Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP0677273B1/en
Timestamp: 2019-08-17 15:29:04
Document Index: 204084990

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 16', 'arts 20', 'arts 20', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'arts 20', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 22', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'arts 20', 'art 16', 'arts 20', 'arts 20', 'art 16']

EP0677273B1 - Surgical stapler - Google Patents
EP0677273B1
EP0677273B1 EP95111156A EP95111156A EP0677273B1 EP 0677273 B1 EP0677273 B1 EP 0677273B1 EP 95111156 A EP95111156 A EP 95111156A EP 95111156 A EP95111156 A EP 95111156A EP 0677273 B1 EP0677273 B1 EP 0677273B1
EP95111156A
EP0677273A2 (en
EP0677273A3 (en
John M. C/O Minnesota Mining And Barker
Floyd L. C/O Minnesota Mining And Foslien
Alan K C/O Minnesota Mining And Plyley
Claude C/O Minnesota Mining And Vidal
1990-12-18 Priority to US07/629,142 priority Critical patent/US5083695A/en
1990-12-18 Priority to US629142 priority
1991-12-16 Application filed by United States Surgical Corp filed Critical United States Surgical Corp
1991-12-16 Priority to EP19910311655 priority patent/EP0491537B1/en
1995-10-18 Publication of EP0677273A2 publication Critical patent/EP0677273A2/en
1995-12-13 Publication of EP0677273A3 publication Critical patent/EP0677273A3/en
1998-06-03 Publication of EP0677273B1 publication Critical patent/EP0677273B1/en
One known surgical stapling instrument of this type is well known and is currently available under the trade designation "The ILA Stapler", catalog #3957 by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. The use of the stapler is described in the publication entitled "Surgical Stapling, Gastric and Small Bowel Procedures, Volume I", ISBN 0-937433-00-4, Library of Congress Catalog Number 85-082599 available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. The ILA Stapler and an improvement thereto is described in Redmond et al., U.S. Patent 4,863,088 which is a patent family member of EP-A-0 332 413, on which the first part of claim 1 is based. That stapling instrument comprises first and second elongate structural members each comprising a handle part and a jaw part projecting from a first end of the handle part. The structural members have pivot means at second ends of their handle parts adapted for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to the directions in which the members are elongate, which pivot means afford, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of the structural members in the plane between a closed position with the jaw parts in closely spaced relationship, and an open position spaced farther from each other than in the closed position. An elongate locking member having a pivot point closely adjacent a first end is mounted at its pivot point on the first end of the second structural member for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to the plane between a locking position generally aligned with the handle part of the second structural member, and a release position with a second end of the locking member spaced from the second end of the second structural member. The first end of the locking member and the handle part of the first structural member adjacent its first end have surfaces adapted, when the pivot means are engaged and the structural members are in their open position, for engagement during movement of the locking member from its release position to its locking position to forcefully move the structural members to their closed position so that high compressive forces can be applied on tissues to be stapled between the jaw parts of the structural members. The stapler also comprises means adapted for releasable engagement between the elongate locking member and the second structural member which releasably hold the locking member in its locking position and thus maintain any compressive forces applied between the jaw parts. The stapling instrument is adapted to have a fixed or removable anvil positioned along one of the jaw parts, and a cartridge containing a plurality of staples disposed in rows positioned along the other of the jaw parts in opposition to the anvil, and the cartridge includes manually actuatable means for sequentially ejecting the staples from the cartridge to press the staples against the anvil to engage and close the staples in tissues between the jaw parts when the structural members are in their closed position. Additionally, if desired, the cartridge can include a knife that moves along and bridges between the cartridge and anvil to cut tissues between the rows of applied staples.
Another problem, which is solved by the present invention, associated with "ILA" type staplers is also encountered when the stapler is used in a surgical procedure at a cramped location where the surgeon's capacity to position the stapler is restricted due to the proximity of the stapler to sensitive tissue. Once the stapler has been oriented in the proper position, existing staplers use a lever locking member to clamp or approximate the tissue to be stapled between the stapler jaws prior to firing. Once the stapler is fired, existing lever locking members, such as the "ILA" stapler disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,863,088 to Redmond et al., release the locking member by means of a button located on only one side of the stapler. Again, access to the button may be restricted or difficult if the stapler is used at a location in close proximity to sensitive tissue.
