Surgical stapling apparatus including an anvil and cartridge each having cooperating mating surfaces

• US 20040004105A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jankowski, Bruce K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,070,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/105 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 17/282 Jaws
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge

Abstract

Surgical stapling apparatus are disclosed including an anvil having a working surface with a shaped topography; and a staple cartridge, in juxtaposition with the anvil. The staple cartridge includes a working surface with shaped topography which is complementary to the shaped topography of the working surface of the shaped anvil. When the anvil and the staple cartridge are approximated with or toward one another, at least a portion of the working surface of the anvil cooperates with at least a portion of the working surface of the staple cartridge to enhance alignment of the staple cartridge and the anvil in at least one of a transverse and longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

an anvil having a working surface including a plurality of staple forming depressions formed therein, the working surface of the anvil having a non-planar cross-sectional shape; and

a staple cartridge having a working surface in juxtaposition to the working surface of the anvil and including a plurality of staple retention slots formed therein, the working surface of the staple cartridge having a shape which complements the shape of the working surface of the anvil, such that when the anvil and staple cartridge are approximated relative to one another the working surface of the anvil cooperates with the working surface of the staple cartridge to help align the plurality of staple forming depressions with the plurality of staple retention slots.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working surface of the staple cartridge includes a pair of inclined wall portions extending longitudinally along a length thereof, and wherein the working surface of the anvil includes a pair of inclined wall portions extending along a length thereof and complementing the pair of inclined wall portions of the working surface of the staple cartridge.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each inclined wall portion of the staple cartridge has an inner longitudinal edge and an outer longitudinal edge, wherein the inner longitudinal edges of the pair of inclined wall portions are recessed with respect to a plane defined by the outer longitudinal edges.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each inclined wall portion of the staple cartridge has an outer longitudinal edge and an inner longitudinal edge, and the inner longitudinal edges are parallel and spaced apart from one another, recessed with respect to a plane defined by the outer longitudinal edges, and define a knife track.

5. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the staple cartridge includes first and second side walls, parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and wherein a first inclined wall portion of the staple cartridge extends from the first side wall of the staple cartridge at an angle which is less than 90°

relative to the first side wall and a second inclined wall portion of the staple cartridge extends from the second side wall of the staple cartridge at an angle which is less than 90°

relative to the second side wall.

6. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each inclined wall portion of the anvil has an inner longitudinal edge and an outer longitudinal edge, wherein the inner longitudinal edge of the pair of inclined wall portions is elevated with respect to a plane defined by the outer longitudinal edges.

7. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each inclined wall portion of the staple cartridge has an outer longitudinal edge and an inner longitudinal edge, and the inner longitudinal edges are parallel and spaced apart from each other, recessed with respect to a plane defined by the outer longitudinal edges, and define a knife track.

8. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the anvil includes first and second side walls, parallel to and spread apart from one another, and wherein a first inclined wall portion of the anvil extends from the first side wall of the anvil at an angle which is greater than 90°

and less than 180°

relative to the first side wall and a second inclined wall portion of the staple cartridge extends from the second side wall of the anvil at an angle which is greater than 90° and

less than 180°

relative to the second side wall.

9. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working surface of the staple cartridge has an arcuate shape in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the working surface of the anvil has a shape which is complementary to the arcuate surface of the staple cartridge.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working surface of the staple cartridge is one of concave and convex in the transverse direction.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the staple cartridge and the anvil includes a longitudinally running channel extending along the length thereof.

12. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working surfaces of the anvil and the staple cartridge are annular.

13. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the staple cartridge includes an upstanding annular side wall extending from at least one of an inner and outer terminal edge of the surface of the staple cartridge and inclined at an obtuse angle relative thereto.

14. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the staple cartridge includes an upstanding annular side wall extending from each of an inner edge and an outer edge of the surface of the staple cartridge, wherein the annular side walls are inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the surface of the surgical staple cartridge.

15. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the angle of inclination of the annular side walls is greater than 90°

and less than 180°

.

16. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the working surface of the anvil has an arcuate shape in a radial direction and wherein the working surface of the staple cartridge has a shape that is complimentary to that of the working surface of the anvil.

17. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the working surface of the anvil, in radial transverse cross-sectional view, is one of convex and concave.

18. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the working surface of the anvil is angled such that an inner terminal edge thereof is depressed relative to an outer terminal edge thereof.

19. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the working surface of the anvil is angled such that an inner terminal edge thereof is elevated relative to an outer terminal edge thereof.

20. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working surface of the anvil is provided with at least one longitudinally oriented arcuate recess formed therein and wherein the working surface of the staple cartridge is provided with at lease one projection extending therefrom, wherein the at least one projection complements the at least one recess to longitudinally align the anvil and staple cartridge when approximated with one another.

33. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil and cartridge are clamped.

21. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

an anvil having a working surface with a shaped topography; and

a staple cartridge having a working surface in juxtaposition with the anvil, the working surface of the staple cartridge having a shaped topography which is complementary to the shaped topography of the working surface of the shaped anvil, such that when the anvil and the staple cartridge are approximated with one another with tissue therebetween, cooperation of at least a portion of the working surface of the anvil with at least a portion of the working surface of the staple cartridge enhances alignment of the staple cartridge and the anvil in at least one of a transverse and longitudinal direction.

22. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge has an arcuate cross-sectional profile.

23. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile.

24. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge has a topographical surface undulating in at least one of a transverse and a longitudinal direction.

25. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the anvil and staple cartridge define a longitudinal axis, the working surface of the anvil being angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the anvil.

26. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 25, wherein the working surface of the anvil is angled to one of decline and incline from the distal end to the proximal end of the anvil.

27. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 26, wherein the anvil has at least one of a V-shaped and arcuate transverse cross-sectional profile.

28. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus defines a longitudinal axis, the working surface of each of the anvil and staple cartridge being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the surgical stapling apparatus.

29. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the working surface of the anvil is angled to one of decline and incline from the distal end to the proximal end of the anvil.

30. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 29, wherein the anvil has at least one of a V-shaped and arcuate transverse cross-sectional profile.

34. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein the anvil and cartridge are clamped.

31. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

an anvil having a working surface including a plurality of staple forming depressions formed therein, the working surface of the anvil having a non-planar cross-sectional shape; and

a staple cartridge having a working surface in juxtaposition to the working surface of the anvil and including a plurality of staple retention slots formed therein, the working surface of the staple cartridge having a shape which complements the shape of the working surface of the anvil, such that as the anvil and staple cartridge are approximated relative to one another with tissue therebetween, the working surface of the anvil cooperates with the working surface of the staple cartridge to help align the plurality of staple forming depressions with the plurality of staple retention slots.

35. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 31, wherein the anvil and cartridge are clamped.

32. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

an anvil having a working surface with a shaped topography; and

a staple cartridge having a working surface in juxtaposition with the anvil, the working surface of the staple cartridge having a shaped topography which is complementary to the shaped topography of the working surface of the shaped anvil, such that as the anvil and the staple cartridge are approximated with one another with tissue therebetween, cooperation of at least a portion of the working surface of the anvil with at least a portion of the working surface of the staple cartridge enhances alignment of the staple cartridge and the anvil in at least one of a transverse and longitudinal direction.

36. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 32, wherein the anvil and cartridge are clamped.