Patent · US Expired

Surgical stapling instrument

US6978922B2 · kind B2 · utility

2,019Cited by
15References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 2002
Grant dateDec 27, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2017/07264
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument comprises a frame having a body portion and a handle. A staple fastening assembly is provided in the distal region of the instrument and includes a cartridge device, which comprises at least one closed row (10, 12) of staples, and an anvil. The anvil is movable relative to the cartridge device and is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device. A knife, which has a closed cutting edge, is contained within the cartridge device and is positioned such that there is at least one closed row (10, 12) of staples on the outside of the cutting edge. It can be moved towards the anvil. The line along which the closed row (10, 12) of staples is arranged has a stepped shape, leaving a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the staple fastening assembly, such that this line has a larger total length than the projection of this line onto this plane. This provides a greater flexibility of the anastomotic site and less tension during instrument removal, alleviating the incidence of clinical complications.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.