portion 23 and lying at a slight angle thereto. The extension 24 constitutes an anvil and the upper surface 24a of extension 24 constitutes an anvil surface which is coextensive with but angled with respect to the upper surface of the raised central portion 23. The raised central portion 23 of anvil plate 22 has lateral edges which terminate in downwardly depending portions 25 and 26 (see also Figure 3). The downwardly depending portions 25 and 26, in turn, terminate in laterally extending flanges 27 and 28. Flange 27 is provided with a pair of extensions 29 and 30. Similarly, flange 28 is provided with a pair of extensions 31 and 32. Flanges 27 and 28 have forward extensions 27a and 28a which ensure that the legs of the row of staples straddling the raised portions 23 and extensions 24 are all supported at their outer ends except the forwardmost staple of the row. Thus the anvil plate fully supports the legs and crown portions of all but the forwardmost staple. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument This invention relates to an anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument of the kind described in our copending application No. 8106460 out of which this application is divided.

The anvil of the present invention is designed for use in a stapling instrument where the elementto be stapled is approached from one side only and the staple is formed about an anvil, rather than against an anvil. Such a stapling instrument is particularly adapted for use as a surgical stapling instrument and will, for purposes of an exemplary showing, be so described. By proper selection of materials, the instrument may be manufactured as a reusable instrument. Its construction is such, however, that the majority of its parts lend themselves well to be molded of plastic and the instrument can readily be produced as a single-use diposable instrument. For purposes of an exemplary showing, the anvil will be illustrated as employed in a single-use, disposable surgical stapling instrument.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved anvil plate for a surgical stapling instrument.

In accordance with the present invention an anvil plate is provided for use with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having a magazine containing a row of staples in face-to-face relationship, each of said staples comprising a crown portion terminating at its ends in downwardly depending legs which in turn terminate in free ends, said anvil plate comprising an elongated member having forward and rearward ends and being of inverted U-shaped cross section, said anvil plate having a longitudinally extending raised central planar portion the longitudinal edges of which terminate in coextensive downwardly depending portions, each of said downwardly depending portions terminating in a flange portion extending laterally of said downwardly depending portion and said central portion, and said central portion, a coextensive extension on said central portion of said forward end of said anvil plate, said extension comprising an anvil having an upper anvil surface about which said staples are formed, said flange portions extending the length of said anvil plate and being extended at the foward end thereof such that when said staples of said row are mounted on said anvil plate staddling said raised central portion and said anvil, the free ends of all but the forwardmost staple of said row are supported by said flanges.

The effect of this anvil is to narrow the opening through which the forwardmost surgical staple is formed. The construction of the anvil plate accomplishes two things. First, the anvil plate fully supports the leg and crown portions of that staple adjacent the forwardmost staple of the two, as well as all of the staples immediately behind the forwardmost one of the two will be in proper position for forming when it becomes the forwardmost staple of the row. Secondly, with this second staple being fully supported, gives better support to the forwardmost staple of the row being formed, since it helps hold the forwardmost staple under the former and reduces possible leg roll during the forming prove.

dure.

A surgical instrument of the kind with which the anvil plate of this invention may be used is fully described in our copending application No. 8106460 to which reference is made forthe full details of the instrument.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of one half of the surgical stapling instrument shown in our parent application No. 8106460 and illustrates the anvil plate of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the anvil plate of the present invention; Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the instrument; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the staple driver; Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the instrument; Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section on line 7-7 of Figure 1; and Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary front elevations of instrument and illustrate the use of the instrument.

Figure 1 illustrates the right body half 2a of the surgical stapling instrument with the internal elements mounted therein. In the magazine portion 5 of the surgical stapling instrument is housed an anvil plate 22. The anvil plate 22 itself is best seen in Figure 2. The anvil plate 22 is preferably formed of an appropriate metal for use in a surgical environment, such as stainless steel or the like. The anvil plate 22 has a longitudinally extending raised central portion 23. At its forwardmost end, the raised central portion 23 has an extension 24 comprising an integral one-piece part of the raised portion 23 and lying at a slight angle thereto. The extension 24 constitutes an anvil and the upper surface 24a of extension 24 constitutes an anvil surface which is coextensive with but angled with respect to the upper surface of the raised central portion 23.

The raised central portion 23 of anvil plate 22 has lateral edges which terminate in downwardly depending portions 25 and 26 (see also Figure 3). The downwardly depending portions 25 and 26, in turn, terminate in laterally extending flanges 27 and 28.

