Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to surgical instruments including, but not limited to, surgical instruments normally used with disposable cutting and stapling units that are capable of applying lines of staples to tissue while cutting the tissue between those staple lines and, more particularly, to a collection of interchangeable tools for use with such instruments. 
       Commonly Owned Patent Applications 
       [0002]    The Assignee of the subject application also co-owns the following U.S. patent applications which are herein incorporated by reference: 
         [0003]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/729,008, entitled Laparoscopic Tissue Thickness and Clamp Load Measuring Devices, filed Mar. 28, 2007; 
         [0004]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,170, entitled Surgical Stapler With Tapered Distal End, filed Jan. 11, 2007; 
         [0005]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled Disposable Motor Driven Loading Unit For Use With a Surgical Cutting and Stapling Apparatus to Kyle P. Moore et al., Docket No. END6213USNP/070330; and 
         [0006]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,001, entitled Articulatable Loading Units For Surgical Stapling and Cutting Instruments to Jerome R. Morgan et al., filed Feb. 14, 2008. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0007]    Endoscopic surgeries are often preferred over traditional open surgical procedures because the smaller incision required by endoscopic surgical procedures tends to reduce the post-operative recovery time and complications. A variety of surgical procedures are currently performed by laparoscopic or other endoscopic techniques. Such procedures may include, for example, intestinal and stomach operations such as removal of colon cancer, hernia repairs, stomach stapling, removal of gall bladder, Ob/Gyn related surgeries as well as other procedures, such as those involving manipulations of a patient&#39;s spleen, liver, lung, heart, etc. 
         [0008]    Consequently, significant development has gone into a range of endoscopic surgical instruments that are suitable for precise placement of a distal end effector at a desired surgical site through a cannula of a trocar that has been inserted into a patient. These distal end effectors engage or interact with the tissue in a number of ways to achieve a desired diagnostic or therapeutic effect. Such devices are often configured to perform a single type of surgical action (e.g., endocutter, grasper, cutter, staplers, clip applier, access device, drug/gene therapy delivery device, and energy device using ultrasound, RF, laser, etc.) which often requires the clinician to use several different instruments that are each only adapted to perform one action during a single operation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,235; U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,895; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,121 each disclose dedicated grasping instruments that may be used for endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. For those procedures requiring the removal of tissue or specimens from the body (e.g., removal of a diseased gall bladder, appendix, etc.), dedicated specimen retrieval instruments such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,440 have been developed. For procedures requiring the cutting and severing of tissue, dedicated scissor instruments such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,605 have also been developed. 
         [0009]    For those procedures involving the cutting and stapling of tissue, various surgical stapling devices have been designed. Such surgical stapling devices commonly include an end effector that simultaneously makes a longitudinal incision in tissue and applies lines of staples on opposing sides of the incision. The end effector includes a pair of cooperating jaw members that, if the instrument is intended for endoscopic or laparoscopic applications, are capable of passing through a cannula passageway. One form of surgical cutting and stapling device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,057. Such devices have a dedicated reusable drive and knife beam and are designed to be used with replaceable staple cartridges. Removable cartridges constructed to measure tissue thickness such as those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/729,008, entitled Laparoscopic Tissue Thickness and Clamp Load Measuring Devices, have also been designed for use with such instruments. Alternative curved end effector arrangements such as those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/729,008, entitled Surgical Stapler With Tapered Distal End, also have dedicated reusable knife and drive beam arrangements for use with removable/replaceable staple cartridges. 
         [0010]    Other types of surgical stapling devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 are configured to operate with disposable loading units (DLU&#39;s) that are constructed to support a dedicated staple cartridge and knife assembly therein. Once the procedure is completed, the entire DLU is discarded. Such instruments that are designed to accommodate DLU&#39;s purport to offer the advantage of a “fresh” knife blade for each firing of the instrument. The reusable hand piece portion of such surgical stapling instruments was limited to use in connection with disposable loading units that were constructed to cut and staple tissue. Thus, for operations that involve various actions and procedures (e.g., grasping and manipulating tissue, cutting tissue, removal of tissue, applying clips and/or staples, cauterization of tissue, delivery of drugs and medicaments, etc.) a collection of different surgical instruments that are designed specifically to perform one of those actions in the past were required to be on hand. 
         [0011]    Thus, there is a need for different types of interchangeable surgical tool attachments that may be used with a single surgical instrument hand piece. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    In one general aspect of various embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. The surgical instrument further has an elongated body that operably supports a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. Various embodiments of the surgical tool comprise a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body. A drive assembly may be operably supported in the housing and is removably couplable to the control rod. A pair of non-staple forming jaws are operably coupled to the drive assembly such that upon application of a drive motion to the drive assembly in a first direction the non-staple forming jaws each simultaneously move in a closing direction toward each other and upon application of another drive motion in a second direction, the non-staple forming jaws each simultaneously move in an opening direction away from each other. 
         [0013]    In still another general aspect of various embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. The surgical instrument may further have an elongated body that operably supports a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. Various embodiments of the surgical tool may comprise a carrier that has a housing coupled thereto. The housing may be movably couplable to the elongated body. A drive assembly may be operably supported in the housing and carrier and be removably couplable to the control rod. A non-staple forming anvil may be movably supported on the carrier and configured to operably interact with the drive assembly to selectively move the non-staple forming anvil toward and away from the carrier. A tissue thickness measuring cartridge may be supported in the carrier. The tissue thickness measuring cartridge may have an indicator member that interacts with the housing to provide an indication of a thickness range of tissue clamped between the non-staple forming anvil and the tissue thickness measuring cartridge. 
         [0014]    In another general aspect of various embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. The surgical instrument may further have an elongated body that operably supports a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. In various embodiments, the surgical tool comprises a housing that is directly couplable to the elongated body. A drive assembly may be operably supported in the housing and carrier. The drive assembly may be removably couplable to the control rod. A staple-forming anvil may be non-movably supported by the housing. A plurality of staples may be supported in a distal end of the housing and be oriented to be sequentially driven into the staple-forming anvil upon application of a drive motion to the drive assembly. 
         [0015]    In another general aspect of various embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. The surgical instrument may further have an elongated body that operably supports a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. In various embodiments, the surgical tool comprises a housing that is directly couplable to the elongated body. A pair of opposed, moveable jaws may be attached to and extend from the shaft. The jaws are configured to receive each of the surgical clips serially therein when the jaws are in an open position. The jaws may also form each of the surgical clips received serially therein when the jaws are moved to a closed position. A moveable forming mechanism may be removably couplable to the control rod when the housing is coupled to the elongated body. The forming mechanism may be configured to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position upon application of a first drive motion from the control rod so as to form each of the surgical clips received serially therein. The forming mechanism may be further configured to move from the closed position to the open position upon application of a second drive motion to the forming mechanism by the control rod. A feeding mechanism may operatively interact with the movable forming mechanism. The feeding mechanism may have a feed plate that is movable in response to movement of the forming mechanism and may be releasably coupled to a clip pusher of the feed mechanism. The clip pusher may be stationary and uncoupled from the feed plate upon application of the first drive motion to the forming mechanism. The clip pusher may be moveable and operatively coupled to the feed plate upon application of the second drive motion to the movable forming mechanism so as to move each of the surgical clips serially from the shaft into the jaws. 
