Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 20080164297A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Emmons, Clifford L., Holsten, Henry E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/11 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

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 stapling instrument having an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface extending from a proximal end portion of the staple cartridge to a distal end portion of the staple cartridge;

an anvil arranged with the staple cartridge to apply a tissue compression pressure to tissue disposed between the anvil and the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge, the tissue compression pressure varying from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the staple cartridge;

the cartridge having a first plurality of staples and a second plurality of staples, the size of the first plurality of staples being different from the size of the second plurality of staples.

2. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of staples has a first leg length and the second plurality of staples has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length.

3. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector is releasably attachable to a body of the surgical instrument.

4. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein the first leg length is greater than the second leg length, the first plurality of staples being disposed at the distal end portion of the staple cartridge.

5. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further including a knife channel extending longitudinally along the staple cartridge.

6. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the tissue contacting surface has a first tissue compression pressure associated therewith and the proximal end portion of the tissue contacting surface has a second tissue compression pressure associated therewith, the second tissue compression pressure being greater than the first tissue compression pressure.

7. An end effector for a surgical stapling instrument comprising:

a staple cartridge having a cross-sectional profile defined by a first tissue contacting surface, a second tissue contacting surface, and a third tissue contacting surface, the first tissue contacting surface and the second tissue contacting surface defining respective first and second planes, the first and second planes being substantially parallel to each other, and the third tissue contacting surface connecting the first and second surfaces and having a non-planar surface;

an anvil arranged with the staple cartridge, the anvil and the cross-sectional profile of the staple cartridge defining a tissue compression gradient;

the cartridge having a first plurality of staples associated with the first tissue contacting surface and a second plurality of staples associated with the second surface, the size of the first plurality of staples being selected to correspond to the first tissue contacting surface and the size of the second plurality of staples being selected to correspond to the second tissue contacting surface.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of staples has a first leg length and the second plurality of staples has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 7, wherein the end effector is releasably attachable to a body of the surgical instrument.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 8, wherein the first leg length is greater than the second leg length.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 7, further including a knife channel extending longitudinally along the staple cartridge.

13. The staple cartridge of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of staples has a first leg length and the second plurality of staples has a second leg length that is less than the first leg length, the second plurality of staples being disposed closer to the knife channel than the first plurality of staples.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein the first tissue contacting surface has a first tissue compression pressure associated therewith and the second plurality of staples has a second tissue compression pressure associated therewith, the second tissue compression pressure being less than the first tissue compression pressure.