Vacuum assisted surgical stapler

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an anvil half-section and a cartridge-receiving half-section including an elongated channel member having a pair of opposed openings defined through sidewalls thereof. A disposable assembly including a single use loading unit and a single use firing unit is configured to be releasably supported within the cartridge-receiving half-section. The disposable assembly includes a stationary housing for supporting the firing unit which includes a distal extension for supporting the single use loading unit. The stationary housing includes a pair of flared tabs configured to be releasably received within the openings of the cartridge-receiving half-section to releasably engage the disposable assembly within the cartridge-receiving half-section.

1 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising:
 a body portion;   a shell assembly supported on a distal end of the body portion;   an anvil assembly movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions, the anvil assembly comprising:
 an anvil member; and 
 an anvil shaft extending proximally from the anvil member; 
   a vacuum channel extending into the anvil shaft; and   at least one opening in the anvil shaft at a location spaced from the anvil member.   
     
     
         2 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the anvil shaft is configured as an elongated channel. 
     
     
         3 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the anvil shaft includes a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         4 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of openings are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the anvil shaft. 
     
     
         5 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of openings are spaced about a periphery of the anvil shaft. 
     
     
         6 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 1  further including a pusher assembly configured and dimensioned for longitudinal movement through the body portion to facilitate ejection of a plurality of surgical fasteners from the surgical fastener applying apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the vacuum channel extends into the pusher assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the pusher assembly includes pusher back and a staple driver, the pusher back and the stapler driver being in mechanical cooperation such that distal advancement of the pusher back causes distal advancement of the staple driver. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the vacuum channel extends into the pusher back. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 9  further including a knife member movable through the shell assembly, the pusher back and the knife member being in mechanical cooperation such that distal advancement of the pusher back causes distal advancement of the knife member. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the knife member is annular in configuration. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 1  further including an anvil retainer positioned within the shell assembly configured and dimensioned to receive the anvil shaft. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical fastener applying apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum channel extends into the anvil retainer. 
     
     
         14 . An anvil assembly for use with a surgical fastener applying apparatus, the anvil assembly comprising:
 an anvil member; and   an anvil shaft extending proximally from the anvil, wherein the anvil shaft includes a vacuum channel in communication with a vacuum source, and at least one opening in the anvil shaft at a location spaced from the anvil member.   
     
     
         15 . An anvil assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one opening is configured as an elongated channel. 
     
     
         16 . An anvil assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one opening is circular in configuration. 
     
     
         17 . An anvil assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one opening is oval in configuration. 
     
     
         18 . An anvil assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         19 . An anvil assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of openings are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the anvil shaft. 
     
     
         20 . An anvil assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of openings are spaced about a periphery of the anvil shaft.