Surgical Stapling Instruments Structured for Delivery of Medical Agents

Abstract

A medical agent dispensing system can be provided that may be structured for use with a surgical severing/stapling instrument that is designed for severing and stapling tissue. The dispensing system may include at least one storage reservoir structured for storing at least a component of a medical agent; a gear pump casing in communication with the storage reservoir; a screw pump auger positioned within the gear pump casing capable of rotational manipulation to move the medical agent through the gear pump casing; and, at least one agent tube in communication with the gear pump casing. The agent tube may be structured for communication with a least one agent port formed in a staple cartridge of the surgical instrument for dispensing the medical agent therethrough.

1 . A medical agent dispensing system structured for use with a surgical severing/stapling instrument structured for severing and stapling tissue, the dispensing system comprising:
 at least one storage reservoir structured for storing at least a component of a medical agent;   a gear pump casing in communication with the storage reservoir;   a screw pump auger positioned within the gear pump casing, the screw pump auger being capable of rotational manipulation to move the medical agent through the gear pump casing; and,   at least one agent tube in communication with the gear pump casing, the agent tube being structured for communication with at least one agent port formed in a staple cartridge of the surgical instrument for dispensing the medical agent therethrough.   
   
   
       2 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical agent includes a hemostatic agent. 
   
   
       3 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical agent includes an adhesive. 
   
   
       4 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the gear pump casing is positioned to extend longitudinally through a spine of the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       5 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the gear pump casing is in communication with the agent tube through a lateral manifold. 
   
   
       6 . The dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the agent tube is in communication with both the lateral manifold and a plurality of the agent ports. 
   
   
       7 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a second agent tube in communication with the gear pump casing, wherein the first agent tube communicates with a first plurality of agent ports formed in the staple cartridge, and the second agent tube communicates with a second plurality of agent ports formed in the staple cartridge. 
   
   
       8 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one agent port being formed generally adjacent to at least one staple hole of the staple cartridge. 
   
   
       9 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a second storage reservoir in communication with the gear pump casing, the second storage reservoir being structured for storing at least a component of the medical agent. 
   
   
       10 . The dispensing system of  claim 9 , wherein the component stored in the first storage reservoir and the component in the second storage reservoir are designed to be combined to form the medical agent. 
   
   
       11 . The dispensing system of  claim 9 , further comprising a Y-manifold in communication with both the first storage reservoir and the second storage reservoir. 
   
   
       12 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor structured to drive rotation of the screw pump auger within the gear pump casing. 
   
   
       13 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanically driven rotary trigger configured to drive rotation of the screw pump auger within the gear pump casing. 
   
   
       14 . A surgical severing/stapling instrument including a medical agent dispensing system, the instrument comprising:
 a handle portion including at least one storage reservoir structured for storing at least a component of a medical agent;   a shaft portion connected to the handle portion, the shaft portion including a gear pump casing in communication with the storage reservoir, the gear pump casing including a screw pump auger extending therethrough capable of rotational manipulation to move the medical agent through the gear pump casing;   an end effector portion operatively associated with the shaft portion, the end effector including a channel having a staple cartridge positioned removably therein;   at least one agent tube in communication with the gear pump casing, the agent tube extending from the shaft portion to communicate with at least one agent port formed in the staple cartridge for dispensing the medical agent therethrough.   
   
   
       15 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the medical agent includes a hemostatic agent. 
   
   
       16 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the medical agent includes an adhesive. 
   
   
       17 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the gear pump casing is in communication with the agent tube through a lateral manifold. 
   
   
       18 . The instrument of  claim 14 , further comprising at least a second agent tube in communication with the gear pump casing, wherein the first agent tube communicates with a first plurality of agent ports formed in the staple cartridge, and the second agent tube communicates with a second plurality of agent ports formed in the staple cartridge. 
   
   
       19 . The instrument of  claim 14 , further comprising the handle portion including at least a second storage reservoir in communication with the gear pump casing, the second storage reservoir being structured for storing at least a component of the medical agent. 
   
   
       20 . The instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the component stored in the first storage reservoir and the component in the second storage reservoir are designed to be combined to form the medical agent.