         [0016]    In connection with another general aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. The surgical instrument may further have an elongated body that operably supports a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. Various embodiments of the surgical tool of the present invention may comprise a carrier that has a housing coupled thereto. The housing may be removably couplable to the elongated body. A drive assembly may be operably supported in the housing and carrier and also be removably couplable to the control rod. A staple forming anvil may be movably supported on the carrier and operably interact with the drive assembly to selectively move the staple forming anvil toward and away from the carrier. A staple-supporting cartridge that has a radius of curvature may be supported in the carrier. The staple-supporting cartridge may have a curved slot therethrough defining a curved passage for receiving a distal end of the drive assembly therethrough upon application of a drive motion thereto. 
         [0017]    In accordance with another general aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. An elongated body may operably support a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. Various embodiments of the surgical tools may comprise a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body. A syringe body may be coupled to the housing. A hollow needle may protrude from the syringe body. A drive assembly may be operably supported in the housing and may be removably couplable to the control rod. A syringe plunger may be movably supported in the syringe body and may be coupled to the drive assembly for selective movement therewith. 
         [0018]    In accordance with still another general aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion thereof. An elongated body may operably support a control rod therein for transferring the drive motions. Various embodiments of the surgical tool may comprise a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body. A non-staple applying end effector may operably protrude from a distal end of the housing. The non-staple applying end effector may support at least one electrically powered member. A battery may be movably supported within the housing and be configured to electrically communicate with the at least one electrically powered member. The battery may be removably couplable to the control rod such that upon application of a first drive motion thereto, the battery applies power to the electrical powered member and, upon application of a second drive motion thereto, the battery discontinues the application of power to the electrically powered member. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another general aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical tool system that includes a surgical instrument that may comprise a handle assembly that has a drive system operably supported therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion that is operably coupled to the handle assembly. An elongated body may protrude from the handle assembly and a control rod may be operably supported in the elongated body. The control rod may interface with the drive system for receiving the drive motions therefrom. The system may further include at least two surgical tools that are selected from the group of surgical tools consisting of: manipulators, nippers, scissors, endocutters, tissue thickness measurement devices, staple appliers, clip appliers, syringe glue/sealant/drug/medicament appliers and cauterization devices wherein each surgical tool within the group of surgical tools at least has a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body and a drive assembly that is removably couplable to the control rod for receiving the drive motions therefrom. 
         [0020]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of various embodiments of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain various principles of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior surgical cutting and stapling apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a surgical tool embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIG. 2  with some components thereof shown in full view for clarity. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is another cross-sectional view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3  in a closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing one exemplary use of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 2-4  in connection with another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention for removing tissue from a patient. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention with some components thereof shown in full view for clarity. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end of the surgical tool of  FIGS. 8 and 9  in a pre-fired position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end of the surgical tool of  FIGS. 8-10  wherein a staple is being fired into tissue. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end of the surgical tool of  FIGS. 8-11  after a first staple has been fired. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIG. 13  with some components thereof shown in full view for clarity. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is an exploded assembly view of a portion of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  is a side elevational view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 15 and 16  with the anvil assembly in an open position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is another side elevational view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 15 and 16  with a portion thereof shown in cross-section and with the anvil assembly shown in a first closed position with no tissue clamped therein. 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged view of the distal end of the surgical tool embodiment depicted in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the surgical tool of  FIG. 18  taken along line  20 - 20  in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  is an enlarged view of the distal end portion of the surgical tool shown in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 22  is an exploded assembly view of a thickness measurement cartridge portion of the surgical tool of  FIGS. 15-21 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 23  is another exploded assembly view of portions of the thickness measurement cartridge of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the surgical tool of  FIG. 17  taken along line  24 - 24  in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the surgical tool of  FIG. 17  taken along line  25 - 25  in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 26  is a side elevational view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 15-25  with anvil assembly in a closed position for clamping tissue having a first thickness range therein. 
           [0048]      FIG. 27  is an enlarged view of the distal end of the surgical tool embodiment depicted in  FIG. 26 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 28  is a side elevational view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 15-27  with the anvil assembly in a closed position for clamping tissue having a second thickness range therein. 
           [0050]      FIG. 29  is a side elevational view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 15-28  with the anvil assembly in a closed position for clamping tissue having a third thickness range therein. 
           [0051]      FIG. 30  is a side elevational view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIGS. 15-29  with the anvil assembly in a closed position for clamping tissue having a fourth thickness range therein. 
           [0052]      FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a portion of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed therefrom. 
           [0053]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view of portions of a forming plate and feed plate arrangement of the surgical tool of  FIG. 31 . 
           [0054]      FIG. 33  is a plan view of the surgical tool embodiment of  FIG. 31  with the cover removed for clarity. 
           [0055]      FIG. 34  is a cross-sectional view of the surgical tool of  FIGS. 31-33 . 
           [0056]      FIG. 35  is a cross-sectional view of the surgical tool of  FIG. 34  taken along lines  35 - 35  in  FIG. 34 . 
           [0057]      FIG. 36  is a plan view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention with a portion of the anvil assembly omitted for clarity. 
           [0058]      FIG. 37  is a plan view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention with a portion of the anvil assembly omitted for clarity. 
           [0059]      FIG. 38  is a perspective view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 39  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the housing of the surgical tool of  FIG. 38 . 
           [0061]      FIG. 40  is an exploded assembly view of another surgical tool embodiment of the present invention used in connection with another surgical instrument embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 41  is a perspective view of an alternate housing embodiment of the present invention with a portion thereof shown in phantom lines to illustrate the ability to articulate about an articulation member formed therein. 
           [0063]      FIG. 42  is a perspective view of another alternate housing embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0064]    Turning to the Drawings, wherein like numerals denote like components throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  depicts a prior surgical instrument  10  that includes a housing assembly  12  and an elongated body  14  that protrudes therefrom. Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a prior disposable loading unit  16  that comprises a single-use endocutter for cutting tissue and applying lines of staples on each side of the cut. The disposable loading unit  16  includes a tool assembly  17  having a cartridge assembly  18  housing a plurality of surgical staples and an anvil assembly  20  movably secured in relation to cartridge assembly  18 . In various embodiments, the conventional surgical instrument  10  and the disposable loading unit  16  may comprise the surgical instrument and disposable loading units described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361, the disclosure of which has been herein incorporated by reference. Thus, the present Detailed Description will not specifically discuss the various components of the surgical instrument  10  and the disposable loading unit  16  and their operation herein beyond what is necessary to describe the operation of the various surgical tool embodiments of the present invention which may be used with a surgical instrument  10 . 
         [0065]    As the present Detailed Description proceeds, it will be appreciated that the terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to a clinician gripping a handle assembly  12  of the surgical instrument  10  to which a particular surgical tool is operably coupled. Thus, the surgical tool is “distal” with respect to the more proximal handle assembly  12 . It will be further appreciated that, for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, “right”, and “left” are used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical tools and instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 2-4  depict a surgical tool  1000  of an embodiment of the present invention that may be operably coupled to the surgical instrument  10  and used to manipulate tissue, organs, etc. As can be seen in those Figures, the surgical tool  1000  may include a housing  1010  that has a proximal end  1012  that is configured for removable attachment to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . In particular, the proximal end  1012  may have engagement nubs  254  formed thereon which serve to form a bayonet-type coupling with the distal end of the elongated body portion  14  of the surgical stapling apparatus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361. 
