Staple cartridge assembly including features for controlling the rotation of staples when being ejected therefrom

• US 10,166,026 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Baxter, III, Chester O., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Harris, Jason L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US14/836,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20170056001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271752, 2271761, 2271781, 2271801, 606139, 606151, 606153, 606219
• 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, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• 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 by marking A61B2090/395
• 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 staple cartridge is disclosed which comprises a cartridge body, staples cavities defined in the cartridge body, and staples removably stored in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge comprises features for properly aligning and preventing the misalignment of the staples within the staple cavities.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge assembly for stapling tissue, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises;

a top opening;

a proximal wall; and

a distal wall;

a firing member; and

a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises;

a base;

a proximal leg extending from said base;

a distal leg extending from said base; and

a center of mass defined in said base, wherein said distal wall provides a distal reaction force to said staple above said center of mass and said proximal wall provides a proximal reaction force to said staple below said center of mass wherein said staple is lifted toward said top opening by said firing member,

wherein said firing member is configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, and wherein said firing member is configured to contact a foot of any staple that is misoriented within its staple cavity prior to ejecting the misoriented staple from its staple cavity.

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said base defines a drive plane, and wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are not in said drive plane.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are offset laterally from said center of mass of said staple.

4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said distal wall applies said distal reaction force to said distal leg and said proximal wall applies said proximal reaction force to said proximal leg.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said proximal leg extends to a first side of said drive plane and said distal leg extends to a second side of said drive plane.

6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a notch defined therein configured to shift said center of mass of said staple toward a side of said staple cavity.

7. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said foot comprises a chamfered edge.

8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a concave tissue-facing surface.

9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg comprise chamfered corners.

10. A staple cartridge assembly for stapling tissue, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein said staple comprises;

a base defining a drive plane; and

a leg extending from said base, wherein said leg extends to a side of said drive plane;

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities; and

means for reducing the rotation of said staples within said staple cavities when said firing member is driving said staples out of said staple cavities.

11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein said base comprises a concave tissue-facing surface.

12. A fastener cartridge assembly for fastening tissue, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a deck;

a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity comprises;

a top opening defined in said deck;

a proximal wall extending from said top opening; and

a distal wall extending from said top opening;

a firing member; and

a plurality of fasteners positioned in said fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener comprises;

a foot;

a crown;

a proximal leg extending from said crown;

a distal leg extending from said crown; and

a center of mass defined in said crown, wherein said distal wall provides a distal reaction force to said fastener above said center of mass and said proximal wall provides a proximal reaction force to said fastener below said center of mass wherein said fastener is ejected toward said top opening by said firing member,

wherein said firing member configured to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, and wherein said firing member is configured to contact said foot of any fastener that is misoriented within its fastener cavity prior to ejecting the misoriented fastener from its fastener cavity.

13. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said crown defines a drive plane, and wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are not in said drive plane.

14. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are offset laterally from said center of mass of said fastener.

15. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said distal wall applies said distal reaction force to said distal leg and said proximal wall applies said proximal reaction force to said proximal leg.

16. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said proximal leg extends to a first side of said drive plane and said distal leg extends to a second side of said drive plane.

17. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said crown comprises a notch defined therein configured to shift said center of mass of said fastener toward a side of said fastener cavity.

18. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said foot comprises a chamfered edge.

19. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said crown comprises a concave tissue-facing surface.

20. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg comprise chamfered corners.

21. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said crown comprises a tissue valley surface defined between said proximal leg and said distal leg.