Flange 27 is provided with a pair of extensions 29 and 30. Similarly, flange 28 is provided with a pair of extensions 31 and 32. When the body halves are joined together with the anvil plate 22 properly located therebetween, the extensions 29 and 30 of flange 27 will be received within recesses 33 and 34 of body half 2a (Figure 3 and 6). Similarly, the extensions 31 and 32 of flange 28 will be received within recesses 35 and 36 of body half 2b (Figure 6).

In this way the anvil plate 22 is properly located and locked within the body halves. It is also evident from Figure 3 that anvil plate flanges 27 and 28 rest upon the bottom portions of body halves 2a and 2b.

The anvil plate 22, including the raised central portion 23, the downwardly depending portions 25 and 26 and the laterally extending flanges 27 and 28 are so configured that the portions 23, 25 and 26 are straddled by a row of staples 37, in face-to-face relationship. This is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 3 illustrates one of the staples 37a of the row 37. The staple 37a has a crown portion 38 and a pair of downwardly depending legs 38a and 38b terminating in pointed tips. The tips of the legs 38a and 39b ride along and are supported by flanges 27 and 28.

As is evident from Figure 3, the inside wall surfaces of magazine portion 5, together with flanges 18 and 21, form a magazine for the row 37 of surgical staples, in cooperation with anvil plate 22.

As is evident from Figure 4, the forwardmost surface of magazine portion 5 has a notch 39 formed therein.

The notch is so dimensioned that an unformed staple cannot pass therethrough. As a result, the forwardmost staple 37b of the row 37 will abut the inside surfaces of the magazine portion adjacent the notch 39. Only when the forwardmost staple 37b of row 37 is fully formed and implanted, will it be of proper dimensions to pass through the notch 39, as will be described hereinafter. This feature can be seen more clearly in Figures 4 and 5 of our parent application No. 8106460. The bottom surface of magazine portion 5 has a notch formed therein, in part coextensive with notch 39. This notch exposes the forward end of anvil plate 22, enabling the forwardmost staple of the row 37 to be formed and implanted in a receiving surface such as the skin of the patient.

It will be noted from Figures 2 and 6 that flanges 27 and 28 of anvil plate 22 have forward extensions 27a and 28a, assuring that the legs of all of the surgical staples of the row 37 thereof are supported (as shown in Figure 3) save the forwardmost staple 37b of the row. As can most clearly be seen in Figures 1 and 6, the extensions 27a and 28a narrow the gap through which the forwardmost staple 37b is formed and implanted.

The magazine portion 5 of the surgical stapling instrument also contains a feeder assembly for the row 37 of surgical staples. Turning again to Figure 1, the feeder assembly comprises a feeder shoe 41, a coil spring 42 and a plug 43. The feeder shoe 41 constitutes a generally inverted U-shaped member having overall dimensions approximating those of the surgical staples themselves. The feeder shoe is adapted to straddle anvil plate 22 behind the row 37 of surgical staples.

As is most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5, the staple driver 45 is located in abutment with the front inside surface 54 of the forward portion 4 of the instrument. The staple driver 45 is slidable along inside surface 54 between a first retracted or normal position illustrated in Figure 1 and a second extended or staple forming and implanting position.

The inside surface 54 of forward portion 4 of the instrument is stepped as at 55 to serve as a stop for the staple driver 45 to determine its first retracted or normal position.

The means to shift the staple driver between its first and second positions is illustrated in Figure 1.

This means comprises a trigger 56. The trigger 56 lends itself well to be molded of an appropriate plastic material for use in surgical environment. The lower edge of portion of trigger 56 is adapted to be grasped by the fingers of the surgeon and, to this end, may be notched or serrated as at 57a.

The forward portion 58 of trigger 56 terminates in a nose 61. Nose 61, itself, terminates in a raised central arcuate surface 64. As will be evident from Figures 1 and 5, the forward end of nose 61 is adapted to be received between the rearwardly extending 47 and 48 of staple driver 45.

As is most clearly shown in Figure 1, a leaf spring 65 is mounted in the body 2 of instrument 1. The leaf spring is substantially U-shaped, having a first leg 66 bearing against the upper inside surface of instrument body 2 and a second leg 67 lying along the upper surface of trigger 56. It will be evident from Figure 1 that spring 65 will maintain trigger 56 in its normal position as illustrated in that Figure. This, in turn, assures that staple driver 45 is in its first retracted or normal position. Upon squeezing trigger 56 to cause it to pivot in a counterclockwise position (as viewed in Figure 1), the nose portion 61 thereof will cause staple driver 45 to shift to its second extended or staple driving and implanting position.