         [0067]    The surgical tool  1000  includes a drive assembly  1020  that may include a proximal drive beam segment  1022  that is coupled to a distal drive beam segment  1030  by a reversing linkage assembly  1040 . The drive beam segments  1020 ,  1030  may each be constructed from a single sheet of material or, preferably, from multiple stacked sheets. However, drive beam segments  1020 ,  1030  may be fabricated from other suitable materials and arrangements. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the proximal drive beam segment  1022  has an engagement section  1024  formed thereon that may include a pair of engagement fingers  1024   a  and  1024   b  that are dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage a drive member  1026 . Drive member  1026  includes a proximal porthole  1028  configured to receive the distal end  276  of control rod  52  (See  FIG. 1 ) when the proximal end  1012  of tool attachment  100  is coupled to the elongated body  14  of surgical apparatus  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the proximal end  1012  has a hollow passage  1014  therein through which the distal end  276  of the control rod  52  may extend. 
         [0068]    The distal end of the proximal beam segment  1022  has a distally protruding tab  1028  that is pinned to a link  1042  of the reversing linkage assembly  1040 . The link  1042  is pivotally attached to the housing  1010  by pin  1044  and is also attached to a proximal tab portion  1032  of distal drive beam segment  1030 . The distal end  1034  of the distal drive beam segment  1030  may be pivotally attached to an upper non-staple forming manipulation jaw  1050  by a first pivot link  1052  and also attached to a lower non-staple-forming manipulation jaw  1060  by a second pivot link  1062 . As used herein, the term “non-staple forming” refers to jaws that are designed to grip or manipulate tissue, but are not designed to form, support or drive staples, such as, for example, anvils, staple cartridges or portions of units designed to support staple cartridges. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the upper and lower manipulation jaws  1050 ,  1060  in an open orientation and  FIG. 4  illustrates the upper and lower manipulation jaws  1050 ,  1060  in a closed orientation. Once the surgical tool  1000  is coupled to the elongated body  14  of the surgical apparatus  10  (and the distal end  276  of the control rod  52  is coupled to the drive member  2026 ), the clinician may move the upper and lower manipulation jaws  1050 ,  1060  between the open and closed positions by manipulating the movable handle portion  24  of the surgical apparatus  10 . For example, pivoting the movable handle portion  24  toward the stationary portion  22  of the handle assembly  12 , causes the control rod  52  to move the proximal drive beam segment  1022  in a “first” distal direction “DD”. As the proximal drive beam segment  1022  moves in the first distal direction “DD”, the reversing linkage  1040  pulls the distal drive beam segment  1030  in a “second” proximal direction “PD” which causes the links  1052 ,  1062  to each simultaneously move the upper and lower non-staple forming manipulation jaws  1050 ,  1060  toward each other to a closed orientation. Moving the movable handle  24  away from the stationary handle portion  22  causes the non-staple forming upper and lower manipulation jaws  1050 ,  1060  to each simultaneously move away from each other to the open position. 
         [0070]    The person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the non-staple forming upper and lower manipulation jaws  1050 ,  1060  may be provided in different shapes and sizes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates one use of the surgical tool  1000  of the present invention in connection with the removal of tissue, etc. from a body cavity  600 . More specifically,  FIG. 5  illustrates use of a conventional first trocar  610  that is used to form a first passage  604  through a body wall  602  into the body cavity  600 . A surgical tool  1000  of the present invention is attached to a first convention surgical apparatus  10 . The surgical tool  1000  is then inserted through a cannula in the first trocar  610  and into the body cavity  600  to grasp and manipulate a portion of tissue  606 . 
         [0071]    Some medical procedures may require portions of diseased tissue or organs to be removed from the body cavity  600 . To facilitate removal of small amounts of such tissue from the body cavity  600 , another surgical tool  1100  of the present invention may be employed. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the surgical tool  1100  may include a housing portion  1110  that has a proximal end  1112  that has nubs  254  formed thereon to facilitate attachment to the elongated body portion  14  of a surgical apparatus  10 ′ in the manner described above. Housing  1110  may have a hollow cavity therein, that would facilitate the movement of the control rod  52  therein. However, in various embodiments, the distal end  276  of the control rod is not directly coupled to any component within the housing. Attached to the distal end  1114  of the housing  1110  is a specimen-retrieval pouch  1120  that may be formed from a collapsible pouch ring portion  1122  that has a flexible pouch member  1124  attached thereto. The collapsible pouch ring  1122  may be fabricated from spring arms  1226  or the like that would enable the pouch ring portion  1122  to collapse to enable the specimen retrieval pouch  1120  to be inserted into and retracted from a cannula of a conventional trocar  610  or the like. 
         [0072]    Returning to  FIG. 5 , there is also illustrated a surgical tool  1100  of the present invention that has been attached to another conventional surgical instrument  10 ′ that has been inserted through another conventional trocar  610 . After the pouch assembly  1120  has been passed through the trocar cannula into the body cavity  600 , the collapsible pouch ring  1122  springs open. The surgical tool  1000  may be employed to grasp diseased tissue  606  (e.g., gall stones, etc.) and place the diseased tissue  606  into the pouch assembly  1120  which may then be retracted out through the cannula of the second conventional trocar  610 . A draw string  1121  extends around the pouch ring  1112  and through the housing  1110  to be threaded through a portion of the elongated body  14  and may exit through a hole therein adjacent the handle assembly  12 . The draw string  1121  may be used to close the specimen retrieval pouch  1120  when removing the filled pouch  1120  from the body cavity. 
         [0073]    Certain other medical procedures involve the cutting and removal of small portions of tissue such as the removal of a polyp  700  or the extraction of a small portion of tissue for testing. A surgical tool embodiment  1200  of the present invention may be used to perform such activities. More specifically and with reference to  FIG. 6 , a surgical tool  1200  may include the housing portion  1110  and drive beam segments  1022 ,  1030  as was described above. The surgical tool  1200  is coupled to the elongated body portion  14  and the control rod  52  in the manner described above and is operated by moving the movable handle portion  24  toward and away from the stationary handle portion  22  as was also described above. However, in various embodiments, instead of having upper and lower manipulation jaws coupled thereto, an upper tissue nipping jaw  1210  and a lower tissue nipping jaw  1220  are attached to links  1052  and  1062 , respectively. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the upper and lower tissue nipping jaws  1210  and  1220  are designed to nip tissue grasped therebetween. At least one of the jaws  1210 ,  1220  have a cavity portion  1211  therein for retrieving the nipped tissue. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , each tissue nipping jaw  1210 ,  1220  have a cavity portion  1211  formed therein that cooperate to form a hollow receptacle area generally designated as  1230  when the jaws  1210 ,  1220  are substantially closed. Thus, after the tissue  700  has been nipped by closing the jaws  1210 ,  1220 , the tissue  700  is then received in the hollow receptacle area  1230  for removal from the body. 