U.S. Patent 4,633,874 to Chow et al. discloses a latching mechanism including a latch arm which is movable to a partially latched position in which the jaw members are loosely connected together to permit the staple cartridge and anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting the jaw members from each other. U.S. Patent 4,520,817 to Green discloses a locking handle pivotable to cause camming surfaces to slide on lugs to thereby rotate frames toward each other about a pivot bar between open and closed positions. The prior art staplers disclosed in Chow et al. and Green disclose a locking mechanism generally referred to as an "over center" link and it is believed that such over center links are difficult to open when the stapler is used with thick tissue. Problems associated with opening the locking mechanism are only aggravated when the stapler is used at a cramped location.
According to this invention there is provided a surgical stapler as claimed in claim 1 herein.
In accordance with our parent Application No. EP-A-0491537 there is provided a stapler firing assembly for use in the surgical stapler of this invention. In our said parent application there is also provided a combination of the improved firing handle assembly of the parent application with the improved surgical stapler of this invention. These features create a stapler which is particularly suitable for convenient use in medical procedures in remote, cramped conditions.
In the present invention there is provided an improved surgical stapler which like the ILA stapler described above has first and second structural members each being elongate in a first direction. The first structural member has a handle part having first and second ends, the second structural member has a base portion having first and second ends, and each of the structural members having a jaw part projecting from its first ends. The jaw parts have proximal ends adjacent the first end of the handle part of the first structural member and the first end of the base portion of the second structural member, and each of the jaw parts have distal ends remote from the proximal ends.
Unlike the ILA stapler described above, however, the means for releasable engagement between the elongate locking member and the second structural member for holding the locking member in the locking position comprises a dual-sided lever lock release. The dual-sided lever lock release comprises surfaces in the second structural member defining a slot generally adjacent the second end of the second structural member, and a lever lock having a retaining surface adapted to engage the surfaces defining the slot of the second structural member to retain the elongate locking member in the locking position. The lever lock is adapted to move between an unlatched position to afford movement of the elongate locking member to the release position and a latched position to retain the elongate locking member in the locking position. The dual-sided lever lock release includes a pair of release arms actuatable from either side of the lever cover for independently moving the lever lock from the latched position to the unlatched position so that a surgeon may release the locking member in cramped conditions.
Also, like the ILA stapler described above, in preferred embodiments of the surgical stapler according to the present invention, the first structural member is adapted to receive the staple cartridge assembly and the jaw part of the second structural member is adapted to receive an anvil surface. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a cartridge body for enclosing a plurality of staples disposed in rows oriented longitudinally of the jaw part in opposition to the anvil when the structural members are in their closed position. Also, the cartridge assembly includes manually actuatable means including cam-like drivers or pushers adapted to be moved through longitudinal slots in the cartridge body by manually pressing on a firing handle assembly. The pushers sequentially press the plurality of staples within the cartridge body against the anvil to engage and close the plurality of staples in tissues between the jaw parts when the structural members are in the closed position. The pushers are movable in the first direction between a retracted position with the plurality of staples enclosed within the cartridge body and an extended position with the plurality of staples closed within tissue. The firing handle assembly is located within the space between the structural members and includes a firing body adapted to be manually engaged to afford movement of the pushers between the retracted and the extended positions.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling instrument according to the present invention and a cartridge assembly showing first and second assemblies of the stapling instrument in a closed position;
Figure 2 is a side view of the surgical stapling instrument of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of the surgical stapling instrument of Figure 1 showing the first and second assemblies of the stapling instrument in an open position;
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the stapler and cartridge assembly of Figure 1 taken approximately along lines 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a first assembly of the stapler and the cartridge assembly of Figure 1 taken approximately along line 5-5 of Figure 4 and illustrating the position of the firing body in a first position with solid lines and a middle position with broken lines;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the stapler assembly and the cartridge assembly of Figure 1 which is similar to Figure 5 but which illustrate the position of the firing body in a second position;
Figure 7 is a top view of the surgical stapling instrument of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the surgical stapling instrument of Figure 1 taken approximately along line 8-8 of Figure 2 and illustrating a lever lock in a latched position;
Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the surgical stapling instrument and cartridge assembly of Figure 1 which is similar to Figure 8 except that Figure 9 illustrates the lever lock in an unlatched position; and
Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the surgical stapling instrument and the cartridge assembly of Figure 1 taken along line 10-10 of Figure 7 and illustrating the lever lock in a latched position and having portions broken away to show detail.
