TOOL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AXIALLY SPACED SPLINES
20200146681 ยท 2020-05-14
Inventors
Cpc classification
A61B17/0684
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B17/1155
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
A tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly, a shell, and an anvil assembly. The shell houses the cartridge assembly and defines a passage. The anvil assembly includes an anvil and a center rod extending from the anvil. The center rod defines a longitudinal rod axis and includes an alignment portion that is sized to pass through the passage. The alignment portion includes first and second splines that each extend in a direction parallel to the rod axis. The first spline has a first leading portion and the second spline has a second leading portion. The first leading portion is positioned along the rod axis proximal of the second leading portion.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A tool assembly comprising: a cartridge assembly; a shell supporting the cartridge assembly and defining a passage; and an anvil assembly including an anvil and a center rod extending from the anvil, the center rod defining a longitudinal rod axis and including an alignment portion sized to pass through the passage, the alignment portion including a first spline extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center rod and including a first leading portion, the first leading portion having a bullet nose shape.
3. The tool assembly of claim 2, wherein the alignment portion includes at least one second spline including a second leading portion, the at least one second spline extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center rod and including a second leading portion.
4. The tool assembly of claim 3, wherein the first leading portion of the first spline is positioned proximally of the second leading portion of the at least one second spline.
5. The tool assembly of claim 4, wherein the second leading portion of the at least one second spline has a bullet nose shape.
6. The tool assembly of claim 4, wherein the shell includes alignment splines extending along an inner wall of the shell defining the passage, and the first leading portion is configured to engage the alignment splines to clock the anvil assembly relative to the cartridge assembly as the center rod passes through the passage of the shell.
7. The tool assembly of claim 6, wherein the alignment splines each define a channel with adjacent alignment splines, each of the channels being sized to receive the first and second splines to rotatably fix the anvil assembly relative to the shell.
8. The tool assembly of claim 4, wherein the first spline includes a first trailing end and the at least one second spline includes a second trailing end, the first and second trailing ends being axially aligned along the rod axis.
9. The tool assembly of claim 4, wherein the first spline includes a first spline body extending from the first leading portion along the rod axis having a first length and the at least one second spline includes a second spline body extending from the second leading portion along the rod axis having a second length less than the first length.
10. The tool assembly of claim 2, wherein the alignment portion has a plurality of faces defining a polygonal cross-section transverse to the rod axis.
11. The tool assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of faces includes nine faces.
12. The tool assembly of claim 10, wherein the first spline is disposed on a first face of the plurality of faces, the first face having a first width less than a width of adjacent faces, the at least one second spline disposed on a second face of the plurality of faces, the second face having a second width less than a width of adjacent faces.
13. The tool assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one second spline includes a plurality of second splines, the leading portion of each of the second splines positioned along the rod axis at a position distal to the leading portion of the first spline.
14. The tool assembly of claim 13, wherein the leading portion of each of plurality of the second splines is axially aligned with one another along the rod axis.
15. A tool assembly comprising: a cartridge assembly; a shell supporting the cartridge assembly and defining a passage, the shell including alignment splines disposed along an inner wall of the shell defining the passage; and an anvil assembly including an anvil and a center rod extending from the anvil, the center rod defining a longitudinal rod axis and including an alignment portion sized to pass through the passage, the alignment portion including a first spline and a second spline, each of the first and second splines extending in a direction parallel to the rod axis, the first spline having a first leading portion and the second spline having a second leading portion, the first leading portion positioned to engage the alignment splines to clock the anvil assembly relative to the cartridge assembly as the center rod passes through the passage of the shell, the second leading portion being configured to be received adjacent one of the alignment splines after the first leading portion clocks the anvil assembly relative to the cartridge assembly, the first leading portion of the first spline having a bullet nose shape
16. The tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the first leading portion of the first spline is positioned proximally of the second leading portion of the second spline.
17. The tool assembly of claim 16, wherein the second leading portion of the second spline has a bullet nose shape.
18. The tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the first spline includes a first trailing end and the at least one second spline includes a second trailing end, the first and second trailing ends being axially aligned along the rod axis.
19. The tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the first spline includes a first spline body extending from the first leading portion along the rod axis having a first length and the second spline includes a second spline body extending from the second leading portion along the rod axis having a second length less than the first length.
