Open Linear Stapler

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an open linear stapler with a distally located end effector (3), the end effector (3) comprising a distally located substantially U-shaped fixed jaw (6) and a movable jaw (7) movable relative to the fixed jaw (6) to clamp tissue therebetween, the surface of the fixed jaw (6) facing the movable jaw (7) comprising an anvil (8), the movable jaw (7) configured to receive a staple cartridge (9), the fixed jaw (6) comprising two substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plates (12), the distal surface of the anvil (8) being fixedly connected to a proximal surface of a distal end of the outer anvil clamping plate (12), the stapler being easier to insert into the patient's body and providing more free space.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an open linear stapler and, more particularly, to an open linear stapler that may be more easily inserted into a patient's body and provide more free space during surgery. [Background technology]

[0002] Today, in the medical field, staplers are medical instruments commonly used in surgical procedures. Staplers can clamp onto one or more tissue layers of a patient during surgery, and staples fired from the stapler can seal the tissue layers adjacent to the staples. A typical stapler includes an end effector that can be inserted into the patient's body and positioned against the tissue to be sealed. The end effector includes a pair of elongated jaw members that cooperate with each other, one of which includes a staple cartridge that receives at least two rows of staples therein, and the other includes an anvil having staple-forming pockets aligned with the rows of staples in the staple cartridge. Generally, staplers can further include a push rod that can slide relative to the jaw members to sequentially or simultaneously fire the staples from the staple cartridge via a cam surface on a wedge slide on the push rod. The cam surface can actuate one or more staple drivers associated with the staples carried by the staple cartridge to press the staples against the anvil and form rows of staples in the tissue clamped between the jaw members. The rows of staples may be arranged in linear and / or arcuate rows to staple the patient's tissue sequentially or simultaneously in a predetermined pattern. Staplers can be classified as cavity staplers and open staplers, with cavity staplers being suitable for minimally invasive procedures such as endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures and therefore having a small end effector. In accordance with the above classification, the present disclosure relates to open staplers, i.e., open linear staplers, in which the rows of staples are arranged in a linear fashion.

[0003] However, existing open linear staplers have two obvious drawbacks. First, referring to FIG. 1, the anvil in the existing stapler is a U-shaped anvil that is coated on the outside of the outer anvil clamping plate on which the anvil is provided, making the fixed jaw of the stapler very thick and leading to separation of more tissue of the patient. Second, referring to FIG. 2, the tissue locking pin hole on the anvil of the stapler is located at the top end of the anvil, making it less likely to place the staple forming pocket in the tissue locking pin hole or even less likely to place the staple in the corresponding position. In this condition, the sealed patient tissue may leak out during the stapling process at that position. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To this end, there is a need for a novel open linear stapler that can reduce the thickness of the stapler's end effector to allow easier insertion into a patient's body during surgery, while preventing the anvil from moving relative to the jaws when the stapler is being used, reducing the risk of leakage of the sealed tissue.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an open linear stapler, the specific contents of which are as follows:

[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an open linear stapler having a distally located end effector, the end effector comprising a distally located substantially U-shaped fixed jaw and a movable jaw movable relative to the fixed jaw to clamp tissue therebetween, wherein a surface of the fixed jaw opposite the movable jaw comprises an anvil, the movable jaw being configured to receive a staple cartridge, and the fixed jaw comprises two substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plates, the distal surfaces of the anvils being fixedly connected to proximal surfaces of distal ends of the outer anvil clamping plates.

[0007] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, at least one bent portion is provided on the outer surfaces of the two substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plates to enable the two outer anvil clamping plates to bend toward each other, thereby reducing the distance between the two outer anvil clamping plates.

[0008] In accordance with a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, a tissue locking pin is provided on the movable jaw and a tissue locking pin hole is provided on the anvil of the fixed jaw at a location corresponding to the location of the tissue locking pin, the tissue locking pin hole being vertically located at the top end of the anvil and laterally offset.