The structural members 12, 14 have pivot means at second ends 5, 9 of the handle part 16 and the base portion 8 comprising two opposite axially parallel outwardly projecting pins 25 on the second structural member 14 and generally U-shaped journal surfaces 26 on the first structural member 12 adapted and positioned for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to the directions in which the structural members 12 and 14 are elongate, which pivot means affords, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of the structural members 12, 14 in the plane normal to the directions in which the structural members 12 and 14 are elongate between a closed position (Figures 1 and 2) with the jaw parts 20, 22 in closely spaced relationship, and an open position (Figure 3) with the jaw parts 20, 22 spaced farther from each other than in the closed position. An elongate locking member 28 having a pivot point at a position closely adjacent a first end 4 of the locking member 28 is mounted by a pin 29 on the first end 3 of the second structural member 14 for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to the plane between a locking position (Figures 1 and 2) generally aligned with the base portion 8 of the second structural member 14, and a release position (Figure 3) with the second end 6 of the locking member 28 spaced from the second end 5 of the second structural member 14. The elongate locking member 28 includes a handle part 18 and a lever cover 328 is attached to the handle part 18. A lever stop 34 is attached to the second structural member 14 to prevent the locking member 28 from pivoting forward from the open position and pinching tissue.
The first end 4 of the locking member 28 and the first end 7 of the first structural member 12 have surfaces provided by two opposite axially parallel inwardly projecting pins 30 on the handle part 18 and side surfaces of generally U-shaped journal surfaces 32 on the first structural member 12 opening toward the second end 9 of the first structural member 12, adapted, when the pivot means are engaged with the structural members 12, 14 in the open position, for engagement during movement of the locking member 28 from its release position (Figure 3) to its locking position (Figure 2) to forcefully move the structural members 12, 14 to their closed position so that high compressive forces can be applied to tissues between the jaw parts 20, 22 of the structural members 12, 14.
A novel structure of the stapling instrument 10 that distinguishes the present invention from known stapling instruments is means for releasable engagement between the elongate locking member 28 and the second structural member 14 generally designated by the reference number 80 which affords release of the locking member 28 from either side 19, 21 of the stapler 10. As shown in Figures 7-10, that dual-sided lever lock release assembly 80 comprises surfaces defining a slot 83 in the second structural member 14 adjacent the second end 5 of the second structural member 14 (Figure 9), and a lever lock 84 having a generally rectangular planar base portion 82 having a longitudinal axis. The base portion 82 is located within a chamber 81 between the handle part 18 and the lever cover 328, and a hook portion 86 is connected to the base portion 82 by being integral therewith. The hook portion 86 projects generally normally from the base portion 82 and has a retaining surface 87 adapted to engage a surface adjacent one end of the slot 83 of the second structural member 14 to retain the elongate locking member 28 in the locking position (Figure 10). The lever lock 84 is adapted to move axially between an unlatched position (Figure 9) to afford movement of the elongate locking member 28 to the release position (Figure 3) and a latched position (Figures 8 and 10) to which the lever lock 84 is biased by a spring 96 to retain the elongate locking member 28 in the locking position (Figure 2). The handle part 18 of the elongate locking member 28 has surfaces defining an aperture 88 communicating with the chamber 81 and located generally adjacent the second end 6 of the elongate locking member 28 which affords passage of the hook portion 86.
The dual-sided lever lock release 80 is located on first and second sides 19', 21' of the elongate locking member 28 and comprises first 92 and second 94 release arms each having first and second ends 35, 36, and first and second opposite side surfaces 37, 38. The second ends 36 of the release arms 92, 94 include camming surfaces 93, 95; and the first ends 35 of the release arms 92, 94 are pivotally attached to the handle part 18 of the elongate locking member 28 by a pin 98 to afford movement between an engaged position (Figure 9) with camming surface 93 or 95 in engagement with the lever lock 84 to unlatch the lever lock 84 and a disengaged position (Figure 8) with the camming surface 93 or 95 disengaged or spaced from the lever lock 84. Preferably the release arms 92, 94 are constructed to remain slightly engaged with the lever lock 84 when they are in the disengaged position to prevent the camming surfaces 93 or 95 from sliding out of contact with the lever lock 84.
The lever lock 84 includes a shoulder surface 85 adjacent the hook portion 86 for receiving the camming surfaces 93, 95 when either of the release arms 92 or 94 are moved to the engaged position (Figure 9). The release arms 92, 94 move independently of each other and thus, although Figure 9 shows both release arms 92, 94 moved to the engaged position, the user need only actuate one of the release arms 92 or 94 to release or unlatch the lever lock 84 from the second structural member 14. This feature affords independent release of the elongate locking member 28 from either of its sides 19', 21' and provides an alternative release means when using the stapler in a cramped area.
