Surgical staple configurations with camming surfaces located between portions supporting surgical staples

• US 10,357,252 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Harris, Jason L., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Baxter, III, Chester O., Crainich, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US14/843,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20170056014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical staple driver configured for use with a surgical staple cartridge that operably interfaces with a surgical instrument camming member that is axially movable along a first cam axis. A driver body is slidably supportable within the surgical staple cartridge. A camming surface is provided on the driver body that is oriented for camming engagement with the camming member along the first cam axis. The driver further includes a staple supporting portion that is configured to operably support at least one surgical staple thereon relative to the camming surface such that when the camming member engages the camming surface, the camming member passes transversely under a portion of a staple crown of at least one surgical staple supported on the staple supporting portion.

Claims

1. A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:

a camming member axially movable along a first cam axis;

a first surgical staple driver that operably interfaces with said camming member, said first surgical staple driver comprising;

a first driver body slidably supportable within the surgical staple cartridge;

a first camming surface on said first driver body oriented for camming engagement with the camming member along the first cam axis, wherein said first driver body is slidably supported in the surgical staple cartridge; and

a first staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion is transverse to said first cam axis, and wherein said first staple support portion is configured to operably support at least one surgical staple thereon relative to said first camming surface such that when the camming member engages said first camming surface, the camming member passes transversely under a portion of a staple crown of at least one of said at least one surgical staples supported on said first staple support portion; and

a second surgical staple driver that operably interfaces with said camming member, said second surgical staple driver comprising;

a second driver body slidably supportable within the surgical staple cartridge;

a second camming surface on said second driver body oriented for camming engagement with the camming member along the first cam axis, wherein said second driver body is slidably supported in the surgical staple cartridge, and wherein said second camming surface is in axial alignment with said first camming surface; and

a second staple support portion, wherein said second staple support portion is transverse to said first cam axis and to said first staple support portion, and wherein said second staple support portion is configured to operably support at least one surgical staple thereon relative to said second camming surface such that when the camming member engages said second camming surface, the camming member passes transversely under a portion of a staple crown of at least one of said at least one surgical staples supported on said second staple support portion.

2. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one surgical staples supported on each said staple supporting portion comprises:

a proximal leg protruding from the staple crown; and

a distal leg protruding from the staple crown, wherein each said proximal leg and each said distal leg are not in axial alignment with the first cam axis.

3. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a second axially movable camming member, wherein said first surgical staple driver further comprises another camming surface oriented for camming engagement with the second axially movable camming member.

4. A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:

a first surgical staple driver, comprising;

a first driver body configured to be slidably supported in the surgical staple cartridge;

a first staple support portion configured to operably support a first surgical staple thereon, the first surgical staple comprising a first staple crown and a first proximal leg protruding from a first end of the first staple crown and a first distal leg protruding from a second end of the first staple crown, said first staple support portion comprising;

a first proximal support column configured to support the first proximal leg thereon; and

a first distal support column configured to support the first distal leg thereon, wherein said first driver body comprises at least one camming surface extending along a first cam axis that extends transversely between said first proximal and distal support columns, and wherein said first staple support portion is oriented transverse to said first cam axis; and

a second surgical staple driver, comprising;

a second driver body configured to be slidably supported in the surgical staple cartridge;

a second staple support portion configured to operably support a second surgical staple thereon, the second surgical staple comprising a second staple crown and a second proximal leg protruding from a first end of the second staple crown and a second distal leg protruding from a second end of the second staple crown, said second staple support portion comprising;

a second proximal support column configured to support the second proximal leg thereon; and

a second distal support column configured to support the second distal leg thereon, wherein said second driver body further comprises at least one camming surface axially aligned with said at least one camming surface of said first driver body, and wherein said at least one camming surface of said second driver body extends along a second cam axis that extends transversely between said second proximal and distal support columns, wherein said second staple support portion is oriented transverse to said first staple support portion and said first cam axis.

5. A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising;

a first cartridge wall portion; and

a second cartridge wall portion and wherein said surgical staple cartridge further comprises a first staple driver slidably supported between said first cartridge wall portion and said second cartridge wall portion, said first staple driver comprising;

a first driver body configured to operably support at a first surgical staple thereon, the first surgical staple comprising a first staple crown and a first proximal leg protruding from one end of the first staple crown and a first distal leg protruding from another end of the first staple crown, said first driver body comprising;

a first proximal support column configured to support the first proximal leg thereon; and

a first distal support column configured to support the first distal leg thereon, wherein at least one of said first proximal and distal support columns is slidably supported in one of said first and second cartridge wall portions, and wherein said first driver body comprises at least one camming surface extending along a cam axis that extends transversely between said first proximal and distal support columns, wherein said surgical staple cartridge further comprises;

a second staple driver slidably supported within said staple cartridge, said second staple driver comprising;

a second driver body configured to operably support a second surgical staple thereon, the second surgical staple comprising a second staple crown and a second proximal leg protruding from one end of the second staple crown and a second distal leg protruding from another end of the second staple crown, wherein said first surgical staple and said second surgical staple each define crown axes that are transverse to each other and to said cam axis, said second driver body comprising;

a second proximal support column configured to support the second proximal leg thereon; and

a second distal support column configured to support the second distal leg thereon, wherein said second driver body comprises at least one camming surface extending along said cam axis, and wherein said at least one camming surface of said second driver body extends transversely between said second proximal and distal support columns.