Staple cartridge assembly comprising staple alignment features on a firing member

• US 10,470,769 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Application Number:
  US14/836,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20170056006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 2271761
• 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 or resorptive
• 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
• 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. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and a firing member. The firing member is configured to directly engage the staples to eject the staples from the staple cavities. The firing member includes one or more channels and/or rails configured to orient the staples before, during, and/or after the staples contact an anvil positioned opposite the staple cartridge.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck; and

staple cavities defined in said deck;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities; and

a firing member comprising a channel aligned with said staples, wherein said channel comprises a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall, and wherein said channel is configured to receive said staples between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall, wherein said firing member is configured to push said staples out of said staple cavities, and wherein said firing member is configured to move toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke.

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel is defined on an inclined surface of said firing member.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises:

a ramp portion configured to lift said staples within said staple cavities during a firing stroke of said firing member; and

an apex portion configured to form said staples against an anvil of the surgical instrument to a final formed height.

4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein said channel comprises a trailing portion positioned proximally with respect to said apex portion, and wherein said apex portion is positioned above said trailing portion.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said firing member comprises a sled including a plurality of wedges, and wherein said channel is defined on one of said wedges.

6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a ramp configured to initially lift said staples within said staple cavities and guide said staples into said channel.

7. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a mouth portion and a longitudinal portion, wherein said mouth portion provides a lead-in to said longitudinal portion, and wherein said mouth portion is wider than said longitudinal portion.

8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said staples are received within said channel without a staple driver positioned between said staples and said channel.

9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said first lateral sidewall is parallel to said second lateral sidewall.

10. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said first lateral sidewall is not parallel to said second lateral sidewall.

11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall are angled with respect to each other to create a staple entry lead-in.

12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a first channel, and wherein said firing member further comprises a second channel configured to receive said staples.

13. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein each said staple comprises:

a drive portion configured to enter said first channel; and

a forming portion configured to enter said second channel.

14. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said first channel extends at an angle relative to said second channel.

15. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said first channel and said second channel are parallel to one another in a first region and non-parallel to one another in a second region.

16. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said second channel is configured to receive said staples before said first channel as said firing member is advanced toward said distal end.

17. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument comprising an anvil, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck; and

staple cavities defined in said deck;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities; and

a firing member, comprising;

a ramp configured to directly engage said staples and push said staples toward the anvil; and

a rail extending from said ramp configured to orient said staples relative to said ramp, and wherein said firing member is configured to move toward a distal end of the cartridge body during a staple firing stroke.

18. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 17, wherein said rail comprises a first rail, and wherein said firing member further comprises a second rail extending from said ramp configured to orient said staples relative to said ramp.

19. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 18, wherein said first rail is parallel to said second rail.

20. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an anvil, wherein the anvil includes forming pockets, and wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck; and

staple cavities defined in said deck;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises a staple driving portion and a staple forming portion; and

a firing member, comprising;

a first guide channel aligned with said staple driving portions of said staples; and

a second guide channel aligned with said staple forming portions of said staples, wherein said first guide channel and said second guide channel are configured to co-operatively align said staples with the forming pockets of the anvil when said firing member is moved toward said distal end.