CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY AND SURGICAL STAPLER

A cartridge assembly and a surgical stapler are provided. The cartridge assembly includes: a cartridge including a cartridge surface provided with a plurality of staple cavities, staple mating portions provided on proximal sides of the staple cavities; a plurality of staples located in the staple cavities; an actuation member configured to drive the staples and the staple mating portions to rotate in a first direction when the actuation member moves from a proximal side toward a distal side of the cartridge. After each staple mating portion rotates, the second connecting portion of the corresponding staple is driven by the staple mating portion to move away from the cartridge and then separates from the staple cavity, so the staples can be more easily separated with the cartridge after being closed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to technology of surgical instruments, more particularly, to a cartridge assembly and a surgical stapler.

BACKGROUND

In the prior art, a surgical stapler generally includes an instrument platform, a movable handle movably connected to the instrument platform, and a head assembly mounted on the instrument platform. The head assembly can pass through a small incision in the body using a trocar to access the surgical site for surgery. The head assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil arranged relative to the cartridge assembly. Many staples are mounted in the cartridge assembly. During the firing process of the stapler, the staples are forced toward the anvil by an actuation member, then the staples are closed and formed at the anvil to suture the tissues. However, after the stapler is fired, the staples may not be completely separated from the cartridge, so the surgical effect is affected.

SUMMARY

To solve the problems in the prior art, the present disclosure aims to provide a cartridge assembly and a surgical stapler, so the staples can be more easily separated with the cartridge after being closed.

In the present disclosure, a cartridge assembly used for a surgical stapler is provided, including: a cartridge including a cartridge surface, wherein the cartridge surface is provided with a plurality of staple cavities, staple mating portions are provided on proximal sides of the staple cavities, each staple mating portion includes a first connecting portion, and the staple mating portion is configured to be rotatably connected to a lower side of the cartridge surface through the first connecting portion; a plurality of staples configured to be located in the staple cavities, wherein each staple includes a second connecting portion, and the staple is configured to be rotatably connected to an inner wall of the staple cavity through the second connecting portion; wherein each staple mating portion is on a proximal side of the second connecting portion of a corresponding staple; an actuation member configured to drive the staples and the staple mating portions to rotate in a first direction when the actuation member moves from a proximal side toward a distal side of the cartridge; wherein after each staple mating portion rotates, the second connecting portion of the corresponding staple is driven by the staple mating portion to move away from the cartridge and be separated from the staple cavity.

In some embodiments, a first mating portion is provided on an inner wall of at least one side of the staple cavity, the second connecting portion of the staple is provided with a second mating portion, the second mating portion and the first mating portion are configured to form embedded cooperation, the second mating portion is rotatable and separable relative to the first mating portion, and the staple mating portion is on a proximal side of the first mating portion.

In some embodiments, a receiving space is configured to be formed between the proximal side of the first mating portion and a distal surface of the staple mating portion; wherein after the staple mating portion is driven by the actuation member to rotate in the first direction, the staple mating portion at least partially enters the receiving space.

In some embodiments, the staple mating portion is configured to be at least partially under the second connecting portion after the staple mating portion is rotated in the first direction.

In some embodiments, a lowest point of the staple is lower than that of the staple mating portion in a height direction; wherein, when the actuation member moves distally, the actuation member first drives the staple to rotate in the first direction, and when the actuation member continues to move distally after the staple is rotated by a first angle, the actuation member drives the staple mating portion to rotate in the first direction.

In some embodiments, the staple mating portion is configured to be integrally formed with the cartridge, and the staple mating portion is configured to be connected with the inner wall of the staple cavity through weak link at a position of the first connecting portion.

In some embodiments, a distal surface of the staple mating portion is an inclined surface, and the distal surface of the staple mating portion is configured to abut the staple in an initial state.

In some embodiments, after the actuation member drives the staple mating portion to rotate in the first direction, the staple mating portion remains connected with the cartridge.

In some embodiments, a proximal surface of the staple mating portion is a vertical surface.