20. The tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the alignment portion has a plurality of faces defining a polygonal cross-section transverse to the rod axis.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Various aspects of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] This disclosure relates generally to a tool assembly having alignment features to promote proper formation of fasteners. The tool assembly includes a shell, a cartridge assembly, and anvil assembly. The cartridge assembly is releasably housed within the shell and the anvil assembly is separable from the shell. The anvil assembly includes a center rod having a dominant spline and one or more secondary splines. The shell defines a passage for receiving the center rod of the anvil assembly and includes alignment splines that are disposed within the passage. The dominant spline is positioned to engage the alignment splines of the shell to clock the anvil assembly relative to the shell such that the anvil assembly is aligned with the cartridge assembly to properly form fasteners upon actuation of the tool assembly. The secondary splines engage the alignment splines subsequent to the dominant spline engaging the alignment splines to rotatably fix the anvil assembly in relation to the shell. Receipt of the secondary splines between adjacent alignment splines may also finely clock the anvil assembly relative to the shell.
[0044] Embodiments of the present disclosure are now described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As used herein, the term clinician refers to a doctor, a nurse, or any other care provider and may include support personnel. Throughout this description, the term proximal refers to the portion of the device or component thereof that is closest to the clinician and the term distal refers to the portion of the device or component thereof that is farthest from the clinician. In addition, as used in this description, the term clock refers to rotationally aligning or orientating two components with one another.
[0045] Referring initially to
[0046] The circular stapling device 10 includes a handle assembly 20, an elongate body 30, and a tool assembly 40. The tool assembly 40 can be provided as a removable and replaceable assembly that is secured to a distal portion of the elongate body 30. The handle assembly 20 includes a rotatable advancing member 22 and a pivotable trigger member 24 that are operatively coupled to drivers supported within the elongate body 30 to effectuate approximation of the tool assembly 40 and firing of the surgical stapling device 10. The elongate body 30 extends distally from a distal portion of the handle assembly 20 to a proximal portion of the tool assembly 40 so that the elongate body 30 is disposed between the handle assembly 20 and the tool assembly 40. In some embodiments, the elongate body 30 has a linear shape along the length of the elongate body 30, and in certain embodiments, the elongate body 30 has a curved shape along the length of the elongate body 30.
[0047] With reference to
[0048] For a detailed discussion of the construction and operation of exemplary circular stapling devices reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,915,616; 8,789,737; and 8,806,973; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0049] The shell 100 houses the cartridge assembly 200 and receives a portion of the anvil assembly 300. The cartridge assembly 200 includes a tissue contacting surface 210 that defines a plurality of fastener retention slots 214. Each slot 214 defines an opening 214a. The openings 214a are arranged in coaxial annular rings positioned about the tissue contacting surface 210. As shown, the tissue contacting surface 210 defines three annular rings of openings 214a; however, it is contemplated that the tissue contacting surface 200 may include 1 or more annular rings of openings 214a, e.g., 2, 4, 5, etc. The cartridge assembly 200 further includes a fastener or a first part of a fastener (not shown) disposed within each of the retention slots 214.
[0050] The anvil assembly 300 includes an anvil 310 and a center rod 330. The anvil 310 includes a tissue contacting surface 312 that defines a plurality of pockets (not shown) that align with the openings 214a of the cartridge assembly 200 to form fasteners upon actuation of the trigger 24 (
[0051] The center rod 330 defines a longitudinal axis A-A (
[0052] Referring to
[0053] The dominant spline 360 has a leading portion 362 including a pair of leading facets 364 forming a wedge and a body 366 extending distally from the leading facets 364 to a trailing end 368 of the body 366 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. The dominant spline 360 has a length L.sub.1 defined along the longitudinal axis A-A from the leading facets 364 to the trailing end 368.
[0054] Each of the secondary splines 370 has a leading portion 372 including a pair of leading facets 374 forming a wedge and a body 376 extending distally from the leading facets 374 to a trailing end 378 of the body 376 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. The secondary splines 370 each have a length L.sub.2 defined along the longitudinal axis A-A from the leading facets 374 to the trailing end 378 that is less than the length L.sub.1. The leading facets 374 of the secondary splines 370 are positioned distal to the leading facets 364 of the dominant spline 360. The trailing ends 378 of the secondary splines 370 can be positioned along the longitudinal axis A-A at a position proximal, distal, or equal to the trailing end 368 of the dominant spline 360.
