Abstract:
A surgical stapler configured for intraoral use. The surgical stapler includes an elongated barrel section that allows for surgical staples to be applied to difficult-to-reach locations within a patient&#39;s oral cavity. The distal end of the barrel is configured to releasably engage a cartridge containing a plurality of spring-biased surgical staples. When actuated, the surgical stapler ejects a single staple, which slides along a pair of elongated arms extending from the barrel. The distance between the elongated arms increases towards their distal ends, thereby gradually opening the spring-biased staple as it slides therealong until the staple comes to rest within slots on the arms. The user can then place the staple at the wound site and then unhook the arms from the staple. Once free from the arms of the surgical stapler, the staple then closes around the wound site.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to surgical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to surgical staplers. 
         [0002]    Placing oral sutures is a difficult, time-intensive process because many areas of the mouth are difficult to reach. In addition to difficulties associated with reaching wound sites that are situated deep in the oral cavity of a patient, practitioners&#39; movements are often restricted by the mandible and maxilla, forcing them to work at challenging or uncomfortable angles. Despite these difficulties, properly placing oral sutures is critical because sutures ensure proper healing, assist in recovery, and prevent post-surgical complications, such as dry sockets. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of surgical staplers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a surgical stapler configured for intraoral use. The surgical stapler includes an elongated barrel section that allows for surgical staples to be applied to difficult-to-reach locations within a patient&#39;s oral cavity. The distal end of the barrel is configured to releasably engage a cartridge containing a plurality of spring-biased surgical staples. When actuated, the surgical stapler ejects a single staple, which slides along a pair of elongated arms extending from the barrel. The distance between the elongated arms increases towards their distal ends, thereby gradually opening the spring-biased staple as it slides therealong until the staple comes to rest within slots on the arms. The user can then place the staple at the wound site and then unhook the arms from the staple. Once free from the arms of the surgical stapler, the staple then closes around the wound site. 
         [0004]    The present invention is designed for intraoral applications, improving the efficiency and convenience of closing wounds within the oral cavities of patients. Furthermore, the present invention ensures that surgical staples are applied in a consistent and reliable manner, reducing the risks associated with improperly closed wounds. Furthermore, the present invention is configured to utilize spring-biased staples that are configured to automatically close around and suture a wound site once applied thereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of the stapler. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a detail cutaway view of a distal end of a barrel of an embodiment of the stapler. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the stapler. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a side profile view of an embodiment of the stapler with the movement of the handle and actuation rod shown in phantom. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the stapler with the movement of a staple show in phantom. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the staple with the movement of the arms shown in phantom. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a side profile view of an embodiment of the staple. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the stapler being used to apply a staple to a wound site. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the staple. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the XXX. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , there are shown various views of an embodiment of a stapler of the present invention. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle assembly  101  to which a barrel  106  is connected. The handle assembly  101  comprises a movable handle  102  that is attached to a fixed handle  103  via a pivotable connector  104 . In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the barrel  106  and the fixed handle  103  form a single integral structure to which the movable handle  102  is pivotably attached. The barrel  106  comprises an elongated housing that is configured to provide practitioners the requisite length to reach into the oral cavity of a patient and apply staples  201  to wound sites, e.g. the cavities formed via the removal of teeth. 
         [0017]    An illustrative embodiment of the stapler further comprises an actuation rod  108  extending from the interior surface  116  of the upper portion  115  of the movable handle  102 . Actuation of the movable handle  102  causes the actuation rod  108  move in a linear direction, through the open proximal end  114  of the barrel  106 , whereupon it contacts a barrel rod  107  disposed within the barrel  106 . The pivotable connector  104  of the handle assembly  101  is configured such that when the movable handle  102  is actuated, the actuation rod  108  is placed into a substantially collinear or aligned position with the barrel rod  107  when it is moved forward to contact the barrel rod  107 , thereby causing the distal end of the actuation rod  108  to squarely impact the proximal end  111  of the barrel rod  107 . This minimizes the lateral forces exerted on the barrel rod  107  and ensures that the barrel rod  107  travels in a substantially linear direction when contacted. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle assembly  101  is configured to automatically return to a resting position once actuated. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the handle assembly  101  further comprises a biasing member, e.g. a torsion spring  105 , disposed between the fixed handle  103  and the movable handle  102  that is biased to hold the movable handle  102  away from the fixed handle  103 . Therefore, when a user releases his or her grip after actuating the movable handle  102 , the movable handle  102  automatically returns to its resting position. After returning to its resting position, the movable handle  102  can thereafter be actuated again to eject another one of the staples  202  from the cartridge  201 . 
