Surgical stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument ( 1 ) comprises a body portion ( 2, 3 ), a handle ( 4 ) and a staple fastening assembly ( 8 ). The staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) includes a curved cartridge ( 10 ), which comprises at least one curved open row of staples, and a curved anvil ( 22 ), which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge ( 10 ) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge ( 10 ). The staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) is adapted to allow unobstructed access towards the concave inner faces of the cartridge ( 10 ) and the anvil ( 22 ). The cartridge ( 10 ) can be moved towards the anvil ( 22 ) from a spaced position for positioning tissue therebetween to a closed position for clamping the tissue. Preferably, a knife is contained within the cartridge ( 10 ) and is positioned such that there is at least one row of staples on at least one side of the knife.

1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
 a frame having a body portion ( 2 ,  3 ) and a handle ( 4 ) extending from said body portion ( 2 ) in a proximal end region of said instrument ( 1 ),  
 a staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) in a distal end region of said instrument ( 1 ), said staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) including a curved cartridge ( 10 ), which comprises at least one curved open row ( 34 ,  35 ,  36 ) of staples ( 54 ,  55 ,  56 ), and, at the distal end of said instrument ( 1 ), a curved anvil ( 22 ), which is adapted to cooperate with said cartridge ( 10 ) for forming ends of the staples ( 54 ,  55 ,  56 ) exiting from said cartridge ( 10 ),  
 a staple forming plane ( 26 ) of said anvil ( 22 ) being arranged transversally with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of said body portion ( 3 ) of said instrument ( 1 ),  
 said staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) being adapted to allow unobstructed access towards concave inner faces ( 40 ,  41 ,  42 ) of said cartridge ( 10 ) and of said anvil ( 22 ),  
 a cartridge moving device ( 5 ,  12 ,  16 ,  18 ) adapted to move said cartridge ( 10 ) essentially in parallel relationship towards said anvil ( 22 ) from a spaced position for positioning tissue therebetween to a closed position for clamping tissue, and  
 a staple driving device ( 6 ,  52 ,  53 ) adapted to drive the staples ( 54 ,  55 ,  56 ) out of said cartridge ( 10 ) towards said anvil ( 22 ).  
 
     
     
       2. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized by
 a knife ( 58 ), which is contained within said cartridge ( 10 ) and which is positioned such that there is at least one row ( 34 ,  35 ,  36 ) of staples ( 54 ,  55 ,  56 ) on at least one side of the knife ( 58 ), and  
 a knife actuating device ( 6 ,  52 ,  53 ) adapted to move said knife ( 58 ) towards said anvil ( 22 ).  
 
     
     
       3. Stapling instrument according to  claim 2 , characterized in that there is at least one row ( 34 ,  35 ,  36 ) of staples ( 54 ,  55 ,  56 ) on each side of said knife ( 58 ). 
     
     
       4. Stapling instrument according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that said cartridge ( 10 ) and said anvil ( 22 ) have a generally arc-like shape in a cross-sectional plane, the arc extending over an angle in a range of 90° to 270°. 
     
     
       5. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) includes a curved guide portion ( 18 ), wherein said cartridge ( 10 ) is mounted for movement between a distal end ( 19 ) of said guide portion ( 18 ) and said anvil ( 22 ). 
     
     
       6. Stapling instrument according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said guide portion ( 18 ) and said anvil ( 22 ) are rigidly connected by means of at least one arm ( 20 ) extending from at least one end of said anvil ( 22 ) and generally running in parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of said body portion ( 3 ) of said instrument ( 1 ). 
     
     
       7. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a distance between said cartridge ( 10 ) and said anvil ( 22 ) in the closed position is adjustable. 
     
     
       8. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said staple driving device ( 6 ,  52 ,  53 ) is adapted to simultaneously drive the staples ( 54 ,  55 ,  56 ) out of said cartridge ( 10 ) towards said anvil ( 22 ). 
     
     
       9. Stapling instrument according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said knife actuating device ( 6 ,  52 ,  53 ) is adapted to cause said knife ( 58 ) to protrude from said cartridge ( 10 ) after staple points have been driven out of said cartridge ( 10 ). 
     
     
       10. Stapling instrument according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said staple driving device ( 6 ,  52 ,  53 ) and said knife actuating device ( 6 ,  52 ,  53 ) are mechanically coupled for operation via a common trigger ( 6 ). 
     
     
       11. Stapling instrument according to  claim 2  in connection with  claim 2 , characterized in that said knife ( 58 ) is removable. 
     
     
       12. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said cartridge moving device ( 5 ,  12 ,  16 ,  18 ) includes a trigger lever ( 5 ) for actuating the movement of said cartridge ( 10 ). 
     
     
       13. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said cartridge moving device includes a threaded shaft coupled to a rotatable knob for actuating movement of said cartridge. 
     
     
       14. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said anvil ( 10 ) has an atraumatically shaped distal end region ( 24 ). 
     
     
       15. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said staple fastening assembly ( 8 ) is removably mounted in a distal end region ( 9 ) of said body portion ( 2 ,  3 ). 
     
     
       16. Stapling instrument according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said cartridge ( 10 ) is removable. 
     
     
       17. Stapling instrument according to one of  claims 1  to  16 , characterized in that a radius of curvature is essentially infinite.