         [0074]      FIG. 7  illustrates another surgical tool  1300  of the present invention that includes the housing portion  1110  and drive assembly  1020  as described above. As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , however, the surgical tool  1300  employs scissor jaws  1310  and  1320 . In particular, the upper scissor jaw  1310  is attached to link  1052  and the lower scissor jaw is attached to link  1062 . A support member  1380  protrudes out of the distal end of the housing portion  1110  and pivotally supports the scissor jaws  1310 ,  1320  about a pivot pin  1382  as shown. The surgical tool  1300  is coupled to the elongated body portion  14  and the control rod  52  of the surgical instrument  10  in the manner described above and is operated by moving the movable handle portion  24  toward and away from the stationary handle portion  22  as was also described above. Thus, the scissor jaws  1310 ,  1320  may be aligned with each other to enable the surgical tool  1300  to be inserted through a cannula (trocar) into the body cavity and then activated to cut tissue by moving the movable handle portion  24  of the surgical instrument  10 . 
         [0075]      FIGS. 8-12  illustrate another surgical tool  1400  that may be used with the conventional surgical instrument  10 . As can be seen in those Figures, the surgical tool  1400  comprises a stapler for stapling tissue. More particularly and with reference to  FIG. 8 , the surgical tool  1400  may include a housing portion  1410  that has a proximal end portion  1412  that is configured for removable attachment to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . In particular, the proximal end portion  1412  may have engagement nubs  254  formed thereon which serve to form a bayonet-type coupling with the distal end of the elongated body portion  14  of the surgical instrument  10  as described above. The surgical tool  1400  may include a drive assembly  1420  that includes an elongated drive beam  1422  that may be constructed from a single sheet of material or, preferably, from multiple stacked sheets. However, drive beam  1422  may be fabricated from other suitable materials and arrangements. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , the drive beam  1422  has an engagement section  1424  formed thereon that may include a pair of engagement fingers  1424   a  and  1424   b  that are dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage a drive member  1426 . Drive member  1426  includes a proximal porthole  1428  configured to receive the distal end  276  of control rod  52  (See  FIG. 1 ) when the proximal end  1412  of the surgical tool  1400  is coupled to the elongated body  14  of a surgical instrument  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , the proximal end  1412  has a hollow passage  1414  therein through which the distal end  276  of the control rod  52  may extend. 
         [0076]    As can also be seen in  FIGS. 9-12 , the housing  1410  has a distal end portion  1416  that operably houses columns  1430  of surgical staples  1432  therein. In various embodiments, the housing  1410  may be fabricated in multiple segments to permit installation of the staples  1432  therein. For single use embodiments, the staples  1432  may be installed at the factory and the housing portions permanently assembled together by adhesive, snaps, etc. In other embodiments, the housing portions may be removably coupled together to permit installation of additional staples  1432 . As can also been in  FIGS. 9-12 , a staple driver  1440  is affixed to the distal end of the drive beam  1422 . The distal end  1442  of the staple driver  1440  may have a staple-receiving notch  1444  formed therein as can be seen in  FIGS. 10-12 . 
         [0077]    The surgical tool  1400  is coupled to the elongated body portion  14  and the control rod  52  of the surgical instrument  10  in the manner described above and is operated by moving the movable handle portion  24  toward and away from the stationary handle portion  22  as was also described above. A return spring  1450  is supported between a wall portion  1418  of the housing  1410  and a return tab portion  1446  on the staple driver  1440  to assist with returning the staple driver  1440  to the return position wherein another staple  1432  may drop into a firing position as shown in  FIG. 10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 10 , when in a firing position, the bottom staple  1432  in the distal-most column  1430  of staples  1432  has dropped into engagement with the staple-receiving notch  1444  in the staple driver  1440 . A leaf-type feed spring  1470  may be provided to bias each succeeding staple  1432  in the distal-most column  1430  of staples downward toward the staple driver  1440 . In addition, a spring assembly  1480  (illustrated in box-form in  FIGS. 10-12 ) is mounted in the distal end portion  1416  of the housing  1410  to bias the columns  1430  of staples  1432  in the distal direction “DD” on the staple driver  1440  so that as one column of staples  1432  is depleted, the next adjacent column of staples  1432  is biased into the firing position shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0078]    Thus, to use the surgical tool  1400 , the distal end  1416  of the housing portion  1410  is brought into engagement with the tissue “T” to be stapled. See  FIG. 11 . As can be seen in FIGS.  10 - 12 , the distal end portion  1416  has an angled end  1417  that has an opening  1419  therein to expose the staple  1432  being fired. As the staple  1432  is fired (i.e., driven in the distal direction “DD” by the staple driver  1440 ) through movement of the movable handle portion  24  of the surgical instrument  10 , it is formed as it contacts a staple-forming anvil  1490  non-movably mounted within the housing  1410 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the surgical tool  1400  prior to firing.  FIG. 11  illustrates firing a staple  1432  into the tissue “T”.  FIG. 12  illustrates the staple driver  11440  after is has been retracted to permit another staple  1432  to drop into a ready position. While the surgical tool  1400  is particularly well-suited for endoscopic procedures, those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the surgical tool  1400  may also be used to staple open incisions that do not require the surgical tool  1400  to be inserted through a cannula into a body cavity. 
         [0079]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate another surgical tool  1500  that may be used with the conventional surgical instrument  10 . As can be seen in those Figures, the surgical tool  1500  comprises a syringe for deploying, for example, glue, sealant, a drug or other medicament. More particularly and with reference to  FIG. 14 , the surgical tool  1500  may include a housing portion  1500  that has a proximal end portion  1512  that is configured for removable attachment to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . In particular, the proximal end portion  1512  may have engagement nubs  254  formed thereon which serve to form a bayonet-type coupling with the distal end of the elongated body portion  14  of the surgical stapling instrument  10  as described above. The surgical tool  1500  may include a drive assembly  1520  that comprises an elongated drive beam  1522  that may be constructed from a single sheet of material or, preferably, from multiple stacked sheets. However, drive beam  1522  may be fabricated from other suitable materials and arrangements. As can be seen in  FIG. 14 , the drive beam  1522  has an engagement section  1524  formed thereon that may include a pair of engagement fingers  1524   a  and  1524   b  that are dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage a drive member  1526 . Drive member  1526  includes a proximal porthole  1528  configured to receive the distal end  276  of control rod  52  (See  FIG. 1 ) when the proximal end  1512  of the surgical tool  1500  is coupled to the elongated body  14  of surgical instrument  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 14 , the proximal end  1512  has a hollow passage  1514  therein through which the distal end  276  of the control rod  52  may extend. 
