End effectors, surgical stapling devices, and methods of using same

• US 10,405,860 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Standard Bariatrics, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Standard Bariatrics, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thompson, Jonathan, Thompson, Bennie, Nuchols, Richard P., Holscher, Russell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US15/633,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20170290588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821, 606139, 606142, 606143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points

Abstract

An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. Each of the anvil and the cartridge has a face that is positionable on the anatomical structure. The anvil is coupled to the cartridge at first and second ends. The anvil is movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the faces at the first ends that is different from a second gap between the faces at the second ends.

Claims

1. A method of stapling an anatomical structure during a surgical medical procedure comprising:

providing an end effector including;

an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a first face; and

a cartridge that is operably configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a second face, the first end of the cartridge being movably coupled to the first end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge being movably coupled to the second end of the anvil, the anvil being movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the first face and the second face at the first end of the anvil and the first end of the cartridge that is differently size from a second gap between the first face and the second face at the second end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge;

inserting the end effector through a trocar into a patient adjacent an anatomical structure, the cartridge including a plurality of staples;

positioning the anvil and the cartridge on opposing sides of the anatomical structure;

clamping the end effector to the anatomical structure to secure the end effector relative to the anatomical structure; and

actuating the end effector to staple the anatomical structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a clamp adjacent to the anatomical structure, and wherein positioning the anvil and the cartridge includes positioning at least one of the anvil and cartridge adjacent the clamp.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the staples having an open leg length are arranged in rows and columns and the open leg length of each of the staples is the same in each column, and wherein actuating the end effector includes forming a first row of staples and a second row of staples, the staples in the first row of staples having a greater closed leg length than the staples in the second row of staples.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the anvil and the cartridge have a first edge and a second edge and clamping the end effector to the anatomical structure includes compressing the anatomical structure more at the first edges of the anvil and cartridge than at the second edges of the anvil and cartridge.