Cable-actuated adapter for surgical stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil assembly, a shell assembly, and an adapter assembly. The adapter assembly includes a tubular shaft, an approximation assembly, and a seal. The approximation assembly includes a lead screw, a tubular member, a cable, and a trocar assembly. The tubular member threadably engages the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial displacement of the tubular member. The cable extends within the tubular shaft and is coupled to the tubular member for concomitant displacement with the tubular member. The trocar assembly extends from the cable. The trocar assembly is coupled to the anvil assembly such that axial displacement of the tubular member transitions the anvil assembly between a spaced apart configuration and an approximated configuration. The seal provides a fluid-tight seal such that the adapter assembly includes a sealed portion and an unsealed portion. The lead screw is disposed within the sealed portion.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An adapter assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument comprising:
 a tubular shaft supporting a shell assembly including an annular staple cartridge;   an anvil assembly; and   an approximation assembly including:
 a tubular member defining a lumen therethrough; 
 a lead screw threadably received in the lumen of the tubular member such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial displacement of the tubular member; 
 a flexible cable extending from the tubular member for concomitant displacement therewith; 
 a trocar assembly coupled to the flexible cable, the trocar assembly adapted to be attached to the anvil assembly and movable between a retracted position and an advanced position; and 
 a seal supported on the tubular shaft to seal the lead screw from fluid. 
   
     
     
         3 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible cable is radially flexible. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the lead screw is disposed in a proximal portion of the adapter assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the trocar assembly is releasably attachable to the flexible cable. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the anvil assembly includes an anvil center rod, and the trocar assembly includes a connecting member securable with the flexible cable, and a trocar configured to be received in the anvil center rod of the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         7 . An adapter assembly for use with a surgical instrument comprising:
 a tubular shaft having a distal portion;   a tool assembly supported on the distal portion of the tubular shaft, the tool assembly transitionable between retracted and advanced configurations; and   an approximation assembly including:
 a lead screw; 
 a tubular member threadably engaging the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial displacement of the tubular member; 
 a cable coupling the tool assembly and the tubular member such that axial displacement of the tubular member transitions the tool assembly between the retracted and advanced configurations; and 
 a seal forming a fluid-tight seal against the cable such that the adapter assembly includes a sealed portion and an unsealed portion, wherein the lead screw is disposed within the sealed portion. 
   
     
     
         8 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the cable is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the lead screw is disposed proximal of the seal. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the approximation assembly includes a lubricant on the lead screw. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the approximation assembly further includes a trocar assembly extending from the cable, the trocar assembly coupled to the tool assembly such that axial displacement of the tubular member transitions the tool assembly between the retracted and advanced configurations. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the trocar assembly is attached to the cable. 
     
     
         13 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the trocar assembly includes a connecting member secured to the cable, and a trocar extending distally from the connecting member and engageable with an anvil center rod of the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the trocar is releasably coupled to the connecting member. 
     
     
         15 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the cable is configured for flexion in a radial or an axial direction. 
     
     
         16 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the cable has a diameter of about 0.25 inch. 
     
     
         17 . The adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the tubular shaft has a non-linear profile.