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

• US 10,441,283 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2019
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• 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 R., Thompson, Bennie, Nuchols, Richard P., Holscher, Russell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US16/449,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20190307450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 116 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. An end effector for a medical device, the end effector comprising:

(a) an anvil, the anvil comprising;

(i) a first anvil end,

(ii) a second anvil end,

(iii) an anvil face,

(iv) a first staple pocket defined by the anvil face, wherein the first staple pocket comprises a first surface for staple formation;

(v) a second staple pocket defined by the anvil face, wherein the second staple pocket comprises a second surface for staple formation; and

(b) a cartridge that is operably configured to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising;

(i) a first cartridge end, wherein the first cartridge end is coupled with the first anvil end,

(ii) a second cartridge end, wherein the second cartridge end is coupled with the second anvil end,

(iii) a cartridge face,

(iv) a first driver, the first driver being operably configured to deploy a first staple, wherein a first staple formation distance is defined by the distance between the first driver and the first surface of the first staple pocket,

(v) a second driver, the second driver being operably configured to deploy a second staple, wherein a second staple formation distance is defined by the distance between the second driver and the second surface of the second staple pocket, and

wherein the first staple formation distance differs from the second staple formation distance.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple formation distance is from about 1.5 mm to about 3.3 mm.

3. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the second staple formation distance is from about 2.0 mm to about 5.0 mm.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first anvil end and the first cartridge end define a distal end of the end effector and the second anvil end and the second cartridge end define a proximal end of the end effector.

5. The end effector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anvil face and the cartridge face comprises a stepped configuration having a first segment and a second segment that are offset.

6. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple formation distance is provided at a proximal end of the end effector and the second staple formation distance is provided at a distal end of the end effector.

7. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple formation distance corresponds with a first longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers and the second staple formation distance corresponds with a second longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein the first longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers is an outer row and the second longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers is an inner row.

9. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple formation distance is greater than the second staple formation distance.

10. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a first staple having a first open leg length associated with the first driver and a second staple having a second open leg length associated with the second driver, wherein the first open leg length differs from the second open leg length.

11. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the anvil face and the cartridge face are parallel while the first staple formation distance and the second staple formation distance differ.

12. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple formation distance corresponds with a first lateral row of staple pockets and drivers and the second staple formation distance corresponds with a second lateral row of staple pockets and drivers.

13. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first driver has a first driver height different from a second driver height of the second driver.

14. The end effector of claim 1, wherein a first zone of the end effector comprises the first staple formation distance and a second zone of the end effector comprises the second staple formation distance.

15. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of staple formation distances.

16. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first driver and the second driver have the same configuration and the first staple pocket and the second staple pocket have a variable depth.

17. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple pocket and the second staple pocket have the same configuration and the first driver and the second driver have a variable height.

18. An end effector for a medical device, the end effector comprising:

(a) an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and an anvil face defining a plurality of staple pockets, wherein each of the plurality of staple pockets comprises a surface for staple formation; and

(b) a cartridge that is operably configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, a cartridge face, and a plurality of drivers operably configured to deploy the plurality of staples, each of the plurality of staple pockets and staple drivers being arranged in rows and columns, wherein the first end of the cartridge is coupled to the first end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge is coupled to the second end of the anvil; and

(c) a first staple formation distance from a first driver of the plurality of drivers to a first staple pocket surface from the plurality of staple pockets;

(d) a second staple formation distance from a second driver of the plurality of drivers to a second staple pocket surface from the plurality of staple pockets, wherein the first staple formation distance differs from the second staple formation distance.

19. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first end of the cartridge is movably coupled to the first end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge is movably coupled to the second end of the anvil.

20. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first staple formation distance is from about 1.5 mm to about 3.3 mm.

21. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the second staple formation distance is from about 2.0 mm to about 5.0 mm.

22. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first end of the anvil and the first end of the cartridge define a distal end of the end effector and the second end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge define a proximal end of the end effector.

23. The end effector of claim 18, wherein at least one of the anvil face and the cartridge face has a stepped configuration including a first segment and a second segment that are offset.

24. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first staple formation distance is provided at a proximal end of the end effector and the second staple formation distance is provided at a distal end of the end effector.

25. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first staple formation distance corresponds with a first longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers and the second staple formation distance corresponds with a second longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers.

26. The end effector of claim 25, wherein the first longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers is an outer row and the second longitudinal row of staple pockets and drivers is an inner row.

27. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first staple formation distance is greater than the second staple formation distance.

28. The end effector of claim 18, further comprising a first staple having a first open leg length associated with the first driver and a second staple having a second open leg length associated with the second driver, wherein the first open leg length differs from the second open leg length.

29. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the anvil face and the cartridge face are parallel while the first staple formation distance and the second staple formation distance differ.

30. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the first staple formation distance corresponds with a first lateral row of staple pockets and drivers and the second staple formation distance corresponds with a second lateral row of staple pockets and drivers.