The elements of the surgical stapling instrument 1 having been described in detail, its operation can be set forth as follows. The surgical stapling instrument of the present invention comes to the surgeon in assembled, loaded and sterilized form. Grasping the instrument in his right or left hand by rearward handle portion 3 and with his fingers about trigger 56, the surgeon locates the instrument overthe wound or incision to be sutured. This is illustrated in Figure 8 wherein a patient's skin is shown at 68 containing a wound or incision 69. The forwardmost exterior surface of the instrument 1 may, if desired, be provided with indicia.70 to assist the surgeon in centering the surgical stapling instrument 1 over incision 69.The indicia 70 in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown as being a raised element on each of the body halves 2a and 2b which, when the body halves are joined together defines an arrow. When placed upon the incision as shown in Figure 8, the notch 39 in the forward end of magazine portion 5 and the notch 40 (Figure 6) in the forward bottom part of magazine portion Swill cause the patent's skin 68 to bulge slightly toward anvil 24.

Once the instrument 1 is properly located over incision 69, the surgeon squeezes trigger 56 against the action of spring 65. As indicated heretofore, pivoting of trigger 56 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 1) will cause the nose portion 61 of trigger 56 to shift staple driver 45 to its second extended or staple forming and implanting position.

As the staple driver shifts downwardly, its lowermost edges will contact the crown of forwardmost staple 37b to either side of anvil 24. As the driver 45 moves further downwardly, the curved portions 50 and 51 thereof will initiate bending of the crown portion 38 of the forwardmost staple 37b. This, in turn, will cause staple legs 38a and 38b to enter and be implanted in the skin 68. At the completion of the forming and implanting procedure, the staple will have the configuration shown in Figure 9, closing incision 69. In this configuration, the fully formed and implanted staple 37b is now of such dimension that it can pass through notch 39 in the forwardmost end of the magazine portion 5, slipping off of anvil 24 underthe urging of spring 42. Upon release of trigger 56, spring 65 will return the trigger to its normal position as shown in Figure 1. This, in turn, will cause staple former 45 to return to its first retracted or normal position. In the meantime, coil spring 42 and feeder shoe 41 will advance the next forwardmost staple of row 37 onto anvil surface 24a and in abutment with the interior wall surfaces 39a and 39b of the forward end of magazine portion 5.

Since the anvil plate flange extensions 27a and 28a support that staple adjacent the forwardmost staple of the row and effectively narrow the gap through which the forwardmost staple is formed and implanted, the forwardmost staple will be stabilized by that staple immediately behind it reducing or eliminating the possibility of leg roll during formation of the forwardmost staple. In addition, the staple just behind the forwardmost staple will be in proper position to become the forwardmost staple after the next forming and implanting procedure.

Claims (6)

1. An anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having a magazine containing a a row of staples in face-to-face relationship, each of said staples comprising a crown portion terminating at its ends in downwardly depending legs which in turn terminate in free ends, said anvil plate comprising an elongated member having forward and rearward ends and being of inverted U-shaped cross section, said anvil plate having a longitudinally extending raised central planar portion the longitudinal edges of which terminate in coextensive downwardly depending portions, each of said downwardly depending portions terminating in a flange portion extending laterally of said downwardly depending portion and said central position, a coextensive extension on said central portion of said forward end of said anvil plate, said extension comprising an anvil having an upper anvil surface about which said staples are formed, said flange portions extending the length of said anvil plate and being extended at the forward end thereof such that when said staples of said row are mounted on said anvil plate straddling said raised central portion and said anvil, the free ends of all but the forwardmost staple of said row are supported by said flanges.

2. An anvil plate according to claim 1 in which the coextensive extension of the central portion is angled with respect to the central portion.

3. An anvil plate according to claim 1 or claim 2 and in which said coextensive portion extends beyond the ends of the extended flange portions.

4. An anvil plate according to any preceding claim in combination with a surgical stapling instrument which has a magazine portion containing a row of staples, the foremost portion of the magazine portion having a first notch formed therein so dimensioned that an unformed staple cannot pass through it and will abut the inside surfaces of the magazine portion adjacent said notch.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the magazine has a bottom surface with a second notch formed therein coextensive with said first notch, the second notch being arranged to expose the forward end of the anvil plate to enable the forwardmost staple of the row of staples to be formed and implanted in a receiving surface.

6. An anvil plate for use with a surgical stapling instrument, the anvil plate being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.