Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 20080041918A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Emmons, Clifford, Cullinan, Nicole, Heinrich, Russell, Viola, Frank, Beardsley, John, Holsten, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 17/07292 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 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 17/32 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 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 2017/07214 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 2017/0725 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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

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 surgical instrument comprising:

a cartridge having first and second rows of retention slots and fasteners disposed in the first and second rows of retention slots, each fastener having a pair of legs, wherein at least one fastener in the first row of retention slots has a first leg length and at least one fastener in the second row of retention slots has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length;

an anvil member having first and second surfaces;

a first gap defined between the first surface and the cartridge; and

a second gap defined between the second surface and the cartridge, wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent a knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the first gap is proximate to a knife channel and the first gap is less than the second gap.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first surface defines a first plane and the second surface defines a second plane, the first plane being substantially parallel to the second plane and spaced apart therefrom.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first surface defines a first plane and the second surface defines a second plane such that an angle is defined between the first and second planes.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is curved.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is planar.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the cartridge defines a knife channel, the first row of retention slots and the second row of retention slots are disposed on a first side of the knife channel, and further comprising a third row of retention slots and a fourth row of retention slots, the third row of retention slots and the fourth row of retention slots being disposed on a second side of the knife channel, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent the knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising fasteners in the third row of retention slots and in the fourth row of retention slots, wherein at least one of the fasteners in the third row of fasteners is located adjacent the knife channel and has a third leg length and at least one of the fasteners in the fourth row of fasteners has a fourth leg length.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the third leg length is less than the fourth leg length.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first row of retention slots is longitudinally extending and the second row of retention slots is longitudinally extending.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

a cartridge having an outer wall, a central longitudinal axis, first and second rows of retention slots, and fasteners disposed in the first and second rows of retention slots, the cartridge defining a first surface, each fastener having a pair of legs, wherein at least one fastener in the first row of retention slots has a first leg length and at least one fastener in the second row of retention slots has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length;

an anvil member having a second surface, the second surface having a configuration selected from the group consisting of curved and angled; and

a gap defined between the first surface of the cartridge and the second surface of the anvil, wherein the gap varies between the central longitudinal axis of the cartridge and the outer wall of the cartridge.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the gap is at a minimum along the central longitudinal axis.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the first row of fasteners is disposed adjacent the central longitudinal axis and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the cartridge defines a knife channel, the first row of retention slots and the second row of retention slots are disposed on a first side of the knife channel, and further comprising a third row of retention slots and a fourth row of retention slots, the third row of retention slots and the fourth row of retention slots being disposed on a second side of the knife channel, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent the knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, further comprising fasteners in the third row of retention slots and in the fourth row of retention slots, wherein at least one of the fasteners in the third row of fasteners is located adjacent the knife channel and has a third leg length and at least one of the fasteners in the fourth row of fasteners has a fourth leg length.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the third leg length is less than the fourth leg length.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the first row of retention slots is longitudinally extending and the second row of retention slots is longitudinally extending.

19. A method of joining tissue using a surgical stapler having jaws, comprising:

disposing the tissue between the jaws of the surgical stapler, one of the jaws being a staple cartridge containing a first row of staples and a second row of staples;

compressing the tissue more along the first row of staples than along the second row of staples;

applying the first row of staples; and

applying the second row of staples, wherein at least one staple in the first row of staples has a first staple size and at least one staple in the second row of staples has a second staple size, the first staple size being smaller than the second staple size.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one staple in the first row of staples has a first leg length and at least one staple in the second row of staples has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first row of staples are proximate a central longitudinal axis of the surgical stapler.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the jaws has a tissue contacting surface defining a plane.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the jaws has a tissue contacting surface defining a curve.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising cutting the tissue adjacent the first row of staples.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising applying a third row of staples and a fourth row of staples.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising cutting the tissue between the first row of staples and the third row of staples, and compressing the tissue more along the first and third row of staples than along the second and fourth row of staples.

27. A surgical instrument comprising:

a cartridge having first and second rows of retention slots and fasteners disposed in the first and second rows of retention slots, each fastener having a pair of legs, wherein at least one fastener in the first row of retention slots has a first leg length and at least one fastener in the second row of retention slots has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length, the cartridge having a first surface and a second surface, at least one of the first surface and the second surface being selected from the group consisting of a planar surface and a curved surface;

an anvil member;

a first gap defined between the first surface and the anvil member; and

a second gap defined between the second surface and the anvil member, wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent a knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 28, wherein the first gap is proximate to a knife channel and the first gap is less than the second gap.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the first surface defines a first plane and the second surface defines a second plane, the first plane being substantially parallel to the second plane and spaced apart therefrom.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the first surface defines a first plane and the second surface defines a second plane such that an angle is defined between the first and second planes.

32. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the cartridge defines a knife channel, the first row of retention slots and the second row of retention slots are disposed on a first side of the knife channel, and further comprising a third row of retention slots and a fourth row of retention slots, the third row of retention slots and the fourth row of retention slots being disposed on a second side of the knife channel, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent the knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 32, further comprising fasteners in the third row of retention slots and in the fourth row of retention slots, wherein at least one of the fasteners in the third row of fasteners is located adjacent the knife channel and has a third leg length and at least one of the fasteners in the fourth row of fasteners has a fourth leg length.

34. The surgical instrument of claim 33, wherein the third leg length is less than the fourth leg length.

35. A surgical instrument comprising:

a cartridge having an outer wall, a central longitudinal axis, first and second rows of retention slots, and fasteners disposed in the first and second rows of retention slots, the cartridge defining a first surface, each fastener having a pair of legs, wherein at least one fastener in the first row of retention slots has a first leg length and at least one fastener in the second row of retention slots has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length, the first surface having a configuration selected from the group consisting of curved and angled;

an anvil member having a second surface; and

a gap defined between the first surface of the cartridge and the second surface of the anvil, wherein the gap varies between the central longitudinal axis of the cartridge and the outer wall of the cartridge.

36. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the gap is at a minimum along the central longitudinal axis.

37. The surgical instrument of claim 36, wherein the first row of fasteners is disposed adjacent the central longitudinal axis and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

38. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the cartridge defines a knife channel, the first row of retention slots and the second row of retention slots are disposed on a first side of the knife channel, and further comprising a third row of retention slots and a fourth row of retention slots, the third row of retention slots and the fourth row of retention slots being disposed on a second side of the knife channel, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent the knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

39. The surgical instrument of claim 37, further comprising fasteners in the third row of retention slots and in the fourth row of retention slots, wherein at least one of the fasteners in the third row of fasteners is located adjacent the knife channel and has a third leg length and at least one of the fasteners in the fourth row of fasteners has a fourth leg length.

40. The surgical instrument of claim 39, wherein the third leg length is less than the fourth leg length.

41. A surgical instrument comprising:

a cartridge having first and second rows of retention slots and fasteners disposed in the first and second rows of retention slots, each fastener having a pair of legs, wherein at least one fastener in the first row of retention slots has a first leg length and at least one fastener in the second row of retention slots has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length;

an anvil member having first and second surfaces, the first surface being generally arcuate and the second surface being generally arcuate;

a first gap defined between the first surface and the cartridge; and

a second gap defined between the second surface and the cartridge, wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

42. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent a knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

43. The surgical instrument of claim 42, wherein the first gap is proximate to a knife channel and the first gap is less than the second gap.

44. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the second surface has a lower height than the first surface.

45. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the cartridge defines a knife channel, the first row of retention slots and the second row of retention slots are disposed on a first side of the knife channel, and further comprising a third row of retention slots and a fourth row of retention slots, the third row of retention slots and the fourth row of retention slots being disposed on a second side of the knife channel.

46. The surgical instrument of claim 45, wherein the anvil has a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface being generally arcuate and the fourth surface being generally arcuate.

47. The surgical instrument of claim 46, further comprising fasteners in the third row of retention slots and fasteners in the fourth row of retention slots, wherein at least one of the fasteners in the third row of fasteners is located adjacent the knife channel and has a third leg length and at least one of the fasteners in the fourth row of fasteners has a fourth leg length.

48. The surgical instrument of claim 47, wherein the first leg length is less than the second leg length and the third leg length is less than the fourth leg length.

49. A surgical instrument comprising:

a cartridge having first and second rows of retention slots and fasteners disposed in the first and second rows of retention slots, each fastener having a pair of legs, wherein at least one fastener in the first row of retention slots has a first leg length and at least one fastener in the second row of retention slots has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length, the cartridge having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being generally arcuate and the second surface being generally arcuate;

an anvil member;

a first gap defined between the first surface and the anvil member; and

a second gap defined between the second surface and the anvil member, wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

50. The surgical instrument of claim 49, wherein the first row of retention slots is located adjacent a knife channel and the first leg length is less than the second leg length.

51. The surgical instrument of claim 50, wherein the first gap is proximate to a knife channel and the first gap is less than the second gap.

52. The surgical instrument of claim 49, wherein the second surface has a lower height than the first surface.

53. The surgical instrument of claim 49, wherein the cartridge defines a knife channel, the first row of retention slots and the second row of retention slots are disposed on a first side of the knife channel, and further comprising a third row of retention slots and a fourth row of retention slots, the third row of retention slots and the fourth row of retention slots being disposed on a second side of the knife channel.

54. The surgical instrument of claim 53, wherein the cartridge has a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface being generally arcuate and the fourth surface being generally arcuate.

55. The surgical instrument of claim 54, further comprising fasteners in the third row of retention slots and fasteners in the fourth row of retention slots, wherein at least one of the fasteners in the third row of fasteners is located adjacent the knife channel and has a third leg length and at least one of the fasteners in the fourth row of fasteners has a fourth leg length.

56. The surgical instrument of claim 55, wherein the first leg length is less than the second leg length and the third leg length is less than the fourth leg length.