Variable Compression Surgical Fastener Cartridge

• US 20090277946A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder

Abstract

A surgical fastener cartridge is provided and includes a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface that includes a plurality of fastener retention slots. A plurality of surgical fasteners is operatively disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots. A plurality of pushers is operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners. Each pusher is configured for ejecting an associated surgical fastener towards a depression in an anvil. An actuation sled is housed within the cartridge body and includes a plurality of cam wedges. The plurality of cam wedges configured to sequentially contact the plurality of pushers such that a surgical fastener that is ejected closer to a cut line produces a greater compression force to stapled tissue than a surgical fastener ejected further from the cut line.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface, the tissue contacting surface including a plurality of fastener retention slots;

a plurality of surgical fasteners operatively disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots;

a plurality of pushers operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