         [0080]    As can also be seen in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a syringe body  1570  is attached to a distal end  1516  by a collar  1572  or other fastener arrangement. The collar  1572  may be affixed to the housing  1510  and syringe body  1570 , by adhesive or other suitable arrangements. As can be seen in  FIG. 14 , a distal end  1523  of the drive beam  1522  is attached to a syringe plunger  1574  that is movably supported within the syringe body  1570 . A hollow needle or cannula  1580  may be attached to the distal end of the syringe body  1570  as shown. The syringe body  1570  may be filled with a drug or medicament by first advancing the syringe plunger  1574  to the distal end of the syringe body  1570  by moving the movable handle  24  of the surgical instrument  10  ( FIG. 1 ) toward the stationary handle portion  22  of the handle assembly  12 . Thereafter, the pointed end  1582  of the needle  1580  may be inserted into a vial or reservoir of glue, sealant, drug or medicament (not shown). The clinician may then draw the material from the reservoir into the syringe body  1570  through the needle  1580  by moving the movable handle  24  away from the stationary portion  22  of the handle assembly  12  which serves to move the drive beam  1522  and the syringe plunger  1574  in the proximal direction “PD”. Once the desired amount of drug or medicament has been drawn into the syringe body  1574 , the clinician may then insert the surgical tool  1500  into the body cavity through a cannula or other opening and then expel the drug or medicament from the syringe body  1570  by again moving the movable handle  24  toward the stationary handle portion  22  of the handle assembly  12 . A scale or other form of measuring indicia  1590  may be provided on the syringe body  1570  to enable the clinician to monitor the amount of glue, sealant, drug or medicament that has been discharged from the syringe body  1574 . 
         [0081]    When a surgical procedure involves stapling of tissue, the clinician must select the proper size of staple to use based upon the thickness of the tissue to be stapled. For example, staples that are commonly used for endoscopic procedures are generally manufactured in various sizes to provide various formed heights such as 0.75 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, etc. The clinician must carefully match the size of the staple to the thickness of the tissue. If the staple is too large, the tissue may not be held together properly or if the staple is too small, it may tear through the tissue. In the past, however, the clinician often would have to estimate the tissue thickness and then hope that the estimate was sufficiently accurate. Thus, there is a need for a surgical tool that could be used in connection with a surgical instrument  10  that can accurately measure tissue thickness so that the appropriate size of staples may be used. 
         [0082]      FIGS. 15-30  depict a surgical tool embodiment  1600  of the present invention that may be operably coupled to the surgical instrument  10  and used to measure the thickness of tissue “T” that may need to be cut and stapled. As can be seen in those Figures, the surgical tool  1600  may include a carrier  216  that has a housing  1610  attached thereto. The housing  1610  may be attached to the upstanding walls  217  of the carrier  216  by snap features  219  or other suitable means. The housing  1610  has a proximal end  1612  that is configured for removable attachment to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . In particular, the proximal end  1612  may have engagement nubs  254  formed thereon which serve to form a bayonet-type coupling with the distal end of the elongated body portion  14  of the surgical instrument  10  as was described above. 
         [0083]    The surgical tool  1600  further includes a drive assembly  1620  that includes a drive beam  1622  that may be constructed from a single sheet of material or, preferably, from multiple stacked sheets. However, drive beam  1622  may be fabricated from other suitable materials and arrangements. As can be seen in  FIG. 16 , the drive beam segment  1622  has an engagement section  1624  formed thereon that may include a pair of engagement fingers  1624   a  and  1624   b  that are dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage a drive member  1626 . Drive member  1626  includes a proximal porthole (not shown) to receive the distal end  276  of control rod  52  (See  FIG. 1 ) when the proximal end  1612  of surgical tool  1600  is coupled to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . 
         [0084]    The distal end  1626  of the drive beam  1622  may have a camming pin or roller  286  ( FIG. 16 ) arranged to engage a camming portion  209  ( FIG. 18 ) of a non-staple forming anvil assembly  20  that is pivotally coupled to the carrier  216 . A pair of pivot members  211  are formed on the anvil assembly  20  and are positioned within slots  213  formed in carrier  216  to guide the anvil portion between the open and clamped positions. As the drive beam  1622  is driven in the distal direction “DD” by moving the movable handle  24  toward the stationary handle portion  22  of the handle assembly  12  of the surgical instrument  10 , the camming roller on the distal end of the drive beam  1622  engages the camming portion  209  of the anvil assembly  20  and causes the anvil assembly  20  to pivot to a given and repeatable closed position which forms a reference surface for establishing a thickness measurement. 
         [0085]    The surgical tool  1600  may further include a tissue thickness measuring cartridge  1650  that is supported within the carrier  216 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 18-22 , the thickness measuring cartridge  1650  includes a body portion  1652  that is mounted within the carrier  216  and retained therein by snap features  6154  ( FIG. 22 ) or other appropriate fastener arrangements. As can be seen in  FIG. 22 , for example, the cartridge body  1652  may be fabricated from two body segments  1652   a ,  1652   b  that may be fastened together by adhesive or other appropriate fasteners. As can be further seen in  FIG. 22 , the cartridge body  1652  operably supports a movable tissue measuring platform  1660 . Tissue platform  1660  may be configured as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23  and have a proximal end portion  1662  that is coupled to the cartridge body portion  1652  by a hinge pin  1664 . A platform spring  1666  may be journaled on the hinge pin  1664  to bias the tissue platform  1660  in a direction toward the anvil assembly  20  (represented by arrow “U” in  FIGS. 17 and 19 ). The hinge pin  1664  may be mounted within corresponding holes  1653  in the body segments  1652   a ,  1652   b . See  FIG. 22 . As can also be seen in FIGS.  23  and  26 - 30 , the distal end  1668  of the tissue plate  1660  has a downwardly protruding gear rack segment  1669  thereon that is adapted to drivingly interface with a gear assembly  1670 . 
         [0086]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , gear assembly  1670  may include a first rack gear  1672  that is keyed onto a first gear shaft  1680  that is rotatably supported in holes  1682  in the body segments  1652   a ,  1652 . A second step gear  1674  may also be keyed onto the first gear shaft  1680 . The gear assembly  1670  may further include a third transfer gear  1676  that is keyed onto a second gear shaft  1690  that is rotatably supported in holes  1692  in the body segments  1652   a ,  1652   b  and in meshing engagement with the second step gear  1674 . A fourth output gear  1678  is also keyed onto the second gear shaft  1690  and is in meshing engagement with a gear rack portion  1702  of an indicator member or base  1700  that is slidably supported in the carrier  216 . Thus, as can be appreciated from reference to  FIG. 27 , as the tissue platform  1660  is depressed downward (arrow “DW”), the gear rack segment  1669  protruding therefrom causes the first rack gear  1672  to rotate counterclockwise “CCW” in  FIG. 27  which also causes the second step gear  1674  to also rotate in the counterclockwise direction. The second step gear  1674  is in meshing engagement with the third transfer gear  1676  and is caused to rotate in the clockwise “CW” direction in  FIG. 27 . As the third transfer gear  1676  rotates clockwise, so does the output gear  1678 . As the output gear  1678  rotates clockwise (“CW”), it drives the indicator base  1700  in the distal direction “DD” by virtue of its meshing engagement with the indicator rack  1702 . In various embodiments, for example, a gear ratio of approximately 30 to 1 may be employed such that 60 mm of linear firing motion is accomplished in approximately 3 seconds. However, other gear ratios could conceivably be employed. 
