End effector comprising an anvil including projections extending therefrom

• US 10,542,988 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schellin, Emily A., Smith, Bret W., Harris, Jason L., Scheib, Charles J., Morgan, Jerome R., Weaner, Lauren S., Vendely, Michael J., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Barton, Trevor J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valvis, Alexander M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hibbert-Copeland, Mary C
• Application Number:
  US14/319,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,038 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1811
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• 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 2017/00734 battery operated
• 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 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 : during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 : Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 : using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 : using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1425 : by reconfiguration of node membership

Abstract

An end effector can comprise, one, a fastener cartridge including a plurality of fasteners stored therein and, two, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners. The anvil can further comprise extensions extending therefrom which can control the flow of tissue relative to the fastener cartridge and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cartridge. The extensions can having different sizes and/or configurations.

Claims

1. An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw comprising a fastener cartridge, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body including a deck configured to support tissue;

fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body; and

fasteners removably positioned within said fastener cavities; and

a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein said anvil comprises;

a tissue supporting surface configured to support tissue;

forming pockets configured to deform said fasteners; and

anvil projections extending from said tissue supporting surface, wherein said anvil projections at least partially surround said forming pockets, wherein said anvil projections are configured to control the flow of tissue relative to said tissue supporting surface and said deck, wherein said anvil projections at least partially support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities, and wherein said anvil projections extend between said fastener cavities.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said second jaw is rotatably coupled to said first jaw.

3. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said fastener cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal cavity row and a second longitudinal cavity row, wherein said anvil projections are arranged in a first longitudinal anvil row and a second longitudinal anvil row, wherein said first longitudinal anvil row is aligned with said first longitudinal cavity row, and wherein said second longitudinal anvil row is aligned with said second longitudinal cavity row.

4. The end effector of claim 3, wherein said anvil projections in said first longitudinal anvil row are defined by a first height, wherein said anvil projections in said second longitudinal anvil row are defined by a second height, and wherein said first height is different than said second height.

5. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said fastener cartridge further comprises cartridge projections extending from said deck.

6. The end effector of claim 5, wherein said cartridge projections are aligned with said anvil projections.

7. An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw comprising a fastener cartridge, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body including a deck configured to support tissue;

fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body; and

fasteners removably positioned within said fastener cavities; and

a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein said anvil comprises;

a tissue compression surface configured to support tissue;

forming pockets configured to deform said fasteners; and

tissue control means extending from said tissue compression surface for controlling the flow of tissue relative to said tissue compression surface and said deck, wherein said tissue control means at least partially surrounds said forming pockets, wherein said tissue control means at least partially support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities, and wherein said tissue control means extend between said fastener cavities.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said second jaw is rotatably coupled to said first jaw.

9. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said fastener cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal cavity row and a second longitudinal cavity row, wherein said tissue control means comprises projections arranged in a first longitudinal anvil row and a second longitudinal anvil row, wherein said first longitudinal anvil row is aligned with said first longitudinal cavity row, and wherein said second longitudinal anvil row is aligned with said second longitudinal cavity row.

10. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said projections in said first longitudinal anvil row are defined by a first height, wherein said projections in said second longitudinal anvil row are defined by a second height, and wherein said first height is different than said second height.

11. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said fastener cartridge further comprises cartridge projections extending from said deck.

12. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said cartridge projections are aligned with said tissue control means.

13. An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw comprising a fastener cartridge, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body including a deck configured to support tissue;

fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body;

fasteners removably positioned within said fastener cavities; and

first projections extending from said deck, wherein said first projections at least partially support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities; and

a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein said anvil comprises;

a tissue supporting surface configured to support tissue;

forming pockets configured to deform said fasteners; and

second projections extending from said tissue supporting surface, wherein said second projections at least partially support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities, and wherein said second projections extend between said fastener cavities.

14. The end effector of claim 13, wherein each said first projection at least partially surrounds a fastener cavity, and wherein each said second projection at least partially surrounds a forming pocket.

15. The end effector of claim 13, wherein said first projections and said second projections co-operate to support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities.

16. An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw comprising a fastener cartridge, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body including a deck configured to support tissue;

fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body;

fasteners removably positioned within said fastener cavities; and

first fastener cavity projections extending from said deck, wherein said first fastener cavity projections at least partially support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities; and

a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein said anvil comprises;

a tissue supporting surface configured to support tissue;

forming pockets configured to deform said fasteners; and

second fastener cavity projections extending from said tissue supporting surface, wherein said second fastener cavity projections at least partially support said fasteners as said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities, and wherein said second fastener cavity projections extend between said fastener cavities.