Surgical staples having dissolvable, bioabsorbable or biofragmentable portions and stapling instruments for deploying the same

• US 20080078808A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gill, Robert, Morgan, Jerome R., Voegele, James W., Hess, Christopher J., Murray, Michael A., Clem, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/181.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/2932 : Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• 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 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical staple including a crown comprised of a dissolvable, bioabsorbable, or biofragmentable material, a first deformable member, and a second member. In at least one embodiment, the crown connects the first member and the second member, however, after the crown has been dissolved, the first member is unconnected to the second member and, as a result, the first and second members can move relative to each other. Accordingly, the staple can be rigid during the early stages of healing and can be flexible during the latter stages of healing, for example. In various embodiments, the first and second members of the staple are also comprised of a dissolvable, bioabsorbable, or biofragmentable material. In these embodiments, the first and second members can be constructed so that the crown and first and second members dissolve at different rates and/or dissolve away at different times.

Claims

1. A surgical staple for stapling tissue, comprising:

a crown, said crown comprised of a first dissolvable material;

a first deformable member comprising a tissue-piercing end; and

a second member, said crown connecting said first deformable member and said second member when said crown is undissolved, said first deformable member being unconnected to said second member after said crown has been dissolved, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second member are comprised of a non-dissolvable material.

5. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein said crown further includes at least one second material, wherein said second material comprises a therapeutic drug, and wherein the dissolution of said crown releases said therapeutic drug.

2. (canceled)

3. A surgical staple for stapling tissue, comprising:

a crown, said crown comprised of a first dissolvable material;

a first deformable member comprising a tissue-piercing end; and

a second member, said crown connecting said first deformable member and said second member when said crown is undissolved, said first deformable member being unconnected to said second member after said crown has been dissolved wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second member are comprised of a second dissolvable material which dissolves at a slower rate than said first dissolvable material.

4. The surgical staple of claim 3, wherein said second dissolvable material includes at least one of iron and magnesium.

6. A surgical staple for stapling tissue, comprising:

a crown, said crown comprised of a dissolvable material;

a first deformable member comprising a tissue-piercing end; and

a second member, said crown connecting said first deformable member and said second member when said crown is undissolved, wherein said crown includes a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section disposed intermediate said first section and said second section, said intermediate section having a smaller cross-section than said first section and said second section, whereby said intermediate section is configured to dissolve before said first section and said second section, said first deformable member being unconnected to said second member after said intermediate section has been dissolved.

7. A surgical staple, comprising:

a crown, said crown comprised of;

a first attachment member;

a second attachment member; and

a connector comprised of a first bioabsorbable material, said connector connecting said first attachment member and said second attachment member before said connector is absorbed;

a first deformable member extending from said first attachment member, said first deformable member including a tissue-piercing end; and

a second deformable member extending from said second attachment member, said first deformable member unconnected to said second deformable member after said crown connector has been absorbed, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member are comprised of a non-bioabsorbable material.

11. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein said crown further includes at least one second material, wherein said second material comprises a therapeutic drug, and wherein the absorption of said crown releases said therapeutic drug.

8. (canceled)

9. A surgical staple, comprising:

a crown, said crown comprised of;

a first attachment member;

a second attachment member; and

a connector comprised of a first bioabsorbable material, said connector connecting said first attachment member and said second attachment member before said connector is absorbed;

a first deformable member extending from said first attachment member, said first deformable member including a tissue-piercing end; and

a second deformable member extending from said second attachment member, said first deformable member unconnected to said second deformable member after said crown connector has been absorbed, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member are comprised of a second bioabsorbable material which is absorbed at a slower rate than said first dissolvable material.

10. The surgical staple of claim 9, wherein said second bioabsorbable material includes at least one of iron and magnesium.

12. A surgical staple, comprising:

a crown, said crown comprised of;

a first attachment member;

a second attachment member; and

a connector comprised of a bioabsorbable material, said connector connecting said first attachment member and said second attachment member before said connector is absorbed;

a first deformable member extending from said first attachment member, said first deformable member including a tissue-piercing end; and

a second deformable member extending from said second attachment member, wherein said crown includes a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section disposed intermediate said first section and said second section, said intermediate section having a smaller cross-section than said first section and said second section, whereby said intermediate section may be absorbed before said first section and said second section, and wherein said first deformable member is unconnected to said second deformable member after said crown connector has been absorbed,

13. A surgical staple, comprising:

a first deformable member comprising a tissue-piercing end;

a second member; and

dissolvable means for connecting said first deformable member and said second member when said dissolvable means is undissolved and for releasing said first deformable member and said second member after said dissolvable means has been dissolved.

14. The surgical staple of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second member are comprised of a non-dissolvable material.

15. The surgical staple of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second member are comprised of a dissolvable material.

16. The surgical staple of claim 15, wherein said dissolvable material includes at least one of iron and magnesium.

17. The surgical staple of claim 13, wherein said dissolvable means further includes drug delivery means for releasing a therapeutic drug.

18. A surgical staple, comprising:

a first fastener, comprising;

a first base;

a first dissolvable crown attached to said first base;

a first deformable member extending from said first base, said first deformable member including a tissue-piercing end; and

a second member extending from said first base;

a second fastener, comprising;

a second base;

a second dissolvable crown attached to said second base;

a first deformable member extending from said second base, said first deformable member including a tissue-piercing end; and

a second member extending from said second base; and

a connector connecting said first dissolvable crown and said second dissolvable crown.

20. The surgical staple of claim 18, said first dissolvable crown having a first cross-section, said second base dissolvable crown having a second cross-section, said connector having a smaller cross-section than said first cross-section and said second cross-section.

21. The surgical staple of claim 18, wherein said connector is dissolvable, wherein at least one of said first and second dissolvable crowns dissolve at a first rate, wherein said connector dissolves at a second rate, and wherein said first rate is slower than said second rate.

19. (canceled)

22. A surgical staple for stapling tissue, comprising:

a first deformable member, comprising;

a first base; and

a first leg extending from said first base;

a second deformable member, comprising;

a second base; and

a second leg extending from said second base; and

a crown, comprising;

a first section configured to retain said first base;

a second section configured to retain said second base; and

an intermediate section disposed intermediate said first section and said second section, wherein at least one of said first and second sections are comprised of a first dissolvable material, wherein said intermediate section is comprised of a second dissolvable material, and wherein said second dissolvable material dissolves at a faster rate than said first dissolvable material after said surgical staple has been deployed into the tissue.

23. The surgical staple of claim 22, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member is comprised of a non-dissolvable material.

24. The surgical staple of claim 22, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member is comprised of a dissolvable material.

25. A surgical staple for stapling tissue, comprising:

a first deformable member, comprising;

a first base;

a first leg extending from said first base; and

a first crown section attached to said first base, wherein said first crown section is absorbed at a first rate;

a second deformable member, comprising;

a second base;

a second leg extending from said second base; and

a second crown section attached to said second base; and

an intermediate crown section connecting said first crown section to said second crown section, wherein said intermediate crown section is absorbed at a second rate, and wherein said second rate is faster than said first rate.

26. The surgical staple of claim 25, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member is comprised of a non-dissolvable material.

27. The surgical staple of claim 25, wherein at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member is comprised of a dissolvable material.