Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This is a divisio~ of Canadian Application
Serial No. 369,043, filed January 22, 1981.
This invention relates to an instrument
for use in applying surgical fasteners such as
staples, clips and the like to living tissue. More
particularly, the invention relates to a surgical
stapling instrument for use in forming a plurality
of laterally spaced rows of staples in an internal
body organ. Typically, such an instrument comprises
a pair of cooperating elongate jaw members, one of
which in use carries a staple cartridge with at
least two laterally spaced rows of staples and the
other of which carries an anvil with staple-closing
depressions aligned with the rows of staples in the
cartridge. A pusher bar and knife assembly is
provided which is moved longitudinally along the
jaws to sequentially eject staples from the cartridge
by a camming action, through the agency of staple
pushers carried by the cartridge in association with
the individual staples, and to close the staples
against the anvil thereby forming laterally spaced
lines of staples in tissue gripped between the jaws,
while the knife, which trails the pusher bars, cuts
the tissue along a line between the staple rows.
One instrument of this type is disclosed, for example,
in Canadian Patent No. 888,867.
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With instruments of the above type, the
staple cartridges and associated anvils, pusher bars
and knife assemblies have commonly been made of
disposable plastics and low cost metal stampings
while the frames, namely the basic instruments have
more generally been constructed for repeated usage
necessitating continual sterilization of these
elements between each use. In recent years, in
order to obvia-te the need for such repeated steril-
ization of instruments, the tendency in the surgical
field has been towards the introduction of fully
self-contained disposable instruments which are used
for only a single operation and then discarded.
Obviously, therefore in the design of such dispos-
able instruments, economics is a factor and it is
desirable to design such instruments to utilize
readily available economic materials of minimum
material weight and to employ production techniques
of optimum economy.
With stapling instruments of the type
described, relatively large forces are involved in
clamping the tissue to be fastened and in ejecting
the individual staples, causing these to penetrate
the gripped tissue and to be closed against the
anvil. Such forces tend both to separate the jaws
vertically and to laterally distort the jaws thereby
hindering accurate stapling. This problem is of
course accentuated if relatively light-weight dis-
posable materials are to be used for manfacture ofthe jaw frames.
It is an object of the present invention
to provide an instrument of the character described
for applying surgical fasteners, in which optimum
alignment and stabilization of the jaws is obtained
during application and securing of the fasteners.
Another object of the invention is to
provide a novel form of instrument for use in apply-
ing surgical fasteners to living tissue and which
is particularly suited to use in surgical stapling
5 procedures.
It is a further object of the invention
to provide a surgical stapling or like fastening in-
strument having a design which allows the instrument
to be manufactured in the main from relatively light
lO weight disposable materials while still providing
proper alignment and stabilization of the jaws during
stapling.
In accordance with the invention, there
is provided a staple cartridge for use with a surgical
stapling instrument, the cartridge comprises a nose
portion, a pair of substantially parallel elongate
limbs extending from the nose portion, the limbs de-
20 fining an uninterrupted slit therebetween extending
the entire length and height of the limbs, seating
means in each of the limbs for at least one longi-
tudinally extending row of surgical staples and longi-
tudinal passage means in each of the limbs for receiving
25 a travelling pusher means operative sequentially to
expel staples from the seating means.
The shoes are located on the pusher bar
and knife blade assembly in the region of the pusher
bar cams and the knife blade and their effect is to
30 provide localized support for the jaws in the region
of these elements as they progress along the iaws,
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thereby providing proper jaw alignment in the region
of the individual staples as these are sequentially
acted upon by the pusher bars. Further, the shoes
are not only laterally but also vertically confined
in the passageways and thereby serve to resist
vertical jaw-opening forces during staple formation.
Conveniently, the jaw passageways are
formed towards the outside of the respective jaws
and the shoes are carried on upper and lower exten-
sions of the knife carrier which is made of relative-
ly rigid material affording adequate lateral support
to the shoes and hence to the jaws at the point of
stapling as the shoes move therealong. To allow
passage of the vertically extended knife carrier
along the jaws, the staple cartridge and the anvil
which are supported on the inner facing surfaces of
the respective jaws are each composed of two lateral-
ly spaced elongate members carried by the respective
jaws so that the extended knife carrier can move
through spaces formed between the respective elongate
members.