First and second release buttons 97, 99 are mounted on the release arms 92, 94 adjacent the sides 19', 21' of the elongate locking member 28 for movement between first (Figure 8) and second (Figure 9) positions with respect to the locking member 28. The first button 97 is mounted to the second release arm 92 along its first side 38 and the second button 99 is connected to the first release arm 94 along its second side 37 so that movement of either of the buttons 97, 99 from the first to the second positions relative to the locking member 28 will pivotally move the associated release arm 92 or 94 from the disengaged to the engaged position and thus drives the lever lock 84 from the latched position to the unlatched position.
The hook portion 86 comprises camming surface 89 adapted to engage the surfaces defining the slot 83 of the second structural member 14 when the elongate locking member 28 is moved from the release to the locking positions. The camming surface 89 moves the lever lock 84 from the latched position to the unlatched position against the bias of the coil spring 96 to afford passage of the hook portion 86 from one side of the slot 83 in the second structural member 14 to the other to thereby afford engagement between the retaining surface 87 of the hook portion 86 and the surfaces of the second structural member 14 surrounding the slot 83 when the elongate locking member 28 is moved from the release position (Figure 3) to the locking position (Figure 2). The coil spring 96 biases the lever lock 84 axially toward the latched position and thus causes a tactile "click" when the lever lock 84 slides to the latched position and the retaining surface 87 engages the surfaces surrounding the slot 83.
The second structural member 14 is adapted to have an elongate fixed or removable anvil 40 positioned over and along the jaw part 22 to form the first assembly 11, and the jaw part 20 of the first structural member 12 has an elongate channel or groove 39 adapted to receive a cartridge body 41 of the cartridge assembly 2 to form the second assembly 13. Alternatively, the cartridge body 41 may be intergral with the first structural member 12.
The cartridge body 41 contains a plurality of staples 43 disposed in rows oriented longitudinally of the jaw part 20 in opposition to the anvil 40 when the structural members 12, 14 are in their closed position. Another feature of the present invention which distinguishes the cartridge assembly 2 from existing cartridge assemblies includes an adjustable firing handle assembly, generally designated by the reference number 50. The cartridge assembly 2 includes manually actuatable means including cam-like drivers or pushers 45 having first 44 and second 44A longitudinally spaced end portions. The pushers 45 are adapted to move longitudinally along the first jaw part 20 with the second end portion 44A sequentially pressing the staples 43 against the anvil 40 to engage and close the staples 43 in tissues between the jaw parts 20, 22 with the first end portion 44 moving between the handle part 16 and the base portion 8. The pushers 45 are adapted to be moved through longitudinal slots in the cartridge body 41 by manually pressing on the adjustable firing handle assembly 50.
The adjustable firing handle assembly 50 is connected to the first end portions 44 of the pushers 45. When the adjustable firing handle assembly 50 is manually pressed to move the firing body 52 from the pre-fired position (Figure 2) to the fired position, the drivers or pushers 45 sequentially eject the staples 43 from the cartridge body 41 by means of camming plungers 47 under the staples 43. The camming plungers 47 push the staples 43 toward a surface of the cartridge body 41 opposite the anvil 40 and thereby press the ejected staples 43 against specially shaped surfaces on the anvil 40 to engage and close the staples 43 in tissues between the jaw parts 20, 22 when the structural members 12, 14 are in their closed position. The cartridge assembly 42 can also optionally include a knife (not shown) that is also connected to the firing body 52 adjacent the pushers or drivers 45 so that manual movement of the pushers or drivers 45 to eject and close the staples 43 also moves the knife along the jaw parts 20, 22 with the distal end of the knife in a slot (not shown) in the anvil 40 to cut tissues between parallel, spaced rows of applied staples 43.
The adjustable firing handle assembly 50 comprises the elongate firing body 52 within a space between the handle part 16 of the first structural member 12 and the base portion 8 of the second structural member 14 for moving the pushers 45 from the retracted (Figures 2) to the extended positions. The elongate firing body 52 has a longitudinal axis L (Figure 6) transverse to the direction in which the structural members 12, 14 are elongate. The firing body 52 has opposite first 53 and second 55 end portions. A firing handle adapter 58 is attached to the first end portions 44 of the pushers 45 and is adapted to connect the elongate firing body 52 to the pushers 45.
