Anvil Grasper

Abstract

A surgical grasping instrument is provided which includes a body portion having an elongate tubular member extending from the body portion and a jaw assembly movably mounted on a distal end of the elongate tubular member. The jaw assembly includes first and second jaws having arcuate grasping portions for securely grasping a circular surgical stapler anvil shaft. The jaw assembly is mounted on a movable head portion which is movable relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member to rotate and articulate the jaw assembly relative to the longitudinal axis to manipulate the anvil within the body of a patient.

1 . A jaw assembly for use with a surgical grasping instrument comprising:
 a first jaw having a first arcuate gripping portion and a first arm extending from the first arcuate gripping portion; and   a second jaw having a second gripping portion and a second arm extending from the second gripping portion, the first and second arms being relatively movably connected.   
     
     
         2 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second gripping portion is arcuate. 
     
     
         3 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second arcuate gripping portions is semi-cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein both the first and second arcuate gripping portions are semi-cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first arcuate gripping portion includes radially inwardly directed teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the radially inwardly directed teeth terminate in flats. 
     
     
         7 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms are movably connected by a pivot point, the first and second jaws movable from an open condition with the first arcuate gripping portion and second gripping portion spaced apart to a closed condition with the first arcuate gripping portion and the second gripping portion in close cooperative alignment to capture an object. 
     
     
         8 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second arms includes a base portion having an angled drive slot. 
     
     
         9 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein both the first and second arms include base portions having angled drive slots. 
     
     
         10 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms are movably connected by a flexible member. 
     
     
         11 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the flexible member is a living hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The jaw assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first and second jaws are integrally formed. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical grasping instrument for gripping a cylindrical object comprising:
 a body portion having a stationary handle and a pivotal handle movably mounted on the body portion;   an elongate tubular member extending distally from the body portion; and   a jaw assembly movably mounted relative to a distal end of the elongate tubular member and including a first jaw having a first arcuate gripping portion and a second jaw having a second arcuate gripping portion, the first and second arcuate gripping portions movable between an open condition spaced apart to a closed condition in close cooperative alignment.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical grasping instrument as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second arcuate gripping portions are semi-cylindrical. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical grasping instrument as recited in  claim 14  wherein the first and second arcuate gripping portions include radially inwardly extending teeth. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical grasping instrument as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the jaw assembly is connected to the distal end of the elongate tubular member by a movable head position. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical grasping instrument as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the head portion is movable to articulate the jaw assembly relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical grasping instrument as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the head portion is movable to rotate the jaw assembly relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         19 . A method of grasping a cylindrical surgical object comprising:
 providing a surgical instrument including a first jaw having a first arcuate gripping portion and a second jaw having a second arcuate gripping portion;   positioning the first jaw relative to the second jaw such that the concavities of the first and second arcuate gripping portions face each other in an open condition;   positioning the first and second arcuate gripping portions about a cylindrical object to be grasped; and   moving the first and second gripping portions to a closed condition in contact with the cylindrical object.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the first and second gripping portions contact the cylindrical object with radially inwardly extending teeth.