         [0087]    As can be most particularly seen in  FIG. 23 , the indicator base  1700  may be bifurcated into two lateral indicator leg portions  1710  that each terminate in an upstanding indicator plate  1712 . Each indicator plate  1712  may have a series of thickness identifiers or indicators thereon. In particular, each indicator plate  1712 , may have a first thickness identifier  1720  that corresponds to a first tissue thickness range “T 1 ”. For example, the first tissue thickness range “T 1 ” may represent tissue having a thickness of about 75 mm to about 1.0 mm which would require a formed staple size of 0.75 mm. Each indicator plate  1712  may further have a second thickness identifier  1722  that corresponds to a second tissue thickness range “T 2 ”. For example, the second tissue thickness range “T 2 ” may be for tissue having a thickness of about 1.0 mm to about 1.5 mm which would require a formed staple size of, for example, 11.0 mm. Each indicator plate  1712  may further have a third tissue thickness identifier  1724  that corresponds to a third tissue thickness range “T 3 ” that corresponds to a third particular size of tissue. For example, the third thickness range “T 3 ” may be for tissue having a thickness of about 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm which would require a formed staple size of, for example, 1.5mm. Each indicator plate  1712  may further have a fourth tissue thickness identifier  1726  that corresponds to a fourth tissue thickness range “T 4 ” that corresponds to a fourth particular size of tissue. For example, the fourth tissue thickness range “T 4 ” may be for tissue having a thickness of about 2.0 mm which would require a formed staple size of, for example, 2.0 mm. The tissue identifiers  1720 ,  1722 ,  1724 ,  1726  may comprise, for example, numbers, letters, colors, etc. that are each understood to correspond to a particular tissue thickness range. In various embodiments, a proximal tissue stop  1721  may be provided on the cartridge  1652  to provide an abutment wall to position the tissue between the cartridge  1652  and the anvil assembly  20 . See  FIGS. 17 ,  22 , and  24 . Also in various embodiments, tissue grip members  1723  may be provided on the cartridge  1652  as shown in  FIG. 22  to assist with the gripping and positioning of tissue between the cartridge  1652  and the anvil assembly  20 . 
         [0088]    As can be seen in  FIG. 25 , a view window  1730  may be provided in each lateral side portion of the housing  1610  to coincide with the tissue identifiers  1720 ,  1722 ,  1724 ,  1726  as will be discussed in further detail below.  FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrate the positions of the indicator plates  1712  when no tissue has been clamped between the anvil assembly  20  and the tissue platform  1660 . As can be seen in those Figures, none of the thickness indicators  1720 ,  1722 ,  1724 ,  1726  can be observed through the viewing windows  1730 .  FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate the positions of the indicator plates  1712  when tissue having a tissue thickness range T 1  is clamped between the anvil assembly  20  and the tissue platform  1660 . As can be see in those Figures, the first tissue indicator  1720  is viewable through the corresponding window  1730 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 28  illustrates the positions of the indicator plates  1712  when tissue having a tissue thickness range T 2  is clamped between the anvil assembly  20  and the tissue platform  1660 . As can be see in that Figure, the second tissue indicator  1722  is viewable through the corresponding window  1730 .  FIG. 29  illustrates the positions of the indicator plates  1712  when tissue having a tissue thickness range T 3  is clamped between the anvil assembly  20  and the tissue platform  1660 . As can be see in that Figure, the third tissue indicator  1724  is viewable through the corresponding window  1730 .  FIG. 30  illustrates the positions of the indicator plates  1712  when tissue having a tissue thickness range T 4  is clamped between the anvil assembly  20  and the tissue platform  1660 . As can be see in that Figure, the fourth tissue indicator  1726  is viewable through the corresponding window  1730 . Thus, by operably attaching the surgical tool  1600  to the surgical instrument  10  and clamping a portion of target tissue to be stapled between the tissue platform  1660  and anvil assembly  20  (by activating the movable handle portion  24  toward the stationary handle portion  22 ), the clinician can ascertain the approximate thickness of the tissue to be stapled and then select a disposable stapling unit of for example, the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 with the appropriate sized staples. The clinician then simply detaches the surgical tool  1600  from the surgical instrument  10  and then operably attaches the selected disposable stapling unit to the surgical instrument  10  and operates it as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361. 
         [0090]      FIGS. 31-35  illustrate another surgical tool embodiment  1800  that comprises a clip applier for use with a surgical instrument  10  to apply at least one surgical clip  1801  to a human body. Various embodiments of the surgical tool  1800  may employ various components of the clip appliers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,574, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The use of surgical clips  1801  to ligate structures within the body such as vessels, ducts, and tissue is well known in the surgical art. Various embodiments of the surgical tool  1800  may have a distal pair of opposed moveable jaws  1820  for receiving clips  1801  serially therein when the jaws  1820  are open and forming the clip  1801  received serially therein when the jaws  1820  are closed. See  FIG. 33 . The jaws  1820  may be connected to a distal end of a generally rectangular shaft  1830  that protrudes from a housing assembly  1840 . The shaft  1830  may have a structural “U” shaped outer wrap  1832 , a transparent upper shroud  1834 , and a clip magazine containing a plurality of clips (not shown) located therein. 
         [0091]    The housing assembly  1840  may include a base portion  1842  that has a cover  1844  attached thereto. See  FIG. 34 . The base portion  1842  has a proximal end  1846  that is configured for operable attachment to the elongated body  14  and the control rod  52  of the surgical instrument  10 . The proximal end portion  1846  has a hollow connector portion  1848  that includes engagement nubs  254  for releasably engaging elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . 
         [0092]    The instrument  1800  may further include a firing rod connector  1850  that has a porthole  1852  therein for receiving the distal end  276  of the control rod  52 . See  FIG. 34 . The firing rod connector  1850  is coupled to a forming plate  1860  that may be otherwise similar in construction to the forming mechanism 85 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,574, except for the differences discussed herein. As can be seen in  FIGS. 31-33  and  35 , the forming plate  1860  may have a forming rack  1862  thereon for meshing engagement with a gear assembly  1870 . The gear assembly  1870  may be rotatably supported on a gear post  1872  that protrudes from the base portion  1842  and extends through an elongated slot  1864  in the forming plate  1860 . The gear assembly  1870  may have a forming gear portion  1874  that is in meshing engagement with the forming rack  1862 . The gear assembly  1870  may also comprise a feed gear  1876  that is attached to the forming gear  1874 . The feed gear  1876  is in meshing engagement with a feed rack  1882  formed on a feed plate  1880  which performs the same functions as the feed mechanism  100  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,574. In various embodiments, the gear assembly  1870  and gear racks  1862 ,  1882  may have a 2:1 gear ratio, such that as the forming plate  1860  is driven in a distal direction “DD”, the feed plate  1880  is simultaneously driven in the proximal direction “PD” only half as far as the forming plate  1860  was driven in the distal direction “DD”. 
         [0093]    The surgical tool  1800  also has a clip pusher  1890  ( FIG. 33 ) that remains generally stationary throughout most of the simultaneous motion. The clip pusher  1890  is releasably coupled to the moving feed plate  1880  as the control rod  52  moves the feed plate  1880  in a proximal direction for the placement of a clip  1801  into the opening jaws  1820 . The clip magazine within the shaft  1830  supplies additional clips  1801  to the feed plate  1880  and clip pusher  1890  for serial placement of the clips  1801  into the jaws  1802 . 
