Surgical Device and Method

Abstract

A surgical device for cutting a portion of a body comprising a knife capable of moving from a first position to a second position which is spaced apart from the first position; a smart memory material (SMM) capable of going from one physical state to another physical state; and an activating apparatus which is in communication with the smart memory material and which can cause the change in the physical state of the smart memory material, which change in state causes the movement of the knife thereby facilitating cutting of the desired body portion.

1 . A surgical device for cutting a portion of a body comprising:
 an upper jaw including an anvil;   a lower jaw including a knife in communication with a smart memory material to move the knife from a lower position upward to an upper position spaced apart from the lower position toward the anvil, wherein the smart memory material is capable of moving from a first physical state in which the knife is in an undeployed state and a second physical state in which the knife is deployed upward toward the anvil to facilitate cutting of the body portion; and   an activating apparatus in communication with the smart memory material for causing the smart memory material to change from the first physical state to the second physical state.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower jaw also includes a supply of staples in communication with a second smart memory material for deploying the supply of staples towards the anvil and piercing the body portion located therebetween, wherein the second smart memory material is capable of moving from a first physical state in which the supply of staples is in an undeployed state and a second physical state in which the supply of staples is deployed towards the anvil. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical device of  claim 2 , wherein the supply of staples includes two rows of staples with the knife disposed between the rows. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the SMM is at least one of a metallic alloy or a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the activating apparatus causes the SMM to expand in volume thereby moving the knife. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the SMM is a metallic alloy comprised of a composition, which can go from a martensite phase to an austenite phase. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the SMM is at least one of a metallic alloy comprised of nickel and titanium, a metallic alloy composed of copper, zinc and aluminum, or a metallic alloy composed of iron, nickel and aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . A method of cutting a body portion comprising:
 providing the device of  claim 1 ; and   cutting the desired body portion.   
     
     
         9 . A surgical device for cutting a portion of a body comprising:
 a first jaw including an anvil;   a second jaw disposed beneath the first jaw in a closed position to define a longitudinally extending space therebetween, and including a knife in communication with a smart memory material to move the knife from a first position toward the anvil and transversely across the longitudinally extending space to a second position spaced apart from the first position, wherein the smart memory material is capable of moving from a first physical state in which the knife is in an undeployed state and a second physical state in which the knife is deployed toward the anvil to facilitate cutting of the body portion; and   an activating apparatus in communication with the smart memory material for causing the smart memory material to change from the first physical state to the second physical state.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical device of  claim 9 , wherein the second jaw also includes a supply of staples in communication with a second smart memory material for deploying the supply of staples towards the anvil and piercing the body portion located therebetween, wherein the second smart memory material is capable of moving from a first physical state in which the supply of staples is in an undeployed state and a second physical state in which the supply of staples is deployed towards the anvil. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical device of  claim 10 , wherein the supply of staples includes two rows of staples with the knife disposed between the rows. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical device of  claim 9  wherein the SMM is at least one of a metallic alloy or a polymeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical device of  claim 9  wherein the SMM is at least one of a metallic alloy comprised of nickel and titanium, a metallic alloy comprised of copper, zinc and aluminum, or a metallic allow comprised of iron, nickel and aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . A method of cutting a body portion comprising:
 providing the device of  claim 9 ; and   cutting the desired body portion.   
     
     
         15 . A surgical device for cutting a portion of a body comprising:
 a first jaw including an anvil extending in a longitudinal direction in a closed position of the device;   a second jaw including a knife extending in the longitudinal direction in the closed position and being in communication with a smart memory material to move the knife toward the anvil in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, wherein the smart memory material is capable of moving from a first physical state in which the knife is in an undeployed state and a second physical state in which the knife is deployed upward toward the anvil to facilitate cutting of the body portion; and   an activating apparatus in communication with the smart memory material for causing the smart memory material to change from the first physical state to the second physical state.   
     
     
         16 . The surgical device of  claim 15 , wherein the second jaw also includes a supply of staples in communication with a second smart memory material for deploying the supply of staples towards the anvil and piercing the body portion located therebetween, wherein the second smart memory material is capable of moving from a first physical state in which the supply of staples is in an undeployed state and a second physical state in which the supply of staples is deployed towards the anvil. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical device of  claim 15 , wherein the supply of staples includes two rows of staples with the knife disposed between the rows. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical device of  claim 15  wherein the SMM is at least one of a metallic alloy or a polymeric material. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical device of  claim 15  wherein the SMM is at least one of a metallic alloy comprised of nickel and titanium, a metallic alloy comprised of copper, zinc and aluminum, or a metallic allow comprised of iron, nickel and aluminum. 
     
     
         20 . A method of cutting a body portion comprising:
 providing the device of  claim 15 ; and   cutting the desired body portion.