A means 60 is provided which mounts the elongate firing body 52 to the firing handle adapter 58 for releasable, reciprocating lateral movement of the elongate firing body 52 along the longitudinal axis L in the form of a rod 61 extending between end portions 53 and 55 and located within an opening 69 in the firing handle adapter 58. A detent means 62 is also provided which releasably secures the elongate firing body 52 in a first position (Figure 6) with the first end portion 53 of the elongate firing body 52 generally adjacent a first side 19 of the structural members 12, 14 and a second position (Figure 5, solid lines) with the second end portion 55 of the elongate firing body 52 generally adjacent a second side 21 of the structural members 12, 14.
The structural members 12, 14 have an axis A (Figures 5 and 6) extending generally in the first direction along a middle portion of the stapler 10. The detent means 62 also releasably positions the firing body 52 at a middle position (Figure 5, dashed lines) midway between the first and second positions at which parts of the first and second portions 53 and 55 of the firing body 52 project beyond both the first and second sides 19, 21. When the elongate firing body 52 is placed in the middle position, the end portions 53 and 55 are located laterally beyond the sides 19', 21' of the elongate locking member 28 and provide surfaces on both sides of the stapler 10 for manually pressing on the elongate firing body 52.
The firing handle adapter 58 has a neck portion 70 having first 72 and second 74 opposite generally planar flank walls, and surfaces which define a notch 76 adapted to receive the detent surface 68 of the elongate firing body 52. As shown in Figure 4, the neck portion 70 is adapted to extend into the cavity 59 of the firing body 52.
In the middle position (Figure 5, dashed lines), the detent means 62 mounts the firing body 52 to the firing handle adapter 58 with the detent surface 68 engaged with the notch 76 of the neck portion 70 and with the first 53 and second 55 end portions of the firing body 52 generally equidistant from the axis A of the stapler 10. As shown in Figure 5, in the middle position, parts of the first and second end portions 53, 55 project beyond both the first and second sides 19, 21 of the structural members 12, 14.
The present invention has now been described with reference to several embodiments thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes or additions can be made in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. For example, the elongate firing handle body 52 may include a close friction fit with the firing handle adapter 58 thereby replacing the detent 68. Also, the elongate firing handle body 52 need not reciprocate or shuttle between the sides of the stapler 10 and may instead comprise only a single, fixed body which extends on both sides 19, 21 of the stapler 10. Also, the firing handle body may comprise a pivotal cantilever member which is pivotal between the sides of the stapler 10 in order to provide means for firing the stapler from either side 19 or 21.
A surgical stapler having:
first and second structural members (12, 14) each being elongate in a first direction, the first structural member (12) having a handle part (16) including first and second ends and the second structural member (14) having a base part (8) having first and second ends, and each of the first and second structural members having a jaw part (20, 22) projecting from said first ends, said structural members having pivot means at said second ends (5, 9) adapted for free engagement and disengagement in a plane normal to said first direction for affording, when engaged, relative pivotal movement of said structural members (12, 14) in said plane between a closed position with said jaw parts (20, 22) in closely spaced relationship, and an open position with said jaw parts (20, 22) spaced farther from each other than in said closed position;
an elongate locking member (28) having first and second (6) ends, first and second sides, inner and outer surfaces extending between said sides and a pivot point closely adjacent the first end of the locking member (28), the pivot point of said locking member (28) being mounted on said second structural member (14) adjacent the first end of said second structural member for pivotal movement around an axis generally normal to said first direction between a locking position generally aligned with the base part (8) of said second structural member (14) with said inner surface adjacent said second structural member (14), and a release position with the second end (6) of said locking member (28) spaced from the second end (5) of said second structural member, said first end of said locking member (28) and said handle part of said first structural member (12) adjacent the first end of said first structural member having surfaces adapted, when said pivot means are engaged with said structural members in said open position, for engagement during movement of said locking member (28) from said release position to said locking position to forcefully move said structural members (12, 14) to said closed position; and
means (80) for releasable engagement between the elongate locking member (28) and the second structural member (14), characterized by said means (80) comprising:
said second structural member (14) having a slot (83) extending between said inner and outer surfaces generally adjacent the second end (5) of said second structural member (14);
a lever lock (84) including a hook portion (86) adapted to pass through said slot (83) in said second structural member (14) and having a retaining surface (87) adapted to engage a portion of said inner surface,
means for mounting the lever lock (84) on said locking member (28) for movement between an unlatched position with said hook portion (86) aligned to pass through said slot (83) and to afford movement of the locking member (28) between said latched and release positions and a latched position with said hook portion (86) aligned to position the retaining surface along a portion of said inner surface to retain the elongate locking member (28) in the locking position;
first and second release buttons (97, 99); and
actuating means mounting said first and second release buttons (97, 99) on opposite sides (19, 21) of said locking member (28) for movement between first and second positions with respect to said locking member, said actuation means being operable by movement of either of said buttons (97, 99) from said first to said second positions for moving said lever lock (84) from said engaged position to said disengaged position.
