Partially reusable surgical stapler

Abstract

A partially reusable surgical stapler for deploying staples into tissue. The stapler has a body with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The proximal end includes a handle while the distal end includes a staple cartridge holder and an opposing anvil. The stapler also has an actuator module for deploying staples. The actuator module includes at least one longitudinally movable member for sequentially ejecting staples towards the anvil. The actuator module is readily removable and replaceable to and from the body. The components of the stapler body can be disassembled, reconditioned and reassembled for reuse in a different surgical procedure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to surgical stapling instruments and, more particularly, to a surgical stapler which can be disassembled and portions reconditioned and sterilized for reuse in subsequent surgical procedures, and which includes a removable actuating module that can be reused with multiple staple cartridges during a single patient procedure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Before surgical staplers were introduced, surgeons had to spend a great deal of time sewing the tissue of patients back together. This was the most time intensive aspect of a surgical procedure. Surgical staplers have decreased the amount of time that a user spends sewing tissue back together. Such surgical staplers are described in the following issued U.S. patents which are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,861 Chow et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,874 Chow et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,570 Schulze et al.[0003]One concern with surgical sta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]In accordance with the present invention, a partially reusable surgical stapler is provided for deploying staples into tissue. The stapler has a body with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The proximal end includes a handle while the distal end includes a staple cartridge holder and an opposing anvil. The stapler also has an actuator module for deploying staples. The actuator module includes at least one longitudinally movable member for sequentially ejecting staples towards the anvil. The actuator module is readily removable and replaceable to and from the body.

[0006]In another embodiment, the present invention provides a partially reusable surgical stapler having an upper jaw member with a proximal handle end and a distal anvil end. A lower jaw member having a proximal channel-shaped frame and a distal staple cartridge channel is aligned with the upper jaw. An actuator module, having at least one longitudinally moveable member for sequentially ejecting staples towards the anvil, is readily removable and replaceable to and from the lower jaw frame. A staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples is removably disposed within the staple cartridge channel. A latching member for connecting the upper and lower jaws together is provided at an intermediate position along a longitudinal axis of the stapler. The latching member is moveable relative to the upper and lower jaw members to place the stapler in a series of different locking states. The different locking states include an assembly state for connecting and disconnecting the latching member to the jaw members, and a closed, latched state in which the latching member is locked to the jaw members.

Problems solved by technology

Reusable staplers have typically been relatively complicated mechanical instruments which are difficult to sterilize after use.

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