DISPOSABLE LOADING UNITS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT

• US 20090206137A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hall, Steven G., Blair, Gregory B., Ortiz, Mark S., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Weizman, Patrick A., Zwolinski, Andrew M., Hueil, Geoffrey C., Messerly, Jeffrey D., Bruewer, Dean B., Tanguay, Randall J., Hoffman, Douglas B., Robertson, Galen C.
• Application Number:
  US12/031,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206137A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads

Abstract

In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument can include an anvil, a staple cartridge, a staple cartridge channel for operably supporting the staple cartridge, and a connector for removably attaching the disposable loading unit to the surgical instrument. In at least one embodiment, a first staple cartridge can be replaced with another staple cartridge after the first staple cartridge has been at least partially expended. In various embodiments, a staple cartridge can include a staple driver for deploying staples from the staple cartridge and a cutting member for incising tissue, wherein a new staple driver and a new cutting member can be provided with each new staple cartridge. The anvil can be removably attachable to the disposable loading unit such that a new anvil can be utilized with a new staple cartridge.

Claims

1. A kit for use with a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical instrument having a handle and a shaft, the shaft extending from the handle, the kit comprising:

a disposable loading unit, comprising;

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;

an anvil including at least one staple-deforming cavity; and

an end connector configured to be operatively coupled to the surgical instrument shaft;

a first staple cartridge removably attachable to said staple cartridge carrier; and

a second staple cartridge removably attachable to said staple cartridge carrier.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first staple cartridge is configured to store a first quantity of staples therein, and wherein said second staple cartridge is configured to store a second quantity of staples therein.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first staple cartridge is configured to be snap-fit into said staple cartridge channel, and wherein said second staple cartridge is configured to be snap-fit into said staple cartridge channel in lieu of said first staple cartridge.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge carrier is removably attachable to said disposable loading unit.

5. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a first staple cartridge pan configured to retain staples within said first staple cartridge and releasably retain said first staple cartridge to said staple cartridge channel; and

a second staple cartridge pan configured to retain staples within said second staple cartridge and releasably retain said second staple cartridge to said staple cartridge channel.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein said anvil is a first anvil which is removably attachable to the disposable loading unit, and wherein said kit further comprises a second anvil which is removably attachable to said disposable loading unit in lieu of said first anvil.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first staple cartridge includes a first staple driver configured to deploy staples from said first staple cartridge, and wherein said second staple cartridge includes a second staple driver configured to deploy staples from said second staple cartridge.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein said first staple driver includes a first cutting member configured to incise tissue, and wherein said second staple driver includes a second cutting member configured to incise tissue.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein said first staple driver is comprised of a plastic material overmolded onto at least a portion of said cutting member.

10. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical instrument having a handle and a shaft, the shaft extending from the handle, the disposable loading unit comprising:

a staple cartridge including at least one cavity for removably storing at least one staple;

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support said staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge is removably attachable to said staple cartridge carrier;

an anvil including at least one staple-deforming cavity; and

an end connector configured to be operatively coupled to the surgical instrument shaft.

11. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, wherein said staple cartridge is configured to be snap-fit into said staple cartridge channel.

12. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, wherein said staple cartridge carrier is removably attachable to said disposable loading unit.

13. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, further comprising a staple cartridge pan configured to retain said staple within said staple cartridge and retain said staple cartridge to said staple cartridge channel.

14. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, wherein said anvil is removably attachable to said disposable loading unit.

15. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, wherein said staple cartridge includes a staple driver configured to deploy said staple from said staple cartridge.

16. The disposable loading unit of claim 15, wherein said staple driver includes a cutting member configured to incise tissue.

17. The disposable loading unit of claim 16, wherein said staple driver is comprised of a plastic material overmolded onto at least a portion of said cutting member.

18. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical instrument having a handle and a shaft, the shaft extending from the handle, the disposable loading unit comprising:

a staple cartridge configured to removably store at least one staple;

a staple driver configured to deploy said staple from said staple cartridge, wherein said staple driver includes a cutting member configured to incise tissue, and wherein said staple driver is comprised of a plastic material overmolded onto at least a portion of said cutting member; and

an end connector configured to be operatively coupled to the surgical instrument shaft.