Surgical stapling device with staple drivers of different height

• US 20070194079A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hueil, Joseph, Shelton, Frederick, Morgan, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US11/711,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/0292 with the objects to be stapled together introduced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tool in an opening formed by an anvil and a plunger

Abstract

A surgical stapling device comprising an end effector. According to various embodiments, the end effector comprises an anvil having a staple forming surface and a plurality of staples facing the staple forming surface of the anvil. The end effector also comprises a plurality of staple drivers moveable supported within the staple cartridge. Each staple driver is in contact with one of the plurality of staples such that when the staple drivers are actuated, the plurality of staples are formed against the staple forming surface of the anvil. A first quantity of the staple drivers have a first height and a second quantity of the staple drivers have a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height such that the staples driven by the first quantity of staple drivers have a longer formed length than the staples driven by the second quantity of staple drivers.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling device comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:

an anvil having a staple forming surface;

a plurality of staples facing the staple forming surface of the anvil; and

a plurality of staple drivers moveable supported within the staple cartridge, wherein each staple driver is in contact with one of the plurality of staple such that when the staple drivers are actuated, the plurality of staples are formed against the staple forming surface of the anvil, wherein a first quantity of the staple drivers have a first height and a second quantity of the staple drivers have a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height such that the staples driven by the first quantity of staple drivers have a longer formed length than the staples driven by the second quantity of staple drivers.

2. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the staple drivers are interconnected such that they are configured to be actuated by a common actuator, wherein one of the at least two interconnected staple drivers has the first height and a second of the at least two interconnected staple drivers has the second height.

3. The surgical stapling device of claim 2, wherein the end effector further comprises a sled having at least one sled cam for driving the interconnected staple drivers when the sled is caused to distally traverse the staple cartridge.

4. The surgical stapling device of claim 3, wherein the end effector further comprises a knife axially moveable along the end effector for cutting tissue clamped in the end effector.

5. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein all of the staples have the same pre-formation prong length.

6. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staples have a first pre-formation prong length and a second quantity of the plurality of staples have a second pre-formation prong length, wherein the first pre-formation prong length is less than the second pre-formation prong length.

7. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein all of the staples have the same wire diameter.

8. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staples have a first wire diameter and a second quantity of the plurality of staples have a second wire diameter, wherein the first wire diameter is less than the second wire diameter.

9. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein all of the staples comprise the same material.

10. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staples comprise a first material and a second quantity of the plurality of staples comprise a second material, wherein the first material has a greater modulus of elasticity than the material.

11. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil defines a plurality of staple forming pockets, each pocket aligned with an end of one of the staples of the cartridge, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staple forming pockets has a first depth and a second quantity of the plurality of staple forming pockets has a second depth, wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth.

12. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil defines a plurality of staple forming pockets, each pocket aligned with an end of one of the staples of the cartridge, and wherein at least one of the staple forming pockets is defined by a compliant material portion of the anvil.

13. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the anvil is circular.

14. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the anvil is linear.

15. The surgical stapling device of claim 1, further comprising:

a shaft assembly connected to the end effector; and

a handle assembly connected to the shaft assembly.

16. A surgical stapling device comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:

an anvil having a staple forming surface; and

a staple cartridge facing the staple forming surface of the anvil, wherein the staple cartridge comprises;

a plurality of staples; and

a plurality of multiple interconnected staple drivers moveable supported within the staple cartridge, wherein each multiple interconnected staple drivers comprises at least two staple drivers, wherein each staple driver is in contact with one of the plurality of staples such that when the multiple interconnected staple drivers are actuated, staples are pushed through the staple cartridge and formed against the staple forming surface of the anvil, wherein a first quantity of the staple drivers have a first height and a second quantity of the staple drivers have a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height such that the staples driven by the first quantity of staple drivers have a longer formed length than the staples driven by the second quantity of staple drivers.

17. The surgical stapling device of claim 16, wherein the staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of single staple drivers, wherein each of the single staple drivers is in contact with one of the plurality of staples such that when the single staple drivers are actuated, staples are pushed through the staple ejection surface of the staple cartridge by the single staple drivers and formed against the staple forming surface of the anvil.

18. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuable in an axial direction and an anvil that is moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:

a plurality of staples; and

a plurality of staple drivers moveable supported within the staple cartridge, wherein each staple driver is in contact with one of the plurality of staple such that when the staple drivers are actuated, the plurality of staples are formed against the staple forming surface of the anvil, wherein a first quantity of the staple drivers have a first height and a second quantity of the staple drivers have a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height such that the staples driven by the first quantity of staple drivers have a longer formed length than the staples driven by the second quantity of staple drivers.

19. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein at least two of the staple drivers are interconnected, wherein one of the at least two interconnected staple drivers has the first height and a second of the at least two interconnected staple drivers has the second height.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein all of the staples have the same pre-formation prong length.

21. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staples have a first pre-formation prong length and a second quantity of the plurality of staples have a second pre-formation prong length, wherein the first pre-formation prong length is less than the second pre-formation prong length.

22. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein all of the staples have the same wire diameter.

23. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staples has a first wire diameter and a second quantity of the plurality of staples has a second wire diameter, wherein the first wire diameter is less than the second wire diameter.

24. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein all of the staples comprise the same material.

25. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of staples comprise a first material and a second quantity of the plurality of staples comprise a second material, wherein the first material has a greater modulus of elasticity than the material.