System for delivering an anvil assembly to a surgical site

Abstract

An anvil assembly delivery system includes an anvil assembly having a center rod and an anvil head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod a flexible tube having a first end configured for oral insertion into a patient and a second end engaged with the anvil assembly, and a retrieval suture connected to the head assembly positioned to extend from the anvil assembly in a direction opposite to the flexible tube. The anvil assembly delivery system also includes a spacer suture tube positioned adjacent the anvil head assembly and defining a suture channel, which is supported on the retrieval suture and is dimensioned to prevent the retrieval suture from becoming trapped in the staple line of a stapling device. In an embodiment, the spacer is a suture tube defining a suture channel which receives the retrieval suture.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A circular anvil assembly delivery/retrieval system comprising:
 a center rod;   an anvil head assembly secured to the center rod;   a retrieval suture connected to the anvil head assembly; and   a spacer supported on the retrieval suture adjacent to the anvil head assembly, the spacer dimensioned to prevent the anvil head assembly from being approximated in relation to a shell assembly of a surgical stapling device into a firing zone when the spacer is clamped between the anvil head assembly and the shell assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 2 , wherein the center rod supports a plunger having a finger. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 3 , further including a rotatable cam member supported on the center rod, wherein the anvil head assembly is rotatably secured to the center rod, and the plunger is spring biased for movement into contact with the cam member to rotate the cam member and effect movement of the anvil head assembly in relation to the center rod from a first tilted position to an operative non-tilted position. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 4 , wherein the plunger is movable distally to move the anvil head assembly from the first tilted position to a second tilted position different than the first tilted position. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 2 , further comprising an adapter connecting the center rod to a flexible tube. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer includes a suture tube defining a suture channel, the suture channel receiving the retrieval suture and being positioned adjacent to the anvil head assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 7 , wherein the suture tube is dimensioned to extend from the anvil assembly to a patient's mouth during an anvil delivery procedure. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 4 , further including a pivot member coupling the anvil head assembly to the center rod, the cam member rotatably mounted about the pivot member and having a body portion including an outer surface, wherein a distance between the outer surface of the body portion of the cam member and the pivot member increasing in a clockwise direction about the cam member. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 9 , wherein the anvil head assembly includes a backup plate having an inner portion, and the cam member has an edge positioned to be urged into engagement with the inner portion of the backup plate. 
     
     
         11 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 4 , further comprising a flexible tube having a first end configured for oral insertion into a patient and a second end, the anvil assembly being connected to the second end of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 7 , wherein the suture tube has an outer diameter of between 0.0625 inches and 0.50 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 11 , further including a first suture, wherein the anvil head assembly defines first openings and the flexible tube defines an opening, the first suture extending through the first openings and into the opening in the flexible tube. 
     
     
         14 . An anvil assembly delivery/retrieval system comprising:
 an anvil assembly including a center rod and an anvil head assembly, the center rod extending from one side of the anvil head assembly;   a retrieval suture connected to an opposite side of the anvil head assembly, the retrieval suture dimensioned to extend from a patient's mouth during delivery of the anvil assembly to a surgical site; and   a spacer supported on the retrieval suture adjacent the anvil head assembly, the spacer including a suture tube that defines a suture channel, the suture tube dimensioned to prevent the anvil head assembly from being approximated in relation to a shell assembly of a surgical stapling device into a firing zone to prevent firing of the stapling device, wherein the suture channel of the suture tube receives the retrieval suture and has an outer diameter of between 0.0625 inches and 0.50 inches.   
     
     
         15 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 14 , further including a flexible tube having a first end configured for oral insertion into a patient and a second end connected to the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 15 , wherein the anvil head assembly is movable in relation to the center rod from a first tilted position to a non-tilted operative position. 
     
     
         17 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 15 , wherein the suture tube has an outer diameter of 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 15 , further including a first suture, wherein the anvil head assembly defines first openings and the flexible tube defines an opening, the first suture extending through the first openings and into the opening in the flexible tube. 
     
     
         19 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 16 , wherein the anvil assembly further comprises a rotatable cam member and a plunger, the plunger being spring biased into contact with the cam member and movable distally to rotate the cam member to effect movement of the anvil head assembly from the first tilted position to the non-tilted operative position. 
     
     
         20 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 15 , further comprising an adapter connecting the anvil assembly to the second end of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         21 . The delivery/retrieval system of  claim 19 , wherein the anvil head assembly includes a backup plate having an inner portion, and the cam member has an outer edge positioned to be urged into engagement with the inner portion of the backup plate.