[0055] With reference to
[0056] The channels 124 are sized and dimensioned to receive the body 366 of the dominant spline 360 and the bodies 376 of the secondary splines 370 to initially clock, i.e., align, the pockets of the anvil assembly 310 with the fastener retention slots 214 of the cartridge assembly 200 and, thereafter to fix the orientation the anvil assembly 300 relative to the shell 100 and the cartridge assembly 200. When the dominant and secondary splines 360, 370 are received within channels 124 of the shell 100, the fastener retention slots 214 (
[0057] Referring to
[0058] With particular reference to
[0059] Referring to
[0060]
[0061] The dominant spline 1360 includes a leading portion 1362 and a trailing end 1368 with a body 1366 defined therebetween. The leading portion 1362 of the dominant spline 1360 has a bullet nose shape. The bullet nose shape of the leading portion 1362 is positioned on the alignment portion 350 to engage the alignment surfaces 122 of the alignment splines 120 of the shell 100 (
[0062] Each of the secondary splines 1370 includes a leading portion 1372 and a trailing end 1378 with a body 1376 defined therebetween. The leading portions 1372 of the secondary splines 1370 have a bullet nose shape. The bullet nose shape of the leading portions 1372 may engage the alignment surfaces 122 of the alignment splines 120 of the shell 100 (
[0063] The bullet nose shape of the leading portions 1362, 1372 is configured to reduce or minimize damage to the alignment splines 120 of the shell 100 caused by engagement of the dominant and secondary splines 1360, 1370 with the alignment splines 120 of the shell 100. In addition, the bullet nose shape of the leading portions 1362, 1372 may increase the detectability to a clinician of the crashing of splines by reducing an engagement force during clocking of the anvil assembly 300 and the shell 100 such that crashing of splines represents a distinct crashing force compared to an engagement force experienced during clocking. Further, the reduced engagement force during clocking may reduce particulate matter during a stapling procedure.
[0064] In some embodiments, the center rod 330 and the alignment splines 120 may be constructed of different materials. The bullet nose shape of the leading portions 1362, 1372 is configured to reduce or minimize damage in these embodiments. For example, a difference between the materials of the center rod 330 and the alignment splines 120 may allow edges of a leading portion of a dominant or secondary spline 360, 370 (e.g., an edge formed between leading facets 364 of dominant spline 360 (
[0065] Referring to
[0066] The shell 1100 defines a lumen 1102 that receives an insert 1050 and a longitudinal axis. The insert 1050 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has an inner surface 1060, an outer surface 1070, a proximal portion 1080, and a distal portion 1090. The inner surface 1060 defines a passage 1110 that extends along the longitudinal axis of the shell 1100. The insert 1050 includes alignment splines 1120 that protrude from the inner surface 1060 and in some embodiments extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis along the entire length of the inner surface 1060 between the a proximal end 1082 and a distal end 1092 of the insert 1050 and may extend distally from the distal end 1092 of the insert 1050. The alignment splines 1120 are spaced about the inner surface 1060 to define channels 1124 between adjacent alignment splines 1120.
[0067] The outer surface 1070 of the insert 1050 includes retaining feature 1072 that secures the insert 1050 within the lumen 1102. As shown the retaining feature 1072 is in the form of a helical rib 1074 that is disposed about the outer surface 1070 of the insert 1050 such that the insert 1050 can be rotated into the lumen 1102 with the rib 1074 engaging a surface defining the lumen 1102 to secure the insert 1050 within the lumen 1102. The outer surface 1070 of the insert 1050 may include a stop 1076 in the proximal portion 1080 that abuts a portion of the shell 1100 when the insert 1050 is fully disposed within the lumen 1102. In some embodiments, the stop 1076 includes flats 1078 that can be engaged by a tool (not shown) to rotate the insert 1050 into the lumen 1102. In certain embodiments, the surface defining the lumen 1102 also defines a helical groove 1104 that receives the rib 1074 as the insert 1050 is rotated into the lumen 1102.
[0068] Additionally or alternatively, the rib 1074 may be formed of a first material and the shell 1100 may be formed of a second material different from the first material such that the rib 1074 bites into the surface defining the lumen 1102 as the insert 1050 is rotated into the lumen 1102. The first material may have a hardness greater than the second material and/or the first material may have a modulus of elasticity lower than the second material. For example, the first material may be a metal and the second material may be plastic.
[0069] It is contemplated that the alignment splines 1120 of the insert 1050 may also be formed from the first material. Forming the alignment splines 1120 of the first material may reduce or eliminate damage to the alignment splines 1120 experienced during clocking of the anvil assembly 300. Further, an insert 1050 formed of the first material may allow for higher clamping forces of tissue disposed between the anvil assembly 300 and the cartridge assembly 200 without experiencing deformation and/or damage to the shell 1100 when compared to the shell 100 detailed above.
[0070] It is contemplated that the entire shell 1100 may be formed of the second material, e.g., a plastic such as an injection molded plastic, and the rib 1074, the alignment splines 1120, and/or the entire insert 1050 may be formed of the first material, e.g., a thermoset plastic or a metal such as surgical steel, stainless steel, or titanium.
[0071] As described herein, the circular stapling device is a manually actuated stapling device; however it is contemplated that the shells 100, 1100 and/or the anvil assembly 300 can be used with a powered stapling device, such as an instrument with a motor, or being attachable to some power source. For a detailed description of an exemplary powered stapling device reference can be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,806,973 and 9,055,943, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0072] While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Any combination of the above embodiments is also envisioned and is within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope of the claims appended hereto.