In some embodiments, an upper surface of the staple mating portion is a plane parallel to an axial direction of the stapler, and/or, an arc-shaped guiding surface is provided between a lower surface of the staple mating portion and a distal surface of the staple mating portion.

In the present disclosure, a surgical stapler including the cartridge assembly is provided.

The cartridge assembly and the surgical stapler have the following advantages.

The present disclosure provides a cartridge assembly used for a surgical stapler. During the firing process of the stapler, the actuation member drives the staples and the staple mating portions to move in a first direction. The staples can be closed and formed under the action of the anvil. After the staples are closed, the staple mating portions can assist in driving the staples to separate from the cartridge. Therefore, the situation that the staples cannot be completely separated from the cartridge is avoided, and the surgical effect is improved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments will be more comprehensively described by combining the drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in multiple forms and should not be limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, providing these embodiments will make the present disclosure comprehensive and complete, and will comprehensively convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numbers in the drawings represent the same or similar structures, so repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.

The present disclosure provides a cartridge assembly used for a surgical stapler and a surgical stapler including the same. The surgical stapler generally includes an instrument platform, a movable handle movably connected to the instrument platform, and a head assembly mounted on the instrument platform. The head assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil arranged relative to the cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples, a cartridge for receiving the staples, and an actuation member for driving the staples. Wherein, the cartridge includes a cartridge surface, a plurality of staple cavities are provided on the cartridge surface, and staple mating portions are provided on proximal sides of the staple cavities. Each staple mating portion includes a first connecting portion, and the staple mating portion is rotatably connected to a lower side of the cartridge surface through the first connecting portion. The plurality of staples are located in the staple cavities. Each staple includes a second connecting portion and is rotatably connected to the staple cavity through the second connecting portion. The staple mating portion is located on a proximal side of the second connecting portion of the staple.

When the actuation member moves from a proximal side to a distal side of the cartridge, the actuation member drives the staples and the staple mating portions to rotate in a first direction. When the staples rotate, staple legs extend outward from the staple cavities and contact an anvil surface of the anvil, then the staples are closed and formed under the action of the anvil. The distal surfaces of the staple mating portions drive the second connecting portions of the staples to move away from the cartridge, and assist the actuation member in driving the staples to separate from the cartridge after the staples are closed, so the situation that the staple cannot be completely separated from the cartridge is avoided, and the surgical effect is improved.

The structure of the cartridge assembly of each embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that the various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

FIGS.1to8are schematic structural views of a cartridge assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, in this embodiment, the cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples2, a cartridge1for receiving the staples2, and an actuation member4for driving the staples2. A surface of the cartridge1facing the anvil is a cartridge surface11(in the perspective ofFIG.1, the cartridge surface11is an upper surface of the cartridge1). The cartridge assembly further includes a cartridge cover (not shown) located outside the cartridge1, a cartridge carrier3and a knife5. The cartridge carrier3is used for receiving the cartridge1and the cartridge cover. The knife5is located on a proximal side of the actuation member4. The cartridge1is provided with a plurality of staple cavities12, the plurality of staples2are in the staple cavities12. Each staple2includes a second connecting portion21and is rotatably connected to an inner wall of the staple cavity12through the second connecting portion21. Staple mating portions15are provided on proximal sides of the staple cavities12. Each staple mating portion15includes a first connecting portion151, and the staple mating portion15is rotatably connected to a lower side of the cartridge surface11through the first connecting portion151. The staple mating portion15is located on a proximal side of the second connecting portion21of the staple2. In this embodiment, the staple mating portion15is a block connected to the lower side of the cartridge surface11. In the embodiment, the lower side of the cartridge surface11refers to the side of the cartridge surface11away from the anvil of the stapler. In the perspective ofFIG.6, the lower side of the cartridge surface11is the side under the cartridge surface11.