[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the open linear stapler further comprises an inner anvil clamping plate positioned between the distal ends of each of the two outer anvil clamping plates.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, clearance is provided between the inner anvil clamping plate and the anvil.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the fixed connection is accomplished by welding or adhesive.

[0012] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the inner anvil clamping plate is made from a plastic or metal approved for use in medical instruments.

[0013] In accordance with a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the plastic approved for use in medical instruments is Nylon 66.

[0014] In accordance with a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the metal approved for use in the medical instrument is medical grade stainless steel.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the outer anvil clamping plate is made from a metal approved for use in medical instruments.

[0016] In accordance with a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the metal approved for use in the medical instrument is medical grade stainless steel.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the welding is laser welding, gas shield welding, or friction stir welding.

[0018] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, the adhesive used for bonding is an adhesive material approved for use in medical devices.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the open linear stapler of the present disclosure, a coating layer is applied over an outer surface of the substantially U-shaped anvil.

[0020] The open linear stapler according to the present disclosure can solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art, achieve a compact stapler, provide more free space for the surgeon, and improve the sealing effect on the tissue. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an end effector of an existing open linear stapler. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an anvil of an end effector of an existing open linear stapler. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of a basic configuration of a stapler according to the present disclosure; [Figure 4]1 is a schematic diagram of a fixed jaw of an end effector of a stapler according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Diagram 5] 11 is a schematic diagram of an end effector of a stapler according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a schematic diagram of an anvil of a stapler according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7A] 13 is a schematic diagram of an anvil of a stapler according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 7B] 13 is a schematic diagram of an anvil of a stapler according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 7C] 13 is a schematic diagram of an anvil of a stapler according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 8A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art staple forming pocket arrangement; [Figure 8B] 13 is a schematic diagram of a staple forming pocket arrangement of a stapler according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 9A] 13 is a schematic diagram of a fixed jaw of a stapler according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9B] 13 is a schematic diagram of a fixed jaw of a stapler according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10A] 13 is a schematic diagram of a fixed jaw of a stapler according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10B] 13 is a schematic diagram of a fixed jaw of a stapler according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] In the drawings, the reference numbers are listed as follows: 1 - handle; 2 - connecting rod; 3' / 3 - end effector; 4 - firing trigger; 6 - fixed jaw; 7 - movable jaw; 8' / 8 - anvil; 81' / 81 - tissue locking pin hole; 9 - staple cartridge; 10' / 10 - tissue locking pin; 11 - inner anvil clamping plate; 12' / 12 - outer anvil clamping plate; and 121 / 122 - flexure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, the technical solutions of the present disclosure will be further described through specific embodiments with reference to the drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. The following description of some examples of the present disclosure should not be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is assumed that other examples, features, aspects, implementation solutions and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art through the following description, which is provided in an exemplary manner, and the most suitable method for implementing the present disclosure is adopted. It will be understood that the present disclosure includes other distinct and obvious aspects, which do not depart from the present disclosure. Therefore, the drawings and examples should be considered as substantial examples, not as limitations.

[0024] In addition, any of the teachings, expressions, implementation solutions, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any other therein. Therefore, the teachings, expressions, implementation solutions, and embodiments provided below should not be interpreted as being independent of each other. Various suitable ways of combining according to the present teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0025] For clarity, the terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with respect to an operator manipulating a surgical instrument or robot. The term "proximal" refers to an element location closer to an operator manipulating a surgical instrument or robot and further from a surgical end effector 3 of the surgical instrument. The term "distal" refers to an element location closer to a surgical end effector 3 of the surgical instrument and further from an operator manipulating a surgical instrument or robot. It will be further understood that for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as "vertical," "horizontal," "up," "down," "front," and "back" may be used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and / or absolute.

