Stapling device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stapling device (1) comprising a handle assembly (2), an elongate body (3) extending from the handle assembly (2) and having a longitudinal axis (x), said elongate body (3) comprising a distal end (31 ) and a proximal end (32), said proximal end being coupled to said handle assembly (2), and a tool assembly (4) coupled to said elongate body (3) at said distal end (31 ), said tool assembly (4) comprising a first jaw (41 ) and a second jaw (42), said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) being movable relative to each other, said stapling device (1) comprising a control mechanism (5) comprising a ring (51) fixed to a proximal end (23) of said handle assembly (2), said ring (51 ) being adapted to be rotated, clockwise or anticlockwise, in order to move said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) from a closed position of said tool assembly (4), wherein said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) are in contact along the extent of said elongate body (3) on said longitudinal axis (x), to an open position of said tool assembly (4), wherein said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) form an angle with said longitudinal axis (x).

Description

[0001] STAPLING DEVICE

[0002] The present invention relates to a stapling device, in particular a surgical stapler.

[0003] As is well known, a stapling device such as a linear stapler or surgical stapler is a medical device used to close wounds or surgical incisions by applying staples. This instrument is designed to create a series of regular, uniform staples along the edge of the wound or incision, thereby contributing to ensuring proper healing.

[0004] Linear staplers are often used in surgery, especially in operations in which it is necessary to quickly close a wound, such as the ones involving thin tissues like skin or blood vessels. These devices are designed to be ergonomic and easy for a surgeon or medical practitioner to handle.

[0005] In particular, said devices are adapted to grasp or clamp tissues between opposite structures of the jaw and then join the tissues through fixing means. In some devices a blade is provided to cut the tissues that have been placed side by side by means of fixing elements.

[0006] Said stapling devices can comprise two jaw elements that are respectively used to grasp or clamp tissues. In some surgical staplers, one of the jaw elements holds a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples, said jaw element also being referred to hereafter as a cartridge, whereas the other jaw element is an anvil that defines a surface for forming the staple legs when the staples are guided by the staple cartridge.

[0007] In general, linear staplers are designed so that said jaw elements have an opening angle which allows visibility and access to the wound or surgical incision. In particular, the opening angle of said jaw elements, understood as the angle comprised between the two jaw elements, may range from about 15 degrees to 30 degrees. This range of opening allows the surgeon or medical practitioner to adapt the opening to the specific requirements of the surgical site.

[0008] It is important to note that the choice of the opening angle depends on the specific surgical procedure and the practitioner’s preferences.

[0009] Furthermore, in the linear staplers of the prior art, generally a first jaw element is fixed, and a second jaw element is movable so that it can be brought closer to or moved away from said first jaw element.

[0010] However, said maximum opening angle does not allow structures far from each other to be brought closer or the possibility of compressing the tissues involved in gastric or thoracic surgery procedures.

[0011] Thus, in the specific sector there exists a need for a stapling device with a larger opening angle compared to the devices of the prior art.

[0012] This need is satisfied by the device according to the present invention, which also offers further advantages that will become clear below.

[0013] The aim of the present invention is thus to provide a stapling device, in particular a surgical stapler, which makes it possible to overcome the limits of the stapling devices according to the prior art and obtain the previously described technical results.

[0014] A further aim of the invention is that said stapling device can be produced at substantially low costs, both as regards the production costs and as regards the operating costs.

[0015] Yet another aim of the invention is to propose a stapling device that is simple, safe and reliable.

[0016] Therefore, a specific object of the present invention is a stapling device comprising a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly and having a longitudinal axis, said elongate body comprising a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end being coupled to said handle assembly, and a tool assembly coupled to said elongate body at said distal end, said tool assembly comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, said first jaw and said second jaw being movable relative to each other, said stapling device comprising a control mechanism comprising a ring fixed to a proximal end of said handle assembly, said ring being adapted to be rotated, clockwise or anticlockwise, in order to move said first jaw and said second jaw from a closed position of said tool assembly, wherein said first jaw and said second jaw are in contact along the extent of said elongate body on said longitudinal axis, to an open position of said tool assembly, wherein said first jaw and said second jaw form an angle with said longitudinal axis.

