Surgical cutting and stapling instrument with self adjusting anvil

Abstract

A surgical instrument for being endoscopically or laparoscopically inserted into a surgical site for simultaneous stapling and severing of tissue includes an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein. An anvil is coupled to the elongate channel and is configured to interact therewith such that at least a mounting portion of the anvil can seatingly engage corresponding portions of the elongate channel at any one of a discrete number of predetermined locations to adjust a tissue clamping space between the anvil and the elongate channel in response to a thickness of tissue received between the elongate channel and the anvil and application of a closing motion to the anvil.

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a cartridge supporting assembly configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein; and   an anvil coupled to said cartridge supporting assembly and being configured to interact therewith such that at least a mounting portion of said anvil can seatingly engage corresponding portions of said cartridge supporting assembly at any one of a discrete number of predetermined locations to adjust a tissue clamping space between said anvil and said cartridge supporting assembly in response to a thickness of tissue received between a cartridge supported in said cartridge supporting assembly and said anvil and application of a closing motion to said anvil.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein said discrete number of predetermined locations are defined by at least one series of detents formed in said cartridge supporting assembly and wherein each one of said mounting portions of said anvil corresponds to one said series of detents and is configured for engagement with any detent therein in response to the thickness of the tissue clamped between the anvil and the cartridge supported within the cartridge supporting assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2  wherein said anvil has a proximal end that is pivotally coupled to a proximal end of said cartridge supporting assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 3  wherein said each said mounting portion comprises a trunnion wherein each said trunnion corresponds to a corresponding one of said at least one series of detents. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 4  wherein said trunnions are each movably received in a corresponding elongated slot in said proximal end of said cartridge supporting assembly and wherein each said slot has a corresponding one of said series of detents formed therein for engagement by said trunnion received therein. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 4  further comprising a pawl formed on each said trunnion. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 6  wherein each said series of detents comprises a series of substantially V-shaped notches and wherein each said pawl has a point formed thereon adapted to be seatingly received within any one of said V-shaped notches in said corresponding series of V-shaped notches. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 6  further comprising a biasing member engaging a portion of said anvil such that each said pawl is biased into seating engagement with a corresponding first detent when no tissue is received between said anvil and said cartridge supporting assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein said anvil has a plurality of staple forming pockets therein and wherein said staple forming pockets are axially aligned with corresponding staples in the staple cartidge supported within said cartridge supporting assembly when said portions of said proximal end of said anvil are in seated engagement with any one of said discrete number of predetermined locations formed in said cartridge supporting assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein said anvil further has an opening tab formed thereon for selective engagement by a closure tube assembly mounted adjacent said anvil and configured for selective engagement therewith. 
     
     
         11 . A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:
 obtaining said surgical instrument of  claim 1 ;   sterilizing said surgical instrument; and   storing said instrument in a sterile container.   
     
     
         12 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an elongate channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein; and   an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel and configured to interact with at least one series of pivot nests in said elongate channel to selectively adjust a tissue clamping space between said anvil and a staple cartridge supported within said elongate channel in response to a thickness of tissue received between said anvil and the staple cartridge and application of a closing motion to said anvil.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12  wherein said at least one series of pivot nests comprises two series of detents formed in said elongate channel, each said series of detents configured for selective seating engagement therewith by a corresponding pawl formed on said anvil. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle assembly;   an elongate spine assembly coupled to said handle assembly;   an elongate channel distally coupled to said elongate spine assembly and configured to support a staple cartridge therein;   a selectively actuateable a closure tube assembly movably received on said elongate spine assembly; and   an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel and configured to receive opening and closing motions from said selectively actuatable closure tube assembly, said anvil further configured to seatingly engage corresponding portions of said elongate channel at any one of a discrete number of predetermined locations in response to a thickness of tissue clamped between said elongate channel and said anvil and application of a closing motion to said anvil.   
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 14  wherein said discrete number of predetermined locations are defined by at least one series of detents formed in said elongate channel and wherein a portion of said anvil corresponds to each of said series of detents and is configured for engagement with any detent therein in response to the thickness of the tissue clamped between the anvil and the elongate channel and the application of the closing motion to said anvil. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15  wherein said anvil is pivotally coupled to said elongate channel by a pair of trunnions, each said trunnion corresponding to one of said at least one series of detents. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 16  wherein said trunnions are each movably received in a corresponding elongated slot in said elongate channel and wherein each said slot has a corresponding one of said series of detents formed therein for engagement by said trunnion received therein. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 16  wherein said portion of said anvil corresponding to said series of detents comprises a pawl formed on each said trunnion. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 18  further comprising a biasing member engaging a portion of said anvil such that each said pawl is biased into engagement with a corresponding first detent when no tissue is received between said anvil and said elongate channel. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein said anvil has a plurality of staple forming pockets therein and wherein said staple forming pockets are axially aligned with corresponding staples in the staple cartidge supported within said elongate channel when said portions of said anvil are in seated engagement with any one of said discrete number of predetermined locations formed in said elongate channel.