[0026] The open linear stapler according to the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0027] First, the basic structure of the stapler according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The stapler according to the present disclosure is mainly composed of a main body and a firing member. The main body includes, from the proximal side to the distal side, a handle 1, a connecting rod 2, and an end effector 3. The firing member includes a firing trigger 4 and a push rod 5, which may be designed as a conventional long push rod or a short push rod. The end effector 3 mainly includes two jaws including a substantially U-shaped fixed jaw 6 and a movable jaw 7 movable relative to the fixed jaw, the fixed jaw 6 including an anvil 8, the movable jaw 7 including a staple cartridge 9, a tissue locking pin 10 provided on the movable jaw 7, and a tissue locking pin hole 81 provided on the anvil 8 of the fixed jaw 6 at a position corresponding to the position of the tissue locking pin 10. The connecting rod 2 is configured to connect the handle 1 and the end effector 3. Although the present disclosure is described with the fixed jaw 6 positioned distally and the movable jaw 7 positioned proximally, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is also applicable to situations where the fixed jaw 6 is positioned proximally and the movable jaw 7 is positioned distally.

[0028] For ease of explanation, a three-dimensional coordinate system is shown in Figure 3, where the X direction represents the horizontal direction, the Y direction represents the vertical direction, and the Z direction is the lateral direction. The coordinate system and the three directions as described above may also be applied to other figures in this disclosure.

[0029] First embodiment The first embodiment will be described below. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a substantially U-shaped fixed jaw 6 of the end effector 3 of the stapler according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, the fixed jaw 6 according to the present disclosure includes a hook member that looks like a hook because it extends from the bottom of the stapler body (i.e., the bottom in the Y direction in Figure 3) to the most distal end of the end effector 3 along a horizontal direction to the distal left direction and then extends upward along a vertical direction. The hook member includes an inner anvil clamping plate 11 located in the center and two outer anvil clamping plates 12 arranged respectively on the outside of the inner anvil clamping plate 11 in the lateral direction. The inner anvil clamping plate 11 is preferably made of a plastic approved for use in medical instruments, specifically nylon, more specifically medical material nylon 66. Of course, the inner anvil clamping plate 11 can also be made of a metal approved for use in medical instruments, such as medical stainless steel. The anvil 8 and outer anvil clamping plate 12 are made from a metal approved for use in medical instruments, preferably medical grade stainless steel.

[0030] At the proximal end of the fixed jaw 6, the anvil 8 is fixedly connected by welding to a proximal surface of the distal end of a substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plate 12. Because a large amount of heat is generated during welding, the anvil 8 is not in direct contact with the inner anvil clamping plate 11. Instead, as can be clearly seen in Figure 4, a small clearance is provided between the anvil 8 and the inner anvil clamping plate 11, so that the heat generated during welding is not directly transferred from this clearance to the inner anvil clamping plate 11.

[0031] For the welding applied between the anvil 8 and the outer anvil clamping plate 12, laser welding is preferred, but gas shield welding or friction stir welding may also be employed.

[0032] In addition to welding, the anvil 8 and outer anvil clamping plate 12 may be fixedly connected by other methods, such as adhesively bonding, where the adhesive material for bonding should be approved for use in medical devices.

[0033] In terms of shape, the anvil 8 is aligned laterally and vertically with the inner anvil clamping plate 11 and the outer anvil clamping plate 12. In other words, as viewed from both lateral sides of the end effector 3 and from top to bottom, the surfaces formed by the anvil 8 together with the inner anvil clamping plate 11 and the outer anvil clamping plate 12 are smooth rather than irregular in shape. This arrangement allows the hook members to be hidden under the anvil 8 and inconspicuous when viewed from a horizontal firing orientation as shown in FIG.

[0034] In contrast, the anvil 8' in the prior art as shown in FIG. 1 has a U-shape, covers the outside of the hook member, and is fixedly connected to the hook member via a rivet. In this connection method, the U-shaped anvil 8' and the hook member cannot form a substantially rigid integral member. Therefore, during use of the stapler, after a firing trigger (not shown) is triggered, the firing force is first transferred from the anvil 8' to the rivet pin between the anvil 8' and the outer anvil clamping plate 12', and then to the outer anvil clamping plate 12'. During this process, the firing force is transferred over a long distance.