         [0019]    In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the barrel rod  107  is slidably disposed along a track  110  disposed within the interior of the barrel  106  along the longitudinal axis thereof. The track  110  supports the barrel rod  107  as it moves longitudinally. When the proximal end  111  of the barrel rod  107  is contacted by the actuation rod  108 , it causes the barrel rod  107  to move in a linear direction through the barrel  106 , whereupon the distal end  112  of barrel rod  107  makes contact with a cartridge of staples  201  positioned at the distal end  113  of the barrel  106 . The staples  201  are generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the barrel  106 . 
         [0020]    The stapler further comprises a pair of arm members  117  extending from the distal end  113  of the barrel  106  along which one or more of the staples  201  are positionable. The distance between the arm members  117  increases from their proximal ends, which are in contact with the barrel  106 , to their distal ends, creating a substantially V-shaped configuration for the arm members  117 . The V-shape of the arm members  117  causes the staples  201  to gradually open as they slide therealong until they come to rest with a pair of complementary slots  118  disposed at the distal ends of the arm members  117 . Once an ejected staple  201  is at rest within the slots  118  at the distal ends of the arm members  117 , the staple  201  is held there in place, ready to be applied to a wound site. 
         [0021]    One embodiment of the present invention further comprises a cover  109  positioned over the arm members  117 . The cover  109  houses the staples  201  resting on the arm members  117 , protecting the staples  201  from being jostled or dislodged while the stapler is in use. The cover  109  can be integral to the stapler or removably attachable via any means known in the prior art, e.g., via snap connectors or press-fit. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the barrel rod  107  slidably disposed within the interior of the barrel  106  without restriction to its longitudinal movement. In another embodiment of the present invention, the interior channel of the barrel  106  along which the barrel rod  107  is slidably disposed comprises a ratcheting mechanism that only allows the barrel rod  107  to move towards the distal end  112  in discrete movements and preventing the barrel rod  107  from backsliding within the barrel  106 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there are shown views of an embodiment of a staple of the present invention. The staples  201  are configured to work in conjunction with the stapler described herein. In the depicted embodiment, the staple  201  comprises a pair of arm members  205  connected by a spring  202  extending therebetween. The arm members  205  are flexibly connected together such that they can transition between an open position (shown in solid lines) and a closed position (shown in phantom); however, the arm members  205  are also biased towards the closed position in which the arm members  205  are roughly parallel in relation to each other. 
         [0024]    Each arm member  205  further comprises an in-turned protrusion  203  disposed at a midpoint thereof and an in-turned flange  204  disposed at the distal end thereof. Both the protrusions  203  and the flanges  204  are directed inwardly so as to grip the flesh around the wound site when the arm members  205  close. The protrusions  203  and the flanges  204  are arranged in a parallel relationship to each other. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the protrusions  203  are U-shaped bends in the arm member  205 . The flanges  204  are blunted members extending perpendicularly from the distal ends of each of the arm members  205 ; however, in alternative embodiments, the flanges  204  are pointed in order to assist in gripping the flesh of a patient when utilized to suture a wound site. 
         [0025]    In alternative embodiments of the staple  201 , the arm members  105  are not connected by a spring  202  extending therebetween. Rather, the staple  201  is constructed from a material that is flexible, yet resilient enough to resist bending and return the arm members  205  to the closed position when opened. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a perspective view of the stapler being used to apply a staple to a wound site. When a staple  201  has been ejected and is positioned within the slots  118  disposed at the distal ends of the arm members  117 , the staple  201  is ready to be applied to a wound site  501 . The user can then position the distal ends of the arm member  117  so that the arm members  205  of the staple  201  are positioned around the wound site  501 . The elongated nature of the arm members  205 , in combination with the elongated barrel of the stapler, allows for the staple  201  to be applied at any point within the oral cavity of the patient in a convenient manner. 
         [0027]    Once the staple  201  is positioned over the wound site  501 , the user can then move the stapler so that the arm members  205  are angled downwardly, pulling the protrusions  203  of the staple  201  over the sides of the wound site  501 . The staple  201  can be pulled across the wound site  501  via the slots  118  in which the staple  201  is resting pulling against the flange  204  as the arm members  117  are angled downwardly. Pulling the protrusions  203  over the sides of the wound site  501  causes the protrusions to press against the flesh therearound, further widening or opening the arm members  205 . This further opening of the arm members  205  allows for the arm members  117  to be disengaged from the staple  201 . Once disengaged, the biasing of the staple  201  causes the arm members  205  to close, suturing the wound site  501  closed via pressure from the protrusions  203  and the flanges  204  thereagainst. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the staple. In this alternative embodiment, the staple  301  comprises a pair of biased arm members  302  arranged in a semi-circular configuration, a pair of pointed ends  303  disposed at the distal ends of the arm members  302 , and a pair of in-turned protrusions  304  extending inwardly from a point along the length of the arm members  302 . The pointed ends  303  and the protrusions  304  are arranged in a generally perpendicular relationship to each other. When the staple  301  is in its closed position, as depicted, the pointed ends  303  of the staple  301  are in contact, forming a closed loop. 
         [0029]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0030]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.