Surgical staples comprising features for improved fastening of tissue

• US 10,098,642 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, III, Chester O., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Ballard, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/836,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20170055996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 2271761, 227 19, 2271751, 2271801
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 : Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 : located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 : being elastically deformed for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 : Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 : Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 : containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 : achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1142 : Purse-string sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 : during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 : Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 : Materials at least partially resorbable by the body

Abstract

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil to staple tissue, wherein the anvil comprises a plurality of forming pockets, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises;

a base; and

a staple leg extending from said base, wherein said staple leg comprises a staple tip comprising a piercing portion, wherein said piercing portion is configured to puncture tissue and deform against a forming pocket of the anvil, wherein said piercing portion is configured to deform into a nested configuration such that said piercing tip portion is isolated from the tissue, and wherein said piercing portion is diverted from tissue in said nested configuration.

2. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said nested configuration comprises a hook configuration configured to prevent said staple from pulling through the tissue.

3. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said staple tip further comprises a cutout portion configured to receive said piercing portion when said piercing portion is deformed.

4. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 3, wherein said cutout portion is concave.

5. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 3, wherein each said staple comprises another staple leg extending from said base, wherein said another staple leg comprises another staple tip comprising another cutout portion, and wherein said cutout portion and said another cutout portion face each other.

7. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each said staple comprises another staple leg, wherein said staple leg and said another staple leg define a first plane, wherein said base defines a second plane, and wherein said first plane and said second plane are laterally offset from each other.

6. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil to staple tissue, wherein the anvil comprises a plurality of forming pockets, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises;

a base; and

a staple leg extending from said base, wherein said staple leg comprises a staple tip comprising a piercing portion, wherein said piercing portion is configured to puncture tissue and deform against a forming pocket of the anvil, wherein said piercing portion is configured to deform into a nested configuration such that said piercing portion is isolated from the tissue, and wherein said staple tip further comprises a curling surface configured to ride against a corresponding forming pocket of the anvil.

8. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein said nested configuration comprises a hook configuration configured to prevent said staple from pulling through the tissue.

9. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein said staple tip further comprises a cutout portion configured to receive said piercing portion when said piercing portion is deformed.

10. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein said cutout portion is concave.

11. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein each said staple comprises another staple leg extending from said base, wherein said another staple leg comprises another staple tip comprising another cutout portion, and wherein said cutout portion and said another cutout portion face each other.

12. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein each said staple comprises another staple leg, wherein said staple leg and said another staple leg define a first plane, wherein said base defines a second plane, and wherein said first plane and said second plane are laterally offset from each other.

13. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein each said staple is stamped from flat metal.

14. A surgical staple for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises a forming pocket, said surgical staple comprising:

a staple base portion; and

a staple leg extending from said staple base portion, wherein said staple leg comprises a staple tip, and wherein said staple tip comprises;

a piercing tip configured to contact the forming pocket to deform said staple leg; and

a cutout portion, wherein said piercing tip is configured to curl in toward said cutout portion upon contact with the forming pocket such that said staple tip assumes a non-piercing configuration.

15. The surgical staple of claim 14, wherein said non-piercing configuration comprises a hook configuration configured to prevent said surgical staple from pulling through the tissue.

16. The surgical staple of claim 14, wherein said cutout portion is configured to receive said piercing tip when said staple tip is deformed.

17. The surgical staple of claim 16, wherein said cutout portion is concave.

18. The surgical staple of claim 14, wherein said staple tip further comprises a deformable surface configured to form against the forming pocket of the anvil.

19. The surgical staple of claim 14, wherein said surgical staple is stamped from flat metal.

20. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical instrument including a jaw, wherein the jaw comprises a forming surface defined thereon, and wherein said fastener cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body;

a fastener cavity defined in said cartridge body; and

a fastener removably stored within said fastener cavity, wherein said fastener comprises;

a base; and

a fastener leg extending from said base, wherein said fastener leg comprises a fastener tip, comprising;

a piercing portion configured to puncture tissue and deform against the forming surface, wherein said piercing portion is configured to deform such that an end of said piercing portion is isolated from the tissue; and

a curling surface configured to ride against the forming surface.

21. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical instrument including a jaw, wherein the jaw comprises a forming surface defined thereon, and wherein said fastener cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body;

a fastener cavity defined in said cartridge body; and

a fastener removably stored within said fastener cavity, wherein said fastener comprises;

a base; and

a fastener leg extending from said base, wherein said fastener leg comprises a fastener tip comprising;

a piercing end configured to contact the forming surface to deform said fastener leg; and

a cutout portion, wherein said piercing end is configured to curl in toward said cutout portion upon contact with the forming surface such that said fastening tip assumes a non-piercing configuration.