[0035] In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the anvil 8 is directly welded onto the two outer anvil clamping plates 12 such that the anvil 8 and the hook members form a substantially rigid integral member. In this way, when the stapler is in use and after the firing trigger 4 is triggered, the firing force is directly transmitted from the anvil 8 to the outer anvil clamping plates 12 as an effect of the push rod force, thus resulting in a short distance transmission of force. The outer anvil clamping plates 12 configured as above according to the present disclosure have a high load capacity.

[0036] Second embodiment The second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the end effector 3 of the stapler according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 5, two bent portions are provided on the outer surface of the outer anvil clamping plate 12, which bends the two outer anvil clamping plates 12 toward each other, thus reducing the distance between the two outer anvil clamping plates 12. Here, the vertical bent portion 121 is located close to the distal end, and the horizontal bent portion 122 is located on the proximal side. Although not shown, a person skilled in the art will understand that the other outer anvil clamping plate 12 located on the other side, which cannot be seen in FIG. 5, is also provided with the same bent portion. By arranging the two bent portions, the distance between the two outer anvil clamping plates 12 is shortened, and the lateral dimension of the end effector 3 is further reduced, thereby realizing a compact stapler. Therefore, the stapler according to the present disclosure can be easily inserted into some important parts of the patient's body, such as deep abdominal area. Although the above embodiment in which the outer anvil clamping plate 12 includes two bent portions is used and described herein, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that only one bent portion can also achieve the purpose of reducing the size of the end effector 3.

[0037] Third embodiment A third embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described. Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram of an anvil 8 of a stapler according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. At the top vertical end of the anvil 8, a tissue locking pin hole 81 is laterally off-centered (i.e., offset from the lateral center) and configured to cooperate with a tissue locking pin 10 such that the movable jaw 7 and the fixed jaw 6 are positioned during stapling. In other words, the staple cartridge 9 and the anvil 8 are precisely positioned during stapling to ensure that the staples fired from the staple cartridge 9 are aligned one by one with the staple forming pockets on the anvil 8.

[0038] Corresponding to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an anvil 8' of an end effector 3' of an existing open linear stapler, where the tissue locking pin hole 81' is vertically located at the top end of the anvil 8' but laterally positioned at the center of the anvil. In this situation, a staple forming pocket cannot be placed at this location and a corresponding staple cannot be provided. Thus, a staple is missing at that location when stapling the patient's tissue. Through experimentation, the inventors have realized that the distal end of the anvil 8' close to the tissue locking pin 10' may be sparsely stapled against the patient's tissue, which may lead to leakage.

[0039] According to the present disclosure, the tissue locking pin hole 81 is located off-center, thereby allowing an additional staple forming pocket to be provided adjacent to the tissue locking pin hole 81 at the top end of the anvil 8 in the vertical direction. Although only one additional staple forming pocket is provided, the inventors have found through experiments that compared to the prior art in which the tissue locking pin hole 81 is located at the center, the present disclosure in which the anvil 8 has a tissue locking pin hole 81 located off-center can reduce the possibility of sparse stapling at the end by 20% to 30%, and achieve a good stapling effect, e.g., a good hemostatic effect.

[0040] In the third embodiment of the present disclosure, considering the fact that the tissue locking pin hole 81 is located off-center on the anvil 8, the clearance between the edge of the tissue locking pin hole 81 and the edge of the pocket on the anvil must be greater than 0.010 inches, and the width of the anvil must be set to ensure sufficient distance between the edge of the tissue locking pin hole 81 and the edge of the anvil. In this case, if the U-shaped anvil 8 is left to house the outside of the hook members as in the conventional case, the lateral dimension of the fixed jaw 6 of the end effector 3 will be significantly large, which will in turn hinder the insertion of the stapler into the patient's body. In contrast, if the anvil 8 is fixedly connected to the proximal end of the outer anvil clamping plate 12 by welding as described in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the lateral dimension of the stapler end effector 3 will be thin. For example, the thickness of the distal end of the anvil system is 0.251 inches.

