Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 20070034668A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank, Holsten, Henry, Emmons, Clifford
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/179.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• 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 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.

Claims

1. A replaceable loading unit for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a) a cartridge having;

i) at least two cartridge tissue contacting surfaces, one of the cartridge tissue contacting surfaces having a different height than the other,

ii) the at least two cartridge tissue contacting surfaces defining retention slots for retaining staples,

iii) the staples in the retention slots including at least a first staple and a second staple, the first staple having a first leg length different from a second leg length of the second staple.

2. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, further comprising an anvil having an anvil tissue contacting surface defining staple forming depressions.

3. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a circular staple cartridge defining the at least two cartridge tissue contacting surfaces.

4. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the retention slots are arranged in at least one circular row.

5. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the retention slots are arranged in at least one linear row.

6. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the at least two cartridge tissue contacting surfaces comprises a first tissue contacting surface and a second tissue contacting surface.

7. The replaceable loading unit of claim 6, wherein the staples in the retention slots of the first tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 2.3 millimeters and the staples in the retention slots of the second tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 3.5 millimeters.

8. The replaceable loading unit of claim 7, further comprising a third tissue contacting surface, the staples in the retention slots of the third tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 4.1 millimeters.

9. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus is a gastrointestinal stapler.

10. The replaceable loading unit of claim 6, wherein the cartridge defines a knife track.

11. The replaceable loading unit of claim 10, wherein the cartridge includes a plurality of rows of staples, the staples of the first tissue contacting surface being disposed adjacent the knife track.

12. The replaceable loading unit of claim 1, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus is a laparoscopic stapler.

13. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a) an anvil having an anvil tissue contacting surface defining staple forming depressions;

b) a cartridge having;

i) a first tissue contacting surface and a second tissue contacting surface, the first tissue contacting surface having a first height and the second tissue contacting surface having a second height, the first height being greater than the second height,

ii) the first and second tissue contacting surfaces defining retention slots for retaining staples, and

iii) the staples in the retention slots of the second tissue contacting surface having a larger leg length than the staples in the retention slots of the first tissue contacting surface.

14. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a drive assembly for moving pushers within the retention slots to urge the staples from the retention slots against the staple forming depressions.

15. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a handle assembly.

16. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a tubular body portion.

17. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tubular body portion is curved along its length.

18. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cartridge is a circular staple cartridge defining the first and second tissue contacting surfaces.

19. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 18, wherein the retention slots are arranged in circular rows.

20. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a wound closure assembly.

21. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wound closure assembly includes a reservoir having a wound closure material.

22. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the anvil comprises a circular anvil.

23. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 22, further comprising an anvil shaft.

24. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus is configured for dispensing a wound closure material to tissue adjacent the first tissue contacting surface.

25. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the staples in the retention slots of the second tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 3.5 millimeters and the staples in the retention slots of the first tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 2.3 millimeters.

26. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the staples in the retention slots of the second tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 4.1 millimeters and the staples in the retention slots of the first tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 3.5 millimeters.

27. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a third tissue contacting surface having a third height.

28. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the third tissue contacting surface has retention slots having staples disposed therein.

29. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the staples in the retention slots of the first tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 2.3 millimeters, the staples in the retention slots of the second tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 3.5 millimeters, and the staples in the retention slots of the third tissue contacting surface have a leg length of about 4.1 millimeters.

30. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus is a gastrointestinal stapler.

31. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cartridge defines a knife track.

32. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cartridge includes a plurality of rows of staples, the staples of the first tissue contacting surface being disposed adjacent the knife track.

33. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus is a laparoscopic stapler.

34. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a handle.

35. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 34, further comprising an elongated shaft.

36. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 35, wherein the cartridge defines a knife track.