End effector for surgical stapling device
Inventors
JIN, TINGTING • Ahamed, Syed Sarfraz • Zhang, Xiliang
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12465358-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical stapling device includes an end effector having an end effector frame with a cantilevered portion and an anvil assembly supported on the cantilevered portion of the end effector frame. The anvil assembly and the cantilevered portion of the end effector frame are adapted to be secured together in a manner to minimize weakening of the cantilevered portion of the end effector frame to minimize deflection of the anvil assembly during firing of the stapling device.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an end effector for a surgical device that includes an end effector frame with a distal transverse portion, a proximal transverse portion, and a longitudinal portion. The longitudinal portion interconnects the distal and proximal transverse portions at spaced positions to define a gap between the distal and proximal transverse portions, and the distal transverse portion includes a proximally facing surface.
The end effector further includes an anvil assembly with a cut plate including a base wall and a side wall positioned about the base wall, where the side wall and the base wall define a proximal recess and a distal recess. The base wall defines through bores, the proximally facing surface of the distal transverse portion is received within the distal recess, and an anvil is received within the proximal recess of the cut plate.
The anvil includes a staple forming surface and brackets extending distally from the staple forming surface, and the anvil assembly is secured to the distal transverse portion of the end effector frame in snap-fit fashion such that the cut plate is sandwiched between the anvil and the proximally facing surface of the distal transverse portion. The brackets secure the cut plate and anvil without the anvil assembly being secured via riveting through holes, and the brackets include structural forms such as resilient fingers or protrusions received in openings of the distal transverse portion to achieve the snap-fit connection.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage includes an end effector architecture and an overall surgical stapling device architecture. At least three core inventive features are expressed: snap-fit bracket retention via through bores and resilient fingers or protrusions, the cut plate being sandwiched between the anvil and the proximally facing surface, and anvil/cut-plate spatial relationships including knife slot and rib and a frame recess aligned relative to the anvil proximally facing surface.
Snap-fit anvil assembly securing with cut-plate sandwich
An anvil assembly secured to the distal transverse portion of the end effector frame in snap-fit fashion, such that the cut plate is sandwiched between the anvil and the proximally facing surface of the distal transverse portion.
Knife-slot anvil and cut-plate rib
An anvil including a staple forming surface and brackets with the anvil and cut plate configured so that a knife slot of the anvil receives a rib of the cut plate extending into the knife slot.
Resilient finger snap-fit retention in distal transverse openings
Brackets positioned about and extending distally from the staple forming surface, where each bracket includes a resilient finger received within openings of the distal transverse portion in snap-fit fashion.
Protrusion and bracket-opening snap-fit alternative
Brackets with bracket openings and a distal transverse side wall with protrusions, where the protrusions engage in snap-fit fashion.
Tab-and-slot interlock between cut-plate side wall and distal frame side wall
Slots in the side wall of the distal transverse frame portion receive tabs on a side wall of the cut plate.
Aligned distal transverse recess for receiving cut-plate side wall
A distal transverse recess located relative to the anvil’s proximally facing surface so that the side wall of the cut plate is received at least partially within the recess.
The independent claims focus on securing the anvil assembly to the distal transverse portion via snap-fit brackets, including resilient fingers or alternative protrusion engagement, while arranging the cut plate to be sandwiched between the anvil and the frame’s proximally facing surface. Dependent refinements further define the knife slot and cut-plate rib relationship and constrain geometry using frame recesses aligned relative to the anvil and through-bores or tab-slot interlocks.
Stated Advantages
Improved alignment of the anvil via enabling the anvil to float.
Reduction of staple malformation via improved alignment.
Documented Applications
Surgical stapling device using the described end effector architecture with an anvil assembly secured to a distal transverse portion.
Interested in licensing this patent?