[0041] Additionally, to prevent the substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plate from entangling with tissue, a coating may be applied to the outer surface of the substantially U-shaped anvil, thereby improving the smoothness of the anvil.

[0042] From the above description, those skilled in the art will have a clear idea of ​​the inventive concept and the specific technical means of the present disclosure. The open linear stapler according to the present disclosure can reduce the lateral thickness of the hook member system, thereby allowing easier insertion into the patient's body during surgery and allowing a simpler anvil manufacturing process. During firing, the outer anvil clamping plate has a better load-bearing capacity. There is no clearance between the anvil and the outer anvil clamping plate, making the anvil unable to move relative to the outer anvil clamping plate during use. Furthermore, the additional staples provided beside the off-centered tissue locking pin hole can reduce the risk of leakage of tissue to be sealed around the tissue locking pin.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will understand that the three embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be implemented alone or in combination.

[0044] The present disclosure also encompasses the following improved embodiments.

[0045] 7A-7C show an anvil in the first improved embodiment of the present disclosure. The anvil body is U-shaped, and the anvil face is provided with staple forming pockets, and the anvil top has a different shape from the main body, which is not U-shaped but a flat sheet-like shape, as clearly shown in the drawings. The purpose of such a configuration is to obtain a minimum width of the anvil. In this situation, the anvil body is designed in a U-shape, and the upper end of the anvil is a sheet placed on the outer anvil clamping plate, and protrudes in the Z direction (i.e., laterally) from the outer anvil clamping plate to ensure sufficient space for the placement of the eccentric tissue locking pin hole on the sheet. The anvil according to the improved embodiment provides a large space for the eccentric tissue locking pin hole, thereby facilitating processing. The outer anvil clamping plate covered by the anvil has a support function in use. The body of the anvil is designed in a U-shape which contributes to the good stress behavior of the anvil, and the end seat of the anvil can provide more space for the anvil end, which is particularly suitable for the placement of an eccentric tissue locking pin hole.

[0046] 8A-8B show a second improved embodiment of the present disclosure. The improved embodiment relates to a pattern arrangement of 3D staple forming pockets on an anvil. The 3D staple forming pockets are composed of two small pockets, i.e., for every two small staple forming pockets, a large 3D staple forming pocket is formed. As shown in FIG. 8A, the existing 3D staple forming pockets are arranged in parallel, i.e., the two rows of 3D staple forming pockets forming two staple suture lines copy each other in arrangement, with a passage formed between them. In this case, torque is generated when pressure in the patient's body acts on the staples, and the parallel clearance between the staples is disadvantageous for leakage prevention. The improved embodiment according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 8B, in which the left and right rows of 3D staple pockets are arranged in mirror symmetry with the Y direction as the symmetry axis, and then staggered along the Y direction. Those skilled in the art should understand that the staggered arrangement should ensure that at least a portion of the corresponding 3D staple pockets of the two rows of 3D staple pockets overlap in the Z direction. In this arrangement, a balanced force is generated on each element, allowing this arrangement to achieve a better stapling effect.The staples may be made from titanium.