By utilizing the aforementioned shoes
locally to support the jaws and provide both lateral
and vertical stabilization in the region of the
pusher bar cams and knife blade as these elements
ride along the jaws, the adverse effects of the
previously mentioned forces are substantially
minimized and the jaws themselves can therefore be
made of light-weight construction so that an instru-
ment designed in accordance with the invention lendsitself to manufacture in disposable materials.
Figure 1 is a side view of a surgical
stapling instrument in the assembled and closed
condition;
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Figure 2 is a side view of the instrument
in an open condition;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the instru-
ment;
Figure 4 is a side view of a pusher bar
and knife assembly;
Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the
pusher bar and knife assembly;
Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of
Figure l;
Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fgure
l; with parts of the instrument removed;
Figure 8 is an underneath view of a dispos-
able staple cartridge;
Figure 9 is a side view of the cartridge;
Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of
Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a top view of an elongate
anvil member;
Figure 12 is a side view of the anvil
member;
Figure 13 is a section on line 13 13 of
Figure 12; and
Figure 14 is a section on line 14-14 of
Figure 1.
It is to be noted that the general con-
struction and principle of operation of the illus-
trated instrument is similar to the instrument
described in Canadian Patent No. 888,867, previously
referred to. Accordingly, the following description
will only cleal in detail with modified features of
the instrument.
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The present instrument, generally indicated
by reference 10 includes an upper frame 12 and a
lower frame 14. The forward end portion of upper
frame 12 defines an elongate upper jaw 16 while the
forward end portion of the lower frame 14 defines an
elongate lower jaw 20. The portion of lower frame
14 rearward of jaw 20 fits into a channel-shaped
handle member 22 having a pivot bar 24 at its rear
end which is received in notches 28 at the rear end
of upper frame member 12. Intermediate its length,
upper frame member 12 has laterally projecting lugs
13 whch fit in complimentary openings 15 formed in a
bifurcated locking handle 26. The handle 26 can be
used to open and close the frames about the pivot
means 24, 28 between the open condition shown in
Figure 2 and the locked condition shown in Figure 1.
To this end, handle 26 has slots 17 providing camming
surfaces 19 which cooperate with laterally projecting
lugs 21 on handle member 22. The instrument further
includes a sliding pusher bar and knife assembly 30
comprising a central knife carrier 32 and laterally
spaced pusher bars 34 and 36 on either side the
knife carrier, the pusher bars terminating at their
forward ends in inclined pusher bar cams 38 and 40,
respectively, and the knife carrier including an
inclined knife 42 situated just to the rear of the
pusher bar cams.
In use, a disposable staple cartridge 44,
containing four laterally spaced longitudinal rows
of staples, is inserted into the lower jaw 20 while
two anvil members 72 having staple shaping depres-
sions in their outer surfaces, complimentary to the
positioning of the individual staples in the staple
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cartridge, are placed on the upper jaw 16. The
instrument is inserted into a patients body and
manipulated such -that tissue to be cut and sutured
is inserted between the jaws, an incision to receive
one of the jaws having previously been made in the
tissue, if re~uired. The jaws are then closed and
locked by handle 26 to firmly grip the tissue between
the opposing staple cartridge and anvil surfaces.
The pusher bar and knife assembly which is initially
in a rearward position relative to the jaws, is then
pushed forwardly causing the pusher bar cams to
enter longitudinal slits in the staple cartridge, in
which slits are accommodated rows of individual
staple pushers. The pusher bar cams cooperate
sequentially with camming surfaces on the individual
staple pushers to force the staples successively
from the cartridge, through the gripped tissue and
into engagement with the anvil depressions which
thereby, in conjunction with the cams, produce
staple-closing forces. The design of the cartridge
is such that each slit carries two mutually stag-
gered rows of staples so that in all, four staple
rows are formed in the gripped tissue. The knife 42
which trails the pusher bars cams slightly and rides
in central longitudinal slits in the cartridge and
anvill cuts the gripped tissue along a line between
the two pairs of staple rows.
