Abstract:
A surgical tool may include a circular surgical stapler and an anvil initially disconnected and separate from the surgical stapler; where at least one of the circular surgical stapler and the anvil is magnetic.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/365,710, filed on Jul. 19, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to surgical staplers and stapling, and more particularly to circular surgical staplers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional circular stapler  2  includes a stapler  4  that is initially separate and disconnected from an anvil  6 . A first piercing coupling element  8  extends from the stapler  4 , and a second piercing coupling element  10  extends from the anvil  6 . The surgeon creates an opening  12  in each segment of the intestine  14   a ,  14   b , and each piercing coupling element  8 ,  10  is inserted through the corresponding opening. The piercing coupling elements  8 ,  10  are then connected to allow the stapler  4  and anvil  6  to connect the segments of the intestine  14   a ,  14   b . A disadvantage of the conventional surgical stapler  2  is the need to create openings  12  in the segments of the intestine  14   a ,  14   b  prior to connecting the segments  14   a ,  14   b  together, which allows bacteria from the intestinal tract to enter the thoracic cavity. Further, the piercing coupling elements  8  add length, size and weight to the conventional surgical stapler. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional prior art circular surgical stapler. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a circular stapler including a stapler and an anvil, at least one of which is magnetic, placed in two segments of an intestine. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the circular stapler of  FIG. 2 , where the two segments are in proximity to one another. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the circular stapler of  FIG. 2  where the stapler and anvil are aligned with one another. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the circular stapler of  FIG. 2 , where a piercing fastener has been extended from the stapler into engagement with the anvil. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the circular stapler of  FIG. 5 , where the tissue between the stapler and anvil has been compressed. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a completed connection between segments of an intestine. 
     
    
    
     The use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similar or identical items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a circular stapler  20  may include a stapler  22  that is initially separate and disconnected from an anvil  24 . A first guidewire  26  or other control structure may extend from the stapler  22 , and a second guidewire  28  or other control structure may extend from the anvil  24 . One or both of the stapler  22  and anvil  24  may be magnetic. That is, one or both of the stapler  22  and anvil  24  may emit a magnetic field. The stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  may be passively magnetic or actively magnetic. “Passively magnetic” means that the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  is fabricated from a material that is magnetized, such that the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  emits a magnetic field without the need for application of energy thereto. “Actively magnetic” means that the stapler  22  or anvil  24  is fabricated from a material that is not magnetized, such that the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  emits a magnetic field only upon the application of energy thereto. Where the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  is actively magnetic, the actively magnetic components may include an electromagnet, solenoid or other such mechanism that emits a magnetic field upon application of energy thereto. Where only one of the stapler  22  and anvil  24  is magnetic, the other is made from a ferrous or other material that is susceptible to a magnetic field, such that moving the stapler  22  and anvil  24  into proximity causes the component that is magnetic to attract the other component to it. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the stapler  22  is inserted into a first segment  14   a  of the intestine or other tissue. The anvil  24  is inserted into a second segment  14   b  of the intestine or other tissue. The insertion of the stapler  22  and anvil  24  into tissue  14  is accomplished in a conventional manner known to those skilled in the art, or may be performed in any other suitable manner. The segments  14   a ,  14   b  may initially be spaced apart from another, and are brought into proximity to one another in a conventional manner or any other suitable manner. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the stapler  22  and anvil  24  are brought into proximity with one another. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the stapler  22  and anvil  24  self-align with one another as they are brought into proximity. If the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  are actively magnetic, then before or after they are brought into proximity with one another, energy is transmitted to the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  to cause the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  to emit a magnetic field. The stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  are magnetic, as set forth above, and if either component is not magnetic it is susceptible to magnetism. As a result, when the stapler  22  and anvil  24  are brought into proximity, the effect of the magnetic field emitted by one or both of the stapler  22  and anvil  24  pulls the stapler  22  and anvil  24  together and causes them to self-align with one another. Intact tissue of the intestine  14  is then present between the stapler  22  and anvil  24 , such that the two segments  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine are held together without a break or opening in the tissue of either segment  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 5 , a piercing fastener  30  may then be extended from the anvil  24  toward the stapler  22 . The fastener  30  may be sharp, threaded, or configured in any suitable manner. As one example, the fastener  30  may be a pointed and threaded screw. As another example, the piercing fastener  30  may be extended from the stapler  22  toward the anvil  24 . As another example, a piercing fastener  30  may be extended from each of the stapler  22  and the anvil  24  toward the other. As the piercing fastener  30  is extended, it penetrates each segment  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine and is received in and held by the stapler  22 . Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the piercing fastener  30  may be rotated or otherwise advanced to bring the stapler  22  and anvil  24  closer to one another and compress the tissue of the segments  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine that is positioned and held between the stapler  22  and the anvil  24 . The stapler  22  is then actuated, such as by the guidewire  26 , to deploy one or more staples toward the anvil  24  through the tissue of the segments  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine held between the stapler  22  and anvil  24 . The segments  14   a ,  14   b  are thereby connected together. A cutter may then be advanced from the stapler  22  toward the anvil  24  in order to cut an opening through the segments  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine held between the stapler  22  and anvil  24 . Alternately, the cutter may be advanced from the anvil  24  toward the stapler  22 . Advantageously, the stapler  22  deploys a plurality of staples in a circular or other closed pattern, and the cutter cuts an opening through the stapled segments  14   a ,  14   b  of the intestine within the perimeter defined by the staples in tissue. 
     The piercing fastener  30  is then disengaged from the stapler  22  and retracted toward the anvil  24 . If the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  are actively magnetic, the application of energy to the stapler  22  and/or anvil  24  is ceased. The stapler  22  and anvil  24  are then moved away from one another, such as by applying force to the guidewire  26  attached to the stapler  22  and the guidewire  28  attached to the anvil  24 . The intestinal segments  14   a ,  14   b  are securely connected, and the procedure is complete. 
     While the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made and equivalents employed, without departing from the present invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction, the arrangements of components, and/or the method set forth in the above description or illustrated in the drawings. Statements in the abstract of this document, and any summary statements in this document, are merely exemplary; they are not, and cannot be interpreted as, limiting the scope of the claims. Further, the figures are merely exemplary and not limiting. Topical headings and subheadings are for the convenience of the reader only. They should not and cannot be construed to have any substantive significance, meaning or interpretation, and should not and cannot be deemed to indicate that all of the information relating to any particular topic is to be found under or limited to any particular heading or subheading. Therefore, the invention is not to be restricted or limited except in accordance with the following claims and their legal equivalents.