[0017] In particular, according to the present invention, said first jaw can be a cartridge comprising a plurality of surgical fixing means and said second jaw can be an anvil assembly.

[0018] Preferably, according to the present invention, in an open position of said tool assembly, the angle between said first jaw and / or said second jaw and said longitudinal axis can be greater than 15°. In particular, according to the present invention, in an open position of said tool assembly, the angle between said first jaw and / or said second jaw and said longitudinal axis can be 45°.

[0019] Moreover, according to the present invention, said stapling device can comprise a worm screw coupled to said ring and connected to a helical cylindrical gear coupled to a shaft, said shaft being connected to a first driven pulley and to a second driven pulley coupled respectively to said first jaw and to said second jaw, said second driven pulley being connected to said first driven pulley, so that when said first driven pulley rotates said second driven pulley rotates in the opposite direction.

[0020] In particular, according to the present invention, said stapling device can comprise a first transmission belt adapted to connect said first driven pulley to said first jaw and a second transmission belt adapted to connect said second driven pulley to said second jaw.

[0021] Again according to the present invention, said stapling device can comprise at least one spring coupled to said first transmission belt and to said second transmission belt.

[0022] The present invention will now be described by way of non-limiting illustration according to a preferred embodiment thereof, with particular reference to the figures of the appended drawings, wherein:

[0023] - figure 1 shows a perspective view of a stapling device according to the present invention,

[0024] - figures 2a-2c and 3 show a first embodiment of the control mechanism of the stapling device in figure 1 .

[0025] Below in the present description, the term "proximal" refers to an end of the stapling device that is closer to the practitioner, whilst the term "distal" refers to an end of the device that is farther from the practitioner

[0026] Making reference to figure 1 , the stapling device, in particular a surgical stapler, indicated by the reference number 1 , comprises a handle assembly 2 and an elongate body 3. Said elongate body 3 has a longitudinal axis x and comprises a distal end 31 and a proximal end 32, said proximal end 32 being coupled to said handle assembly 2. In particular, said handle assembly 2 comprises a fixed hand grip 21.

[0027] Furthermore, in the device shown in figure 1 , a tool assembly 4 is removably coupled to said distal end 32 of the elongate body 3.

[0028] Making reference to figure 1 , said tool assembly 4 comprises a first jaw 41 and a second jaw 42 which are movable towards each other. Preferably, said first jaw 41 is a cartridge comprising a plurality of fixing means or surgical staples and said second jaw 42 is an anvil assembly 42 fixed in a relation next to said cartridge 41 , wherein said anvil assembly 42 and said cartridge 41 can be moved towards each other to close or open the tool assembly 4.

[0029] In particular, said first jaw 41 and said second jaw 42 are adapted to pass from a closed position, wherein said first jaw 41 and said second jaw 42 are in contact along the extent of said elongate body 3 on said longitudinal axis x, to an open position of said tool assembly 4, wherein said anvil assembly 42 and said cartridge 41 form an angle with said longitudinal axis x. The passage from a closed position to an open position of said tool assembly 4, or vice versa, takes place in response to the movement of a control mechanism 5.

[0030] In particular, said stapling device 1 comprises a control mechanism 5 adapted to adjust the opening of said tool assembly 4, i.e. the position of said first jaw 41 relative to said second jaw 42 or vice versa. In particular, said control mechanism 5 allows the opening of said tool assembly 4 with an angle of between 0° and 90°. Furthermore, said control mechanism 5 can be manually activated by the practitioner.

[0031] This feature enables the medical practitioner to adapt the opening of the tool assembly to the specific requirements of the surgical site, thus allowing structures far from each other to be brought closer or the possibility of compressing the tissues involved in gastric or thoracic surgery procedures. Moreover, the presence of said control mechanism 5 makes it possible to have a larger opening angle of said tool assembly 4 compared to the known devices.

