Staple cartridge and staple cartridge channel comprising windows defined therein

• US 10,667,809 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bakos, Gregory J., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US15/385,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• 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 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• 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 2017/0725 : 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 2017/07264 : 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 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2912 : transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2934 : arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 : Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 : Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• 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 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 : coded with symbols, e.g. text

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a cartridge jaw and a series of windows in the cartridge jaw configured to permit a clinician to observe the firing progress of the surgical instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

a cartridge jaw, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

a bottom wall;

a lateral side wall extending from said bottom wall; and

a plurality of jaw windows defined in said lateral side wall;

a firing member movable toward said distal end during a firing stroke; and

a staple cartridge removably positionable in said cartridge jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of cartridge windows defined in said cartridge body, wherein said cartridge windows are aligned with said jaw windows when said staple cartridge is positioned in said cartridge jaw;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a sled movable toward said distal end during said firing stroke to eject said staples from said cartridge body, wherein the progress of said sled during said firing stroke is observable through said cartridge windows and said jaw windows.

2. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said sled comprises a datum observable through said cartridge windows and said jaw windows.

3. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 2, wherein said sled is moved along a longitudinal axis during said firing stroke, and wherein said datum comprises a vertical line orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.

4. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of jaw windows comprises a proximal jaw window and a distal jaw window, wherein said plurality of cartridge windows comprises a proximal cartridge window aligned with said proximal jaw window and a distal cartridge window aligned with said distal jaw window, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during said firing stroke, wherein said sled is observable through said proximal jaw window and said proximal cartridge window when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said sled is observable through said distal jaw window and said distal cartridge window when said sled is in said distal fired position.

5. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 4, wherein said plurality of jaw windows comprises an intermediate jaw window positioned intermediate said proximal jaw window and said distal jaw window, wherein said plurality of cartridge windows comprises an intermediate cartridge window positioned intermediate said proximal cartridge window and said distal cartridge window aligned with said intermediate jaw window, and wherein said sled is observable through said intermediate jaw window and said intermediate cartridge window during said firing stroke.

6. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said jaw windows are positioned along a longitudinal jaw window axis, wherein said cartridge windows are positioned along a longitudinal cartridge window axis, and wherein said longitudinal jaw window axis is aligned with said longitudinal cartridge window axis when said staple cartridge is positioned in said cartridge jaw.

7. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive said firing member during said firing stroke.

8. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 7, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during said firing stroke, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises a proximal bottom window, and wherein said sled is observable through said proximal bottom window when said sled is in said proximal unfired position.

9. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 7, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during said firing stroke, wherein said bottom wall comprises a distal bottom window, and wherein said sled is observable through said distal bottom window when said sled is in said distal fired position.

10. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 7, wherein a plurality of bottom windows are defined in said bottom wall, and wherein the progress of said sled during said firing stroke is observable through said bottom windows.

11. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 10, wherein said longitudinal slot defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein said bottom windows are offset with respect to said longitudinal axis.

12. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 11, wherein bottom windows are staggered on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis in an alternating manner.

19. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said distal bottom window intersects with said longitudinal slot.

20. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of said bottom windows abut said longitudinal slot.

13. A surgical stapling assembly including a firing member, said surgical stapling assembly comprising:

a cartridge jaw, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

a bottom portion;

a lateral side portion extending from said bottom portion; and

a plurality of jaw windows defined in said lateral side portion; and

a staple cartridge positioned in said cartridge jaw, comprising;

a cartridge body comprising staple cavities;

a plurality of cartridge windows defined in said cartridge body, wherein said cartridge windows are aligned with said jaw windows;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and

a sled movable toward said distal end by the firing member to eject said staples from said cartridge body, wherein the progress of said sled toward said distal end is observable through said cartridge windows and said jaw windows.

14. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

a cartridge jaw, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

a bottom wall;

lateral side walls extending from said bottom wall;

a longitudinal slot defined in said bottom wall; and

a plurality of jaw windows defined in said bottom wall;

a firing member movable toward said distal end through said longitudinal slot during a firing stroke; and

a staple cartridge positionable between said lateral side walls in said cartridge jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a sled movable toward said distal end during said firing stroke to eject said staples from said cartridge body, wherein the progress of said sled during said firing stroke is observable through said jaw windows.

15. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 14, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during said firing stroke, wherein said jaw windows comprise a proximal bottom window, and wherein said sled is observable through said proximal bottom window when said sled is in said proximal unfired position.

16. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 14, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during said firing stroke, wherein said jaw windows comprise a distal bottom window, and wherein said sled is observable through said distal bottom window when said sled is in said distal fired position.

17. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 14, wherein said longitudinal slot defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein said jaw windows are offset with respect to said longitudinal axis.

18. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

a cartridge jaw, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

a bottom wall;

lateral side walls extending from said bottom wall;

a longitudinal slot defined in said bottom wall; and

a plurality of jaw windows defined in said bottom wall, wherein at least a portion of said jaw windows intersect with said longitudinal slot; and

a staple cartridge positioned between said lateral side walls in said cartridge jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a sled movable toward said distal end during a firing stroke to eject said staples from said cartridge body, wherein the progress of said sled during said firing stroke is observable through said jaw windows.