Small diameter surgical stapling device

Abstract

A surgical stapling device ( 10 ) includes an outer tube ( 14 ) having a proximal body portion ( 70 ) and a distal channel portion ( 74 ). A distal end ( 80 ) of the proximal body portion ( 70 ) defines a pair of cutouts ( 82 ). An anvil assembly ( 22 ) includes an anvil body ( 26 ) defining a tissue contact surface ( 30 ) and a pair of pivot members ( 40 ) which are supported within the cutouts ( 82 ). A staple cartridge ( 44 ) is supported in the distal channel portion ( 74 ) of the outer tube ( 14 ) and defines a tissue contact surface ( 44 a ). The cutouts ( 82 ) are dimensioned to allow movement of the pivot members ( 40 ) within the cutouts ( 82 ) to allow the tissue contact surface ( 30 ) of the anvil body ( 26 ) to move in relation to the tissue contact surface ( 44 a ) of the staple cartridge ( 44 ) from a “parked position” in which the tissue contact surfaces ( 30, 44 a ) are in juxtaposed engagement to a “clamped position” in which the tissue contact surfaces ( 30, 44 a ) defining a tissue gap (G). A drive member ( 62 ) is provided that is formed from sheet metal and includes upper and lower extending members ( 90, 92 ) that are positioned to engage the anvil body ( 26 ) and the distal channel portion ( 74 ) to define a maximum tissue gap (G) between the tissue contact surfaces ( 30, 44 a ) of the anvil body ( 26 ) and the staple cartridge ( 44 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical stapling device comprising:
 an outer tube having a proximal body portion and a distal channel portion, a distal end of the proximal body portion defining cutouts, the channel portion having an outer surface;   a tool assembly including:
 an anvil assembly including an anvil body defining a longitudinal axis and having an outer surface, a tissue contact surface and a pair of pivot members positioned proximally of the tissue contact surface, the pivot members being pivotally received within the cutouts of the proximal body portion of the outer tube; and 
 a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge and a plurality of staples, the staple cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, a tissue contact surface, and a plurality of staple retention pockets, each of the staple retention pockets supporting one of the plurality of staples, the staple cartridge being supported within the distal channel portion of the outer tube, the anvil body being pivotally supported on the outer tube in relation to the staple cartridge such that the tool assembly is movable between a closed position in which longitudinal axes of the anvil body and the staple cartridge are parallel and an open position in which the longitudinal axes of the anvil body and the staple cartridge define an acute angle; and 
   a drive member supported within the staple cartridge, the drive member being translatable through the staple cartridge to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge;   wherein the cutouts are dimensioned to allow movement of the pivot members within the cutouts such the when the tool assembly is in the closed position, the anvil body can be positioned in relation to the staple cartridge in a parked position in which the contact surfaces of the anvil body and the staple cartridge are in juxtaposed engagement to a clamped position in which the contact surfaces of the anvil body and the staple cartridge are spaced to define a tissue gap.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube supports a coupling member, the coupling member being adapted to releasably secure the surgical stapling device to an actuator for effecting movement of the drive member. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive member includes a distal working portion having upper and lower extended members, wherein the upper extended member is positioned to engage the outer surface of the anvil body and the lower extended member is positioned to engage the outer surface of the distal channel portion of the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the anvil body, the staple cartridge and the distal channel portion each define a longitudinal slot, and the working portion of the drive member has an I-beam configuration including a vertical strut, the vertical strut extending through the slots of the anvil body, the staple cartridge, and the distal channel portion. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 4 , wherein the upper and lower extended members include an upper pair of radially extended and a lower pair of extended members. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 5 , wherein one of the pair of upper extended members extends from the vertical strut transversely in a first direction and the other of the pair of upper extended members extends from the vertical strut in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein one of the pair of lower extended members extends from the vertical strut transversely in the first direction and the other of the pair of lower extended members extends from the vertical strut in the second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive member is formed from sheet metal. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive member supports a connector that is adapted to releasably couple the drive member to an actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 6 , wherein one of the pair of upper extended members is positioned distally of the other of the pair of the extended members and one of the pair of lower extended members is positioned distally of the other of the pair of the lower extended members. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge assembly further includes a plurality of pushers and a sled, each of the plurality of staples being associated with a respective pusher, the sled being translatable through the cartridge in response to distal movement of the drive member into sequential engagement with the pushers to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 1 , further including a biasing member to urge the tool assembly toward the open position. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical stapling device comprising:
 an outer tube having a proximal body portion and a distal channel portion, the channel portion having an outer surface;   a tool assembly including :
 an anvil assembly including an anvil body defining a longitudinal axis, the anvil body having an outer surface, a tissue contact surface and a pair of pivot members positioned proximally of the tissue contact surface; and 
 a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge and a plurality of staples, the staple cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple retention pockets, each of the staple retention pockets supporting one of the plurality of staples, the staple cartridge being supported within the distal channel portion of the outer tube, the anvil body being pivotally supported on the outer tube in relation to the staple cartridge such that the tool assembly is movable between a closed position in which the longitudinal axes of the anvil body and the staple cartridge are parallel and an open position in which the longitudinal axes of the anvil body and the staple cartridge define an acute angle; and 
   a drive member supported within the staple cartridge, the drive member being translatable through the staple cartridge to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, the drive member including a body formed of sheet metal, the body having a distal working portion including a pair of upper extended members and a pair of lower extended members, the pairs of upper and lower extended members being formed by bending upper and lower edges of the sheet metal.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 12 , wherein a distal end of the proximal body portion defines cutouts, the pivot members being pivotally received within the cutouts of the proximal body portion of the outer tube. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 12 , wherein the pair of upper extended members is positioned to engage the outer surface of the anvil body and the pair of lower extended members is positioned to engage the outer surface of the channel portion of the outer tube to define a maximum tissue gap between the tissue contact surfaces of the anvil body and the staple cartridge when the anvil is in a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anvil body, the staple cartridge and the distal channel portion each define a longitudinal slot and the working portion of the drive member has an I-beam configuration including a vertical strut, the vertical strut extending through the slots of the anvil body, staple cartridge, and the distal channel portion. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 15 , wherein one of the pair of upper extended members extends from the vertical strut transversely in a first direction and the other of the pair of upper extended members extends from the vertical strut in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein one of the pair of lower extended members extends from the vertical strut transversely in the first direction and the other of the pair of lower extended members extends from the vertical strut in the second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 15 , wherein one of the pair of upper extended members is positioned distally of the other of the pair of the radially extending members and one of the pair of lower extended members is positioned distally of the other of the pair of the lower extended members. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 13 , wherein the cutouts are dimensioned to allow movement of the pivot members within the cutouts such that when the tool assembly is in the closed position, the anvil body can move in relation to the staple cartridge from a parked position in which the tissue contact surfaces of the anvil body and the staple cartridge are in juxtaposed engagement to a clamped position in which the tissue contact surfaces of the anvil body and the staple cartridge are spaced to define a tissue gap. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 12 , further including a biasing member to urge the tool assembly toward the open position.