Surgical stapling device with a curved cutting member

• US 20080169332A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Application Number:
  US11/652,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169332A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• 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 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a curved end-effector which is configured to deploy staples in at least one curved staple line. The surgical stapler can include a staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein, an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cutting member having a cutting surface. The staple cartridge and/or anvil can include a curved slot configured for receiving and guiding the cutting member wherein at least a portion of the cutting member can be defined by a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of the slot. In these embodiments, the curved cutting member can be easily moved within the curved slot thereby reducing the possibility that the cutting member will become stuck within the slot.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil operably coupled to said channel and being selectively movable between open and closed positions upon application of opening and closing motions thereto, wherein said anvil is configured to deform said staples, and wherein one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot;

a cutting member operably supported in said slot and being selectively movable from a proximal end of said slot to a distal end of said slot upon application of a drive motion thereto, wherein said slot is configured to guide said cutting member as it is driven from said proximal end to said distal end of said slot, wherein said slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein at least a portion of said cutting member is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising:

a staple driver operably engaged with said cutting member, wherein said staple driver is configured to deploy said staples from the staple cartridge when said cutting member is moved from said proximal end of said slot to said distal end, and wherein at least a portion of said staple driver is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the other of said anvil and the staple cartridge includes a second slot, and wherein said second slot is configured to guide said cutting member as it is moved from said proximal end of said slot to said distal end.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said cutting member includes a central portion, an inner portion, and an outer portion, wherein said central portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot, wherein said inner portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is less than said radius of curvature of said slot, and wherein said outer portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is greater than said radius of curvature of said slot.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising said staple cartridge.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 5, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

at least one cavity configured to receive a staple,

a staple driver relatively movable with respect to said cavity, wherein said staple driver is configured to deploy said staple from said cavity when said staple driver is moved relative to said cavity; and

a slot configured to receive at least a portion of said staple driver, wherein said slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein at least a portion of said staple driver is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further including a flexible drive bar operably engaged with said cutting member.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 7, wherein said flexible driver bar is comprised of at least two layers of material bonded together.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said slot includes an inner arcuate sidewall and an outer arcuate sidewall, wherein said sidewalls are configured to guide said cutting member.

10. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, comprising:

obtaining the surgical stapler of claim 1;

sterilizing said surgical stapler; and

storing said surgical stapler in a sterile container.

11. A staple cartridge, comprising:

at least one cavity configured to receive a staple;

a staple driver relatively movable with respect to said cavity, wherein said staple driver is configured to deploy said staple from said cavity when said staple driver is moved relative to said cavity; and

a slot configured to receive at least a portion of said staple driver, wherein said slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein at least a portion of said staple driver is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 11, wherein said staple driver includes a central portion, an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein said central portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot, wherein said inner portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is less than said radius of curvature of said slot, and wherein said outer portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is greater than said radius of curvature of said slot.

13. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil operably coupled to said channel and being selectively movable between open and closed positions upon application of opening and closing motions thereto, wherein said anvil is configured to deform said staples, and wherein one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot;

a cutting member operably supported in said slot and being selectively movable from a proximal end of said slot to a distal end of said slot upon application of a drive motion thereto, wherein said slot is configured to guide said cutting member as it is driven from said proximal end to said distal end of said slot, wherein said slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature, and

a staple driver operably engaged with said cutting member, wherein said staple driver is configured to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge when said cutting member is moved from said proximal end of said slot to said distal end, and wherein at least a portion of said staple driver is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said cutting member is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 13, further comprising said staple cartridge.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein said driver includes a central portion, an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein said central portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said slot, wherein said inner portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is less than said radius of curvature of said slot, and wherein said outer portion is defined by a radius of curvature which is greater than said radius of curvature of said slot.

17. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to removably store staples therein, wherein said first jaw includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein the staple cartridge includes a slot extending between said proximal portion and said distal portion;

a second jaw including an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein said second jaw includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said anvil includes a slot extending between said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said first jaw and said second jaw are connected at their proximal portions, and wherein said first jaw and said second jaw are unconnected at their distal portions; and

a cutting member including a body, a cutting surface, and first and second projections extending from said body, wherein said anvil slot is configured to receive said first projection and said staple cartridge slot is configured to receive said second projection, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said anvil slot and said staple cartridge slot define a path for said cutting member when it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, and wherein said path is defined by at least one radius of curvature.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 17, further including a flexible drive bar operably engaged with said cutting member, wherein said flexible driver bar is comprised of at least two layers of material bonded together.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said cutting member is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said path.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 17, further comprising a staple driver operably engaged with said cutting member, wherein said staple driver is configured to deploy said staples from the staple cartridge when said cutting member is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, and wherein at least a portion of said staple driver is defined by a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said path.