Applicator instruments having insertable, changeable cartridges for dispensing surgical fasteners

US10743867B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Simon Cohn · Lebanon, US
• Michael Nordmeyer · Pittstown, US
• Michael Cardinale · Morristown, US
• Jianxin Guo · Livingston, US
• Mark D. Kenyon · Ringoes, US
• Doug Souls · Andover, US
• Danial Ferreira · Milford, US
• Jared Schneider · Providence, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 21, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2020
• Expiry date: Aug 4, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0808
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, and a cartridge insertable into the cartridge opening, the cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners pre-loaded into the cartridge. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed within the housing, and an actuator for activating the firing system to commence a firing cycle for removing one of the surgical fasteners from the cartridge and driving the removed surgical fastener from the housing to a distal end of the elongated shaft. In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a cartridge body having an upper end and a lower end insertable into the cartridge opening. The surgical fasteners are arrayed in a stack that extends between the upper and lower ends of the cartridge body. The cartridge has a constant force spring that normally urges the stack of surgical fasteners toward the lower end of the cartridge body for being fed into the firing system.