[0047] A third improved embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. As shown in Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B, in this embodiment, the two outer anvil clamping plates are not flat members, but have a curved shape in horizontal cross section. When measured from the Z direction (i.e., the lateral direction), the clearance between the two outer anvil clamping plates formed on the proximal side is small, but the clearance formed on the distal side is large. The U-shaped anvil covers the proximal end of the two outer anvil clamping plates respectively, and the proximal surface of the two outer anvil clamping plates supports the rear surface of the anvil. At the distal end of the outer anvil clamping plate, a plastic member is disposed between the two outer anvil clamping plates to fill the clearance between them. A pin extending laterally is used to fix the anvil on the outer anvil clamping plate. In the surgical stapler according to this embodiment, the fixed jaw has a smaller thickness, the anvil has a smaller width, and the curved outer anvil clamping plate can reinforce the rigidity of the entire anvil system.

[0048] A fourth improved embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. In Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B, as can be seen from the horizontal cross section, the body of the anvil is U-shaped and sleeve-connected on the inner anvil clamping plate. The inner anvil clamping plate has a T-shape and is mutually nestedly engaged with the body of the anvil. Two outer anvil clamping plates cover two sides of the anvil and the inner anvil clamping plate. The upper part of the anvil is sheet-shaped and covers the outside of the outer anvil clamping plate to ensure sufficient space for the eccentric tissue locking pin hole in the upper sheet of the anvil. As shown in Fig. 10B, the anvil protrudes from the outer anvil clamping plate in the X direction (i.e., horizontal direction), thereby forming a height difference between the surface of the anvil and the surface of the outer anvil clamping plate. The height difference provides a blade cutting site for the surgeon to cut tissue.

[0049] The embodiments described herein are merely provided as examples to illustrate the spirit of the present disclosure. Without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, additions, or substitutions to the embodiments disclosed herein, and all such modifications, additions, or substitutions shall fall within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An open linear stapler equipped with an end effector (3) located distally, The end effector (3) comprises a substantially U-shaped fixed jaw (6) located distally, and a movable jaw (7) movable relative to the fixed jaw (6) to clamp tissue between itself and the fixed jaw (6), wherein the surface of the fixed jaw (6) facing the movable jaw (7) is provided with an anvil (8), and the movable jaw (7) is configured to receive a staple cartridge (9). An open linear stapler characterized in that the fixed jaw (6) comprises two substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plates (12), and the distal surface of the anvil (8) is fixedly connected to the proximal surface of the distal end of the outer anvil clamping plate (12).

2. The open linear stapler according to claim 1, wherein each of the two substantially U-shaped outer anvil clamping plates (12) is provided with at least one bent portion on its outer surface, thereby allowing the two outer anvil clamping plates (12) to bend toward each other, thereby reducing the distance between the two outer anvil clamping plates (12).

3. The open linear stapler according to claim 1, wherein a tissue locking pin (10) is provided on the movable jaw (7), and a tissue locking pin hole (81) is provided on the anvil (8) of the fixed jaw (6) at a position corresponding to the position of the tissue locking pin (10), and the tissue locking pin hole (81) is located at the upper end of the anvil (8) in the vertical direction and offset in the lateral direction.

4. The open linear stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end effector (3) further comprises an inner anvil clamping plate (11) located between the distal ends of the two outer anvil clamping plates (12).

5. The open linear stapler according to claim 4, wherein a clearance is provided between the inner anvil clamping plate (11) and the anvil (8).

6. The open linear stapler according to claim 4, wherein the inner anvil clamping plate (11) is made of plastic or metal.

7. The open linear stapler according to claim 6, wherein the plastic is nylon 66.

8. The open linear stapler according to claim 6, wherein the metal is stainless steel.

9. The open linear stapler according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned fixing and connection is achieved by welding or bonding.

10. The open linear stapler according to claim 9, wherein the welding is laser welding, gas shielded welding, or friction stir welding.

11. The open linear stapler according to claim 9, wherein the aforementioned fixing and connection is achieved by bonding using an adhesive material.

12. The open linear stapler according to claim 1, wherein the outer anvil clamping plate (12) is made of metal.

13. The open linear stapler according to claim 12, wherein the metal from which the outer anvil clamping plate (12) is made is stainless steel.

14. The open linear stapler according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the anvil (8) is coated.

Images