Anastomosis Stapler

Abstract

A surgical stapler may include a staple holder, an anvil connected to the staple holder, where at least one of the staple holder and the anvil may be movable relative to the other, and where the anvil may include a groove defined therein, and a cutter that may be slidable along the groove in the anvil. Such a stapler may be used for treating a tissue structure having a lumen defined therein and a wall surrounding the lumen, such as by inserting the anvil into the lumen of the tissue structure through an opening in the wall of the tissue structure; and incising the wall of the tissue structure from the inside, utilizing the cutter.

1 . A surgical stapler, comprising: 
 a staple holder;    an anvil connected to said staple holder, at least one of said staple holder and said anvil movable relative to the other, wherein said anvil includes a groove defined therein; and    a cutter slidable along said groove.    
   
   
       2 . The surgical stapler of  claim 1 , wherein said cutter includes a base and a blade extending upward from said base.  
   
   
       3 . The surgical stapler of  claim 1 , wherein said cutter is movable in a direction upward from said groove.  
   
   
       4 . The surgical stapler of  claim 1 , wherein said anvil is longitudinally elongated.  
   
   
       5 . The surgical stapler of  claim 4 , wherein said groove extends substantially longitudinally and substantially linearly along said anvil.  
   
   
       6 . The surgical stapler of  claim 1 , wherein said staple holder includes two elongated and spaced-apart arms substantially parallel to one another; further comprising a plurality of staples, wherein each said arm holds at least one said staple.  
   
   
       7 . The surgical stapler of  claim 6 , wherein said anvil includes at least one substantially planar surface defined therein, wherein at least one said staple is deformable against said at least one substantially planar surface.  
   
   
       8 . The surgical stapler of  claim 7 , wherein at least one staple bending feature is defined in at least one said substantially planar surface.  
   
   
       9 . The surgical stapler of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of said anvil is sharp.  
   
   
       10 . The surgical stapler of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of at least a portion of said anvil is generally polygonal and open.  
   
   
       11 . A surgical method for treating a tissue structure having a lumen defined therein and a wall surrounding the lumen, comprising: 
 providing a stapler comprising a staple holder, an anvil connected to said staple holder, wherein said anvil includes a groove defined therein, and a cutter slidable along said groove;    inserting said anvil into the lumen of the tissue structure through an opening in the wall of the tissue structure; and    incising the wall of the tissue structure from the inside, utilizing said cutter.    
   
   
       12 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , further comprising stapling a graft to the tissue structure with said staple holder.  
   
   
       13 . The surgical method of  claim 12 , wherein said incising is performed before said stapling.  
   
   
       14 . The surgical method of  claim 12 , wherein said incising is performed after said stapling.  
   
   
       15 . The surgical method of  claim 12 , wherein said incising is performed during said stapling.  
   
   
       16 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , further comprising making the opening in the wall of the tissue structure with the distal end of said anvil, before said inserting.  
   
   
       17 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein said incising is performed at a location on the wall of the tissue structure distinct from the opening in the tissue structure.  
   
   
       18 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein said incising creates a substantially linear incision in the wall of the tissue structure.  
   
   
       19 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving said staple holder relative to said anvil before said incising.  
   
   
       20 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein said incising is performed both by sliding said cutter longitudinally and moving at least part of said cutter toward the wall of the tissue structure.