A surgical stapler according to claim 1 wherein said lever lock (84) further includes biasing means (96) adapted to bias said hook portion (86) toward said latched position, and
said hook portion (86) includes a camming surface (89) adapted to engage a surface defining said slot (83) in said second structural member to move said lever lock (84) against the bias of said biasing means (96) from said latched position to said unlatched position to afford movement of said hook portion through said slot (83) when said locking member (28) moves from said release to said locking position, said biasing means (96) causing movement of the lever lock (84) from said unlatched position to said latched position when said locking member (28) is positioned at said locking position.
A surgical stapler according to claim 1 wherein said actuation means includes first and second release arms (92, 94) each having first and second ends, said second ends including camming surfaces (93, 95) adapted to engage said shoulder portion of said hook portion (86), and each of said first ends being pivotally attached to said elongate locking member (28) for pivotal movement of each of said release arms (92, 94) between an engaged position with said camming surface (93, 95) engaged with said shoulder portion of said hook portion to drive said lever lock (84) from said latched position to said unlatched position to afford movement of the locking member (28) to said release position and a disengaged position with said camming surface (93, 95) of said release arm (92, 94) positioned with respect to said shoulder surface of said hook portion (86),
said first button (97) being mounted on said first release arm (94) between said pivot and said camming surface (95), and said first button being positioned along one side of said locking member (28), and said second button (99) being mounted on said second release arm (92) between said pivot and said camming surface (93), said second button being positioned along the other side of said locking member (28), said cam surfaces (93, 95) being disposed so that movement of either of said buttons (97, 99) from an outer to an inner position relative to said locking member (28) will drive said lever lock (84) from said latched position to said unlatched position.
EP95111156A 1990-12-18 1991-12-16 Surgical stapler Expired - Lifetime EP0677273B1 (en)
US07/629,142 US5083695A (en) 1990-12-18 1990-12-18 Stapler and firing device
US629142 1990-12-18
EP19910311655 Division EP0491537B1 (en) 1990-12-18 1991-12-16 Improved stapler
EP91311655.4 Division 1991-12-16
EP0677273A2 EP0677273A2 (en) 1995-10-18
EP0677273A3 EP0677273A3 (en) 1995-12-13
EP0677273B1 true EP0677273B1 (en) 1998-06-03
EP95111156A Expired - Lifetime EP0677273B1 (en) 1990-12-18 1991-12-16 Surgical stapler
EP19910311655 Expired - Lifetime EP0491537B1 (en) 1990-12-18 1991-12-16 Improved stapler
1990-12-18 US US07/629,142 patent/US5083695A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-11-20 CA CA 2055890 patent/CA2055890C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-16 EP EP95111156A patent/EP0677273B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-16 DE DE1991629550 patent/DE69129550T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-16 DE DE1991629550 patent/DE69129550D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-16 EP EP19910311655 patent/EP0491537B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-16 DE DE1991623226 patent/DE69123226T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-16 DE DE1991623226 patent/DE69123226D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1991-12-17 JP JP10397291U patent/JP2532905Y2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
EP0491537A3 (en) 1992-07-22
JPH04103107U (en) 1992-09-04
DE69123226D1 (en) 1997-01-02
DE69129550D1 (en) 1998-07-09
EP0491537B1 (en) 1996-11-20
CA2055890C (en) 2002-05-28
EP0677273A2 (en) 1995-10-18
EP0677273A3 (en) 1995-12-13
DE69129550T2 (en) 1998-11-26
EP0491537A2 (en) 1992-06-24
US5083695A (en) 1992-01-28
CA2055890A1 (en) 1992-06-19
JP2532905Y2 (en) 1997-04-16
DE69123226T2 (en) 1997-04-17
JP3746133B2 (en) 2006-02-15 Triggering device for the surgical tool
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