         [0094]    The surgical tool  1800  is activated by moving the control rod  52  in the distal direction “DD” which causes the closure of the jaws  1820  and the formation of each of the clips  1801  received serially therein. Moving the control rod  52  in the proximal direction “PD” opens the jaws  1820 , releases the fully formed clip  1801 , and feeds an unformed clip  1801  serially into the open jaws  1820 . The surgical tool  1800  is coupled to the elongated body portion  14  and the control rod  52  in the manner described above and is operated by moving the movable handle portion  24  toward and away from the stationary handle portion  22  as was also described above. The person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the surgical tool  1800  is especially adapted for use in open surgical applications thereby expanding the use of the conventional surgical instrument  10  which, in the past, has been limited to use in connection with endoscopic surgical procedures. 
         [0095]    The tool assemblies of the prior disposable loading units that have been designed for use with the conventional surgical instrument  10  are configured to deploy staples in straight lines. During many surgical techniques, such as the resection of stomach tissue, for example, such a linear deployment is often preferred. During these techniques, the disposable loading unit is typically inserted through a cannula to access the surgical site and, as a result, it is often desirable for the tool assembly thereof to have a linear configuration that can be aligned with an axis of the cannula before the tool assembly is inserted therethrough. However, in some circumstances, those tool assemblies that have such a linear configuration are somewhat difficult to use. More particularly, for example, when the tool assembly must be placed adjacent to or against a cavity wall, such as the thoracic cavity wall, for example, it is often difficult for the surgeon to position a jaw of the tool assembly behind delicate or fragile tissue which is proximal to and/or attached to the cavity wall. Furthermore, even if the surgeon is successful in positioning a jaw behind the tissue, owing to the linear configuration of the tool assembly, the surgeon may not be able to see the distal end of the tool assembly. In some circumstances, surgical instruments that have a reusable blade and drive system have been developed to employ curved end effectors. Examples of such devices are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,170, filed Jan. 11, 2007 and entitled Surgical Stapler End Effector With a Tapered Distal End, the disclosure of which has been herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0096]      FIG. 36  depicts another surgical tool embodiment  1900  of the present invention that may be used in connection with a surgical instrument  10 . As can be seen in that Figure, the surgical tool  1900  may include a curved carrier  1916  that has a housing member  1910  attached thereto. The housing  1910  may be attached to the upstanding walls  1917  of the carrier portion by snap features or other suitable means. The housing member  1610  has a proximal end  1912  that is configured for removable attachment to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . In particular, the proximal end  1912  may have engagement nubs  254  formed thereon which serve to form a bayonet-type coupling with the distal end of the elongated body portion  14  of the surgical instrument  10  as was described above. 
         [0097]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the carrier  1916  and the staple cartridge  1920  supported therein are curved. In various embodiments, for example, the curvature of those components can be configured to substantially match the contour of a typical thoracic cavity wall. In these embodiments, the curvature of several thoracic cavity walls can be measured and statistically analyzed to determine the optimum profile of the curved end-effector. This profile can include several arcuate portions and, in addition, several linear portions. In other embodiments, the curvature of the thoracic cavity wall can be approximated by a single radius of curvature. Such embodiments can be simpler and less expensive to manufacture. In at least one embodiment, this radius of curvature is 1.2″. In other various embodiments, the curvature of the carrier  1916  and staple cartridge  1920  can be configured to match the profile of the lower rectum, pelvis, or lower abdomen.  FIG. 37  illustrates, for example, an alternative surgical instrument  1900 ′ that employs a carrier  1916 ′ that has a curvature that differs from the curvature of carrier  1916 . Other curvatures disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,170 may also be employed. 
         [0098]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the staple cartridge  1920  includes a curved slot  1922  for controlling the movement of axial drive assembly  1966  along a curved path. This curved slot  1922  can include several arcuate portions and several linear portions. In various embodiments, the curved slot  1922  can be defined by one radius of curvature. The anvil assembly  1930  which may otherwise be similar to the anvil assemblies described above, may have a curved portion (omitted for clarity in  FIGS. 36 and 37 ) that substantially matches the curvature of the carrier  1916  and the staple cartridge  1920 . In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 36 and 37 , the staple cartridge  1920  has a curved slot  1922 . The carrier  1916  and the anvil assembly may each have an identical slot (not shown) therein that, in connection with the slot  1922  are configured to receive a corresponding portion of a drive beam  1966  therein. The distal end of the drive member  1966  may be configured in the above described manner with respect to drive beam  266  to facilitate its driving activation by movement of the control rod  52  as described above. The proximal end of the drive beam  1966  containing the blade (not shown) may be configured such that, as the drive beam  1966  is driven in the distal direction “DD” by movement of the movable handle  24  of the surgical instrument  10 , the drive beam  1966  tracks the curved path defined by the slot  1922 . 
         [0099]      FIGS. 38 and 39  depict a surgical tool embodiment  2000  of the present invention that may be coupled to the surgical instrument  10  and used to cauterize tissue in an open surgical setting. As can be seen in those Figures, the surgical tool  2000  may include a housing  2010  that has a proximal end  2011  that is configured for removable attachment to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 . In particular, the proximal end  2011  may have engagement nubs  254  formed thereon which serve to form a bayonet-type coupling with the distal end of the elongated body portion  14  of the surgical instrument  10  as was described above. 
         [0100]    The housing  2010  may further include a switch portion  2013  that movably houses a battery  2030  therein. The movable battery  2030  may be of the type and construction disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application entitled Disposable Motor Driven Loading Unit For Use With a Surgical Cutting and Stapling Apparatus to Mark H. Ransick et al., Docket No. END6213USNP/070330, that was filed on even date herewith and which is herein incorporated by reference. More specifically and with reference to  FIG. 39 , the switch portion  2013  of the housing  2010  defines a battery cavity  2032  that movably supports a battery holder  2034  that houses the battery  2030  therein. As can be seen in  FIG. 39 , a first battery contact  2036  is supported in electrical contact with the battery  2030  and protrudes out through the battery holder  2034  for sliding engagement with the inside wall  2033  of the battery cavity  2032 . Similarly, a second battery contact  2038  is mounted in electrical contact with the battery  2030  and also protrudes out of the battery holder  2034  to slide along the inside wall  2033  of the battery cavity  2032 . The battery holder  2034  has a control rod socket  2035  therein configured to receive the distal end  276  of control rod  52  when the proximal end  2011  of the surgical tool  2000  is coupled to the elongated body  14  of surgical stapling apparatus  10 . As can also be seen in  FIG. 39 , a pair of contacts  2026 ,  2028  may be oriented within the wall  2033  for contact with the battery contacts  2036 ,  2038 , respectively. The purpose of the contacts  2026 ,  2028  will be discussed in further detail below. As can also be seen in  FIG. 39 , a biasing member or switch spring  2040  is positioned within the battery cavity  2032  to bias the battery holder  2034  in the proximal direction “PD” such that when the surgical tool  2000  is not attached to the elongated body  14 , the battery holder  2034  is biased to its proximal-most position shown in  FIG. 39 . When retained in that “pre-use” or “disconnected” position by spring  2040 , the battery contacts  2036  and  2038  do not contact their respective contacts  2026 ,  2028  within the battery cavity  2032  to prevent the battery  2030  from being drained during non-use. 