To provide lateral support for the jaws
and to resist forces tending to vertically open the
jaws during stapling, each jaw is provided with a
longitudinal passageway and the knife blade carrier
32 which is a relatively rigid member, preferably of
metal, carries upper and lower laterally aligned
shoes which ride in these passageways and provide
the requirled local support to the jaws in the region
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of the pusher bar cams and knife blade as these
elements travel along the staple car-tridge.
Thus, it will be seen, particularly in
Figuies 6, 7 and 14 that the lower frame 14 is
formed with a cartridge-receiving channel 46 and an
outer longitudinal passageway 48 of generally T-
shaped cross-section extending from the base of the
channel 46. Upper frame 12 has inwardly directed
longitudinally extending shoulders 50 for mounting
the anvils as will be described, the construction of
the upper frame being such that a longitudinally
extending passageway 52 of generally rectangular
section is formed beneath the shoulders.
The pusher bar and knife assembly 30, see
particularly Figures 3, 4 and 5, has conventional-
type laterally spaced pusher bars 34 and 36 terminat-
ing in slightly offset inclined pusher bar cams 38
and 40. The central knife carrier 32, as indicated,
has an inclined knife 42 just to -the rear of the
pusher bar cams and the knife carrier is extended
vertically above and below the pusher bars. On
upper and lower terminal portions of the knife
carrier which project forwardly of the knife, are
situated lower and upper shoes 54 and 56, respec-
tively, the vertical spacing between the shoes cor-
responding to the vertical spacing between the
passageways 48 and 52 in the lower and upper frames
when the frames are locked together. The lower shoe
54 has a substantially T-shaped cross section cor~
responding to the cross-sectional shape of passageway
48 so that this shoe fits in passageway 48 with
minimal clearance to allow substantially friction-
free passage of the shoe along the passageway, and
upper shoe 56 is likewise shaped to fit in passage-
way 52 with minimal clearance to provide substantially
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friction-free passage. It will be noted tha-t the
shoes 52 and 54 are longitudinally located in prox-
imity to the pusher ~ar cams 38 and 40 so as to in
use, provide support for the jaws 16 and 20 in the
region of the cams substantially at points where the
forces created by cooperation of the pusher bar cams
and the individual staple pushers in the cartridge
approach a maximum. Further, by locating the shoes
both laterally and vertically in the respective
passageways, both lateral alignment of the jaws and
resistance to vertical jaw opening during stapling
is obtained.
At the rear end of assembly 30, the pusher
bars and knife carrier are mounted in known manner
in a suitable carrying block 31 having an operating
knob 33 or the like.
The staple cartridge 44 as shown in Figures
8, 9 and 10 is generally of similar character to the
known type as described in the aforementioned Canadian
Patent No. 888,867 insofar as the number of staple
rows, and design and location of the individual
staple pushers is concerned. For a fuller descrip-
tion of these elements and the manner in which
staple ejection is effected by interaction of the
pusher bar cams and the individual staple pushers,
reference may therefore be made to this patent. In
the present case, the cartridge 44 has a solid nose
portion 58 and a pair of longitudinal ribs 60 and 62
extending rearwardly from the nose portion and
definin~ a slit 64 therebetween right through the
cartridge for passage of the knife carrier 32. The
inner facing surfaces of the ribs 60 and 62 again
have bumps 66 to laterally locate the knife carrier
and the ribs are themselves longitudinally slit to
accommodate the staple pushers and the opposed,
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staggered rows of staples. Friction pieces 68 are
again provided to inhibit inadvertent forward motion
of the pusher bars. Thus, the significant difference
' between the present cartridge and that described in
Canadian Patent No. 888,867 is that in the present
case slit 64 extends right through the cartridge (to
the rear of the nose portion) to allow passage of
the vertically extended knife carrier. In use, as
indicated, the cartridge 44 sits in the cartridge
receiving channel 46 of the upper jaw with the nose
portion 58 projecting forwardly of the jaw and
positive longitudinal location of the cartridge
being effected by means of a projecting cartridge
lug 70 and a complimentary cut-out in one of the
side walls of channel 46.
While the instrument has been herein
described as utilizing a separate staple cartridge
44 in like manner to the instrument described in
Canadian Patent No. 888,867, it is contemplated
within the scope of the present invention, for the
staple cartridge to be formed as an integral part
of lower jaw 20.