During the firing process of the stapler, driven by a firing bar, the knife5drives the actuation member4to move distally, and the actuation member4drives the staples2and the staple mating portions15to rotate in the first direction. In the perspective ofFIG.2, the first direction is clockwise direction. When the staplers2rotate, the staple legs22extend outward from the staple cavities12and contact the anvil surface of the anvil, then the staples are closed and formed under the action of the anvil. Distal surfaces152of the staple mating portions15drive the second connecting portions21of the staples2to move away from the cartridge1(in the perspective ofFIG.2, that is, the staple mating portions15drive the second connecting portions21to move upward). The staple mating portions15assist the actuation member4in driving the staples2to separate from the cartridge1after the staples2are closed, so the situation that the staples2cannot be completely separated from the cartridge1is avoided, and the surgical effect is improved.

In the present disclosure, the distal side and the proximal side are defined relative to the operator, the side close to the operator is the proximal side, and the side away from the operator, that is, the side close to the surgical state is the distal side. The extending direction of the axis of the stapler is the axial direction, that is, the direction from the distal side to the proximal side of the stapler, or from the proximal side to the distal side of the stapler. For example, in the perspective ofFIG.1, the distal side of the cartridge1is the left side, and the proximal side of the cartridge1is the right side. Direction S1is the direction from the proximal side to the distal side of the stapler. The direction S1or the direction opposite to the direction S1is defined as the axial direction of the stapler. Direction S2inFIG.1is defined as the height direction, that is, the longitudinal direction. Direction S3inFIG.1is defined as the width direction, that is, the transverse direction.

As shown inFIGS.3to8, in this embodiment, an inner wall of at least one side of the staple cavity12is provided with the first mating portion, and the second connecting portion21of the staple2is provided with a second mating portion. The second mating portion and the first mating portion form embedded cooperation. The second mating portion is rotatable and separable relative to the first mating portion. In this embodiment, the first mating portion is a rotating shaft13, and the second mating portion is a mounting hole211having an opening. The second connecting portion21is rotatably jacketed on the rotating shaft13through the mounting hole211. After the staple2is closed, the opening of the mounting hole211is rotated to face downward, and when the second connecting portion21moves upward relative to the rotating shaft13, the mounting hole211can be separated from the rotating shaft13through the opening, so the staple2is separated from the cartridge1.

As shown inFIGS.3,4and8, the staple mating portion15is on a proximal side of the rotating shaft13. A receiving space16is formed between the proximal side of the rotating shaft13and a distal surface152of the staple mating portion15, After the staple mating portion15is driven by the actuation member4to rotate in the first direction, the staple mating portion15at least partially enters the receiving space16. Furthermore, after the staple mating portion15rotates in the first direction and is located under the second connecting portion21, the second connecting portion21can be lifted upward to separate the staple2from the staple cavity12.

FIGS.5to8only exemplarily show the staples2in the staple cavities12on an outermost side of the cartridge1. InFIG.7andFIG.8, section lines are omitted to clearly show the cooperation structures between various components. As shown inFIGS.5to7, the staple mating portion15is rotatably connected to the proximal inner wall of the staple cavity12through the first connecting portion151. In this embodiment, the staple mating portion15is integrally formed with the cartridge1, and the staple mating portion15is connected to the proximal inner wall of the staple cavity12through weak link at a position of the first connecting portion151. The weak link here means that when the staple mating portion15is not under external force, the staple mating portion15is connected to the inner wall of the staple cavity12through the first connecting portion151and maintains the initial state as shown inFIG.7, when the staple mating portion15is driven by the actuation member4toward the distal side of the stapler, the staple mating portion15can rotate relative to the inner wall of the staple cavity12at the weak link of the first connecting portion151, and the staple mating portion15remains connected with the cartridge1. In other alternative embodiments, the staple mating portion15may be a component formed independently and rotatably connected to the inner wall of the staple cavity12. In this embodiment, the distal surface152of the staple mating portion15is an inclined surface fitting a proximal surface of the staple2, In an initial state, the distal surface152of the staple mating portion15abuts the proximal surface of the staple2. In this embodiment, the proximal surface153of the staple mating portion15is a vertical surface fitting the distal surface of the staple driving portion41. An upper surface of the staple mating portion15is a plane parallel to the cartridge surface11. As shown inFIGS.7and8, an arc-shaped guiding surface154is formed between a lower surface of the staple mating portion15and the distal surface152of the staple mating portion15. When the staple mating portion15rotates in the first direction and at least partially enters the receiving space16, the guiding surface154of the staple mating portion15cooperates with the side wall of the rotating shaft13to form a surface-to-surface fit, so interference between the rotating shaft13and the staple mating portion15is avoided, and point-to-face or point-to-point fit between the staple mating portion15and the rotating shaft13is also avoided.

