Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes

• US 10,342,531 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Holsten, Henry E., Viola, Frank J., Emmons, Clifford L., Beardsley, John W., Heinrich, Russell, Cullinan, Nicola
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US15/610,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20170265861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271761, 2271752, 2271781, 2271801, 606139, 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 17/068 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• 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 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable relative to the other from an open position to a clamped position, the second jaw member including;

a tissue contacting surface including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defining a first gap between the first portion and the first jaw member, and the second portion defining a second gap between the second portion and the first jaw member, the second gap being larger than the first gap, the second portion being positioned transversely outward of the first portion;

a first plurality of staples having a first unformed leg length and configured to engage with the first jaw member to form a first plurality of completed surgical fasteners; and

a second plurality of staples having a second unformed leg length longer than the first unformed leg length and configured to engage with the first jaw member to form a second plurality of completed surgical fasteners.

2. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the second jaw member defines a knife channel extending along a length of the second jaw member.

3. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the tissue contacting surface of the second jaw member is positioned adjacent the knife channel.

4. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 3, wherein the second jaw member includes an inner wall positioned adjacent to the knife channel and an outer wall positioned transversely outward of the inner wall, wherein the outer wall has an outer wall height and the inner wall has an inner wall height greater than the outer wall height.

5. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 4, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the first jaw member and the tissue contacting surface of the second jaw member when the first and the second jaw members are in the clamped position, wherein the amount of pressure applied to tissue at the inner wall of the second jaw member is greater than the amount of pressure applied at the outer wall of the second jaw member.

6. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the first jaw member supports an anvil.

7. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting surface of the second jaw member includes a third portion defining a third gap between the third portion and the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the clamped position, wherein the third gap is larger than the second gap and the third portion is positioned transversely outward of the second portion.

8. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the second jaw member further includes a first plurality of staple pushers having a first pusher height and a second plurality of staple pushers having a second pusher height shorter than the first pusher height, wherein the second plurality of staple pushers is disposed transversely outward of the first plurality of staple pushers, the first plurality of staples configured to be ejected by the first plurality of staple pushers, the second plurality of staples configured to be ejected by the second plurality of staple pushers.

9. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 8, wherein the second jaw member further includes:

a third plurality of staple pushers having a third pusher height shorter than the second pusher height, wherein the third plurality of staple pushers is disposed transversely outward of the second plurality of staple pushers; and

a third plurality of staples having a third unformed leg length longer than the second unformed leg length and configured to be ejected by the third plurality of staple pushers and engage with the first jaw member to form a third plurality of completed surgical fasteners.