[0032] Making reference to figure 1 , said control mechanism 5 comprises a ring 51 coupled to said handle assembly 2. In particular, said ring 5 is fixed to a proximal end 23 of said handle assembly 2.

[0033] Moreover, in a first embodiment shown in figures 2a-2c and 3, said control mechanism comprises a ring 51 adapted to be rotated by the practitioner, clockwise or anticlockwise, thus enabling the opening or closing, respectively, of said first jaw 41 and said second jaw 42 or vice versa. In particular, said ring 51 is coupled to a worm screw 52 connected to a helical cylindrical gear 53. The rotation of said ring 51 allows the rotation of said worm screw 52 and, via the helical cylindrical gear 53, the rotation of a shaft 54. More particularly, said shaft 54 is connected to a first driven pulley 55’, which is further connected to said first jaw 41 by means of a first transmission belt 551’, so that when said first driven pulley 55’ rotates, said transmission belt enables the opening or closing of said first jaw 41 .

[0034] Furthermore, said control mechanism 5 comprises a second driven pulley 55” connected to said first driven pulley 55’, so that when said first driven pulley 55’ rotates, said second driven pulley 55” rotates in the opposite direction.

[0035] Moreover, said second driven pulley 55” is further connected to said second jaw 42 by means of a second transmission belt 551”, so that when said second driven pulley 55” rotates, said transmission belt enables the opening or closing of said second jaw 42.

[0036] Moreover, said first transmission belt 551’ and said second transmission belt 551” are coupled to two respective springs 56.

[0037] The present invention has been described by way of non-limiting illustration according to preferred embodiments thereof, but it is to be understood that variations and / or modifications may be introduced by the person skilled in the art without going outside the relevant scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 08 SEP 2025 (08.09.2025)1 ) A stapling device (1 ) comprising a handle assembly (2), an elongate body (3) extending from the handle assembly (2) and having a longitudinal axis (x), said elongate body (3) comprising a distal end (31 ) and a proximal end (32), said proximal end being coupled to said handle assembly (2), and a tool assembly (4) coupled to said elongate body (3) at said distal end (31 ), said tool assembly (4) comprising a first jaw (41 ) and a second jaw (42), said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) being movable relative to each other, said first jaw (41 ) being a cartridge (41 ) comprising a plurality of surgical fixing means and said second jaw (42) being an anvil assembly (42) said stapling device (1 ) comprising a control mechanism (5) comprising a ring (51 ) fixed to a proximal end (23) of said handle assembly (2), said ring (51 ) being adapted to be rotated, clockwise or anticlockwise, to move said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) from a closed position of said tool assembly (4), wherein said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) are in contact along the extent of said elongate body (3) on said longitudinal axis (x), to an open position of said tool assembly (4), wherein said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw (42) form an angle with said longitudinal axis (x).2) The stapling device (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in an open position of said tool assembly (4), the angle between said first jaw (41 ) and / or said second jaw (42) and said longitudinal axis (x) is greater than 15°.3) The stapling device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that in an open position of said tool assembly (4), the angle between said first jaw (41 ) and / or said second jaw (42) is 45°.4) The stapling device (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a worm screw (52) coupled to said ring (51 ) and connected to a helical cylindrical gear (53) coupled to a shaft (54), said shaft (54) being connected to a first driven pulley (55’) and a second driven pulley (55”) coupled, respectively, to said first jaw (41 ) and said second jaw(42), said second driven pulley (55”) being connected to said first driven pulley (55’), so that when said first driven pulley (55’) rotates, said second driven pulley (55”) rotates in the oppositedirection.5) The stapling device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a first transmission belt (55T) adapted to connect said first driven pulley (55’) to said first jaw (41 ) and a second transmission belt (551”) adapted to connect said second driven pulley (55”) to said second jaw (42).6) The stapling device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises at least one spring (56) coupled to said first transmission belt (551 ’) and to said second transmission belt (551”).

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