The anvil means in the present instance,
see Figures 11, 12 and 13, comprises a pair of like
individual elongate anvils 72 which sit with a
friction fit on the shoulders 50 of the upper jaw,
as seen in Figures 1, 3 and 14, whereby a slit is
provided between the anvils allowing passage for the
vertically extended knife carrier. Each individual
anvil comprises an anvil surface 76 with staple-
shaping depressions 78, an outer wall 80 and a
shorter inner wall 82. The inner and outer walls
are slightly inwardly -tapered to provide the friction
fit on shoulders 50 and the outer walls each have
depressions 51 aligning with complimentary depressions
.
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in the side walls of the lower jaw for longitu-
dinally locating the individual anvils and accurate-
ly aligning the staple shaping depressions with the
individual staples in cartridge 44.
While the instrument as described includes
separate anvils 72 which fit on the shoulders 50 of
upper jaw 16, it is also possible, particularly in
the manufacture of a low-cost disposable instrument,
to dispense with the anvils themselves and form the
staple shaping depressions, directly in the under-
surfaces of shoulders 50 of the upper jaw.
Assembly of the various components of the
instrument is effected in the following manner with
particular reference to Figures 1 to 3. Initially,
with a cartridge 44 correctly positioned on jaw 20
of lower frame 14, the forward end of pusher assembly
30 is inserted from the back into lower frame 14,
with lower shoe 54 fitting in passageway 48, and
assembly 30 is moved forwardly along frame 14 until
the pusher bars enter the lontitudinally slit ribs
60 and 62 of cartridge 44 and are arrested by the
friction pieces 68. This position of pusher assembly
30 relative to frame 14 is shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Frame 14 with the inserted pusher assembly 30 is
then fitted into handle member 22, suitable compli-
mentary locating means (not shown) being provided on
the frame and handle member to longitudinally align
these elements and prevent forward movement of frame
14 in member 22 during staple ejection.
Anvils 72 are fitted on jaw 16 and lugs 13
of frame 12 are fitted into openings 15 of handle
26. Then with handle 26 tilted upwardly, as shown
in Figure 2, notches 28 are engaged with pivot bar
24 to complete the assembly of the instrument.
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In use, the instrument in the assembled
open condition, substantially as shown in Figure 2,
is inserted into a body cavity/ so that tissue to be
stapled is accepted between jaws 16 and 20 and the
instrument is then locked by manipulation of handle
26 and cooperation of camming surfaces 19 with lugs
21. It will be noted that openings 55 (see Figure
3) are provided in shoulders 50 of the upper frame
12 which allow shoes 56 to enter channel 52 as the
instrument is closed. With tissue gripped between
the jaws and the instrument in the condition as
shown in Figure 1, stapling is effected in the
manner described in the aforementioned patent by
pushing forwarding on knob 33.
When stapling is completed, the pusher
assembly 30 is retracted to the initial positon,
allowing shoes 56 to be removed from channel 52
through openings 55, so that the instrument can be
opened.
It will be appreciated, since the shoes 54
and 56 are accurately laterally aligned and carried
by a relatively rigid member, that during stapling,
as the shoes move along the passageways 48 and 52
with minimal clearance, they provide adequate
localized support to the jaws in the region of
operation of the pusher bar cams and the particular
individual staple pushers being actuated. Due to
the cross-sectional shape of the shoes and passage-
ways, such support resists forces tending both
laterally to distort the jaws and to open the jaws
vertically and accordingly the present construction
lends itself to manufac-turing the jaws in relatively
light weight disposable ma-terials. It is to be
understood however that the construc-tion can also be
used in instruments manufactured from more convention-
al materials.
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While only a single preferred embodiment
of the invention has been described in detail, it is
to be understood that the invention is not limited
to its specific features and modifications are
possible within the scope of the attached claims.
Thus, while the invention has been particularly
described in relation to its application in a
surgical stapling instrument, the invention is not
limited to this application. The invention may be
applied to other fastening instruments having opposed
jaws which require stabilization while fastening
means are applied to living tissue gripped between
the jaws. For example, the invention may be applied
to instruments for applying certain types of surgical
clips or instruments for applying surgical fastening
devices of the type set out in U.S. Patent No.
4,060,089.