         [0101]    As can be seen in  FIG. 38 , the surgical tool  2000  may further include a non-staple applying end effector in the form of a ball-shaped end member  2050  that may be pivotally pinned to a yoke  2052  that is coupled to the distal end of the housing  2010 . In various embodiments, the end effector  2050  may be fabricated from a conductive material such as stainless steel, titanium, etc. and have at least one electrically powered member  2060  therein. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 38 , the electrically powered member  2060  may comprise a heating element. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the end-effector  2050  may be provided in a myriad of other shapes and configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As can be further seen in  FIG. 38 , the heating element  2060  may be electrically coupled to contacts  2026 ,  2028  by leads  2022 ,  2024 , respectively. 
         [0102]    Thus, when the surgical tool  2000  is unattached to the elongated body  14  of the surgical instrument  10 , the battery  2030  will be biased into an unactuated position ( FIG. 39 ) and therefore not be drained. In addition, attachment of the surgical tool  2000  to the elongated body  14  (and attachment of the control rod  52  to the battery holder socket  2035  will not result in the operation or draining of the battery  2030 . To use the tool  2000 , the clinician simply moves the movable handle  24  toward the stationary portion  22  of the handle assembly ( FIG. 1 ) to drive the battery contacts  2036 ,  2038  into contact with contacts  2026 ,  2028 , respectively which then powers the heating element  2060  in the end effector  2050 . A light or other indicator  2070  may be supported by the housing  2010  and powered by the battery  2030  to provide the clinician with an indication that the heating element  2060  is being powered. 
         [0103]      FIG. 40  illustrates another surgical tool embodiment  2000 ′ that is substantially similar to the surgical tool  2000  described above. However, in this embodiment, the surgical tool  2000 ′ does not have a battery therein. The surgical tool  2000 ′ is constructed for use with a surgical instrument  10 ′ that has a battery  2030 ′ that is operated by a switch  2090  that is mounted in the handle assembly  12 ′. The switch  2090  communicates with a contact assembly  2092  that is located in the distal end of the elongated body  14 . The contact assembly  2092  is oriented to contact a contact  2094  mounted on the proximal end of the housing portion of tool  2000 ′ when the tool  2000 ′ is coupled to the elongated body  14 . To activate the heating element  2060  in the end effector  2050 , the clinician activates the button  2090  on the handle assembly  12 ′. A light  2070 ′ may also be mounted on the handle assembly  12 ′ to provide an indication of when the tool  2000 ′ is being powered. 
         [0104]      FIGS. 41 and 42  illustrate alternative housing embodiments  2200  and  2200 ′ that may be used in place of the various housing arrangements described above when flexible drive assemblies are employed. In particular, these housings  2200 ,  2200 ′ may at least be employed in connection with the various embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2-30  and  36 - 40  when drive assemblies that are capable of flexing or at least have portions that are capable of flexing are employed. The housing  2200  depicted in  FIG. 41  may be configured as shown with a proximal end portion  2202  that is configured to receive the distal end of the control rod  52  therein and that has nubs  254  thereon to facilitate attachment to the elongated body  14  as was described above. In this embodiment, however, housing  2200  has a passive articulation joint member  2300  formed therein that facilitates passive articulation about the longitudinal axis L-L of the housing  2200  as shown. The passive articulation joint member  2300  may comprise a flexible conduit section  2302  that has interlocking ribs  2304  that are constructed to retain the passively articulated joint  2300  in an articulated orientation. 
         [0105]      FIG. 42  illustrates another articulatable housing  2200 ′ that has another passive articulation joint member  2300 ′ that is coupled to a proximal housing portion  2400  by, for example, a proximal body collar  2310 . The flexible articulation member  2300 ′ has a body portion  2301  and include a plurality of kerfs  2302  separated by ribs  2304 . In various embodiments, the kerfs  2303  and ribs  2304  may be equally spaced along the flexible articulation member  2300 ′ thereby promoting a continuous bend radius when the flexible articulation member is articulated. A flexible articulation member  2300 ′ having multiple bend radii may be achieved by providing unequal spacing between the kerfs  2303  and the ribs  2304 . For example, such arrangement may be achieved by spacing the ribs  2304  more closely at one end and farther apart at the other end. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, increasing the spacing of the kerfs  2303  and/or the ribs  2304  reduces the bend radius of the section having increased spacing, more closely approximating a pivot point bend connection. Conversely spacing the kerfs  2303  and/or ribs  2304  more closely results in a more gradual bend, having a larger bend radius. 
         [0106]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 42 , the kerfs  2302  comprise annular grooves that extend at least partially around the perimeter of the flexible articulation member  2300 ′. The kerfs  2302  preferably, however, comprise semi-annular grooves which are separated by a central longitudinal spine  2306  passing down the longitudinal axis L-L of the flexible articulation member  2300 ′ such that a first plurality of ribs are formed on one lateral side of the spine  2306  and a second plurality of ribs  2304  are formed on another lateral side of the spine  2306 . This spine  2306  assists in providing stiffening to the flexible articulation member  2300 ′ and accommodates a slot (not shown) for receiving a drive assembly therethrough. The longitudinal spine  2306  may run the entire longitudinal length of the flexible articulation member  2300 ′. The flexible articulation member  2300 ′ may also include a pair of side slot (not shown) passing through each rib  2304  on each lateral side for receiving a corresponding articulation plate (not shown) as discussed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,001, entitled Articulatable Loading Units For Surgical Stapling and Cutting Instrument to Frederick E. Shelton, IV et al., filed on even date herewith, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. As discussed therein, such articulation plates may be fabricated from a material that is relatively inelastic. That is, the plates may be fabricated from a material that retains its position after bending. Articulation plates may, for example, be fabricated from materials such as lead, copper, etc. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that at least a flexible or otherwise articulatable portion of a drive assembly supported within either of the housings  2300 ,  2300 ′ is positioned to correspond with the flexible articulation member  2300 ,  2300 ′ to facilitate articulation of the surgical tool without adversely affecting the operation of the drive assembly extending therethrough. 
         [0107]    Thus, as will be appreciated by the foregoing, the various surgical tool embodiments of the present invention are especially suited for use with surgical instruments that were specifically designed for use in connection with disposable cutting and stapling units that have their dedicated cutting blade and are constructed to be disposed of after a single use. While such instruments may be commonly used in connection with multiple disposable cutting and stapling units, a clinician would have to have on hand several other dedicated instruments to perform other procedures during an operation. The interchangeable tool system of the present invention solves that problem. Thus, various embodiments of the present invention may comprise a surgical tool system that may include the surgical instrument  10  and at least two of the various surgical tools disclosed herein. For example, the surgical tools may comprise a manipulator  1000 , nippers  1200 , scissors  1300 , a disposable endocutter  16 , a tissue thickness measurement device  1600 , staple appliers  1400 , clip appliers  1800 , cauterization devices  2000  and specimen retrieval devices  1100 . 
         [0108]    While several embodiments of the invention have been described, it should be apparent, however, that various modifications, alterations and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the invention. For example, according to various embodiments, a single component may be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replaced by a single component, to perform a given function or functions. This application is therefore intended to cover all such modifications, alterations and adaptations without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0109]    Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material. 
         [0110]    The invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. The embodiments are therefore to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such equivalents, variations and changes which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims be embraced thereby.

Technology Category: 1