As shown inFIGS.5to7, the staple2further includes a staple leg22. When the staple2is not under external force, the staple2is in an initial state. At this time, the second connecting portion21is on the proximal side of the staple cavity12, and the staple leg22of the staple2is on the distal side of the staple cavity12, and the staple leg22abuts an abutment surface14of the inner wall of the staple cavity12. The actuation member4includes a staple driving portion41. When the staple driving portion41is driven to move distally and contacts the staple2, the staple2is driven to rotate around the rotating shaft13in the first direction by a first angle, and the staple leg22extends outward from the staple cavity12and contacts the anvil surface of the anvil, then the staple2is closed and formed under the action of the anvil. As shown inFIG.8, after the staple2is driven by the actuation member4to rotate in the first direction by the first angle, the second connecting portion21and the staple leg22of the staple2are both located on the proximal side of the staple cavity12, that is, the staple2enters a closed state.

As shown inFIG.8, in this embodiment, a lowest point of the staple2is lower than that of the staple mating portion15in the height direction, and the distal surface of the staple driving portion41of the actuation member4is an inclined surface. When the actuation member4moves distally, the staple driving portion41first contacts the staple2and drives the staple2to rotate in the first direction. When the staple2rotates from the initial state in the first direction by the first angle, the staple leg22of the staple2extends outward from the cartridge surface11and is closed toward the proximal side under the action of the anvil surface, and the staple driving portion41of the actuation member4does not contact the staple mating portion15. When the actuation member4continues to move distally after the staple2rotates by the first angle and, the staple driving portion41of the actuation member4contacts the staple mating portion15and drives the staple mating portion15to rotate in the first direction. The staple mating portion15acts on the proximal end of the second connecting portion21of the staple2to assist in driving the staple2to move upward. The second connecting portion21is separated from the rotating shaft13through the opening of the mounting hole211, so the staple2is separated from the cartridge1.

In this embodiment, the first angle refers to the rotation angle of the staple2corresponding to the staple driving portion41when the staple driving portion41first contacts the staple mating portion15. The size of the first angle varies with the height of the staple mating portion15. In the embodiment, when the lowest point of the staple mating portion15is at a lower height, the staple driving portion41will contact the staple mating portion15earlier, that is, the first angle is relatively small, and the staples2may not be completely closed after rotated by the first angle. When the lowest point of the staple mating portion15is at a higher height, the staple driving portion41will contact the staple mating portion15later, that is, the first angle is relatively large, and the staples2may have been completely closed after rotated by the first angle.

In the embodiments shown inFIGS.1to8, the first mating portion is the rotating shaft13, and the second mating portion is the mounting hole211. In another alternative embodiment, the first mating portion may be a groove provided on the inner wall of the staple cavity, an opening is provided on an upper side of the groove, and the opening of the groove is connected to the cartridge surface. The second mating portion is a rotating shaft located on at least one side of the second connecting portion, the rotating shaft at least partially enters the groove, and is rotatable relative to the groove. After the staple is closed and moves upward, the rotating shaft can be separated from the cartridge through the opening of the groove. The staple mating portion may be located on a proximal side of the groove, and drives the second connecting portion to move upward when the staple mating portion rotates in the first direction.

The above is a detailed description of the present disclosure in connection with the specific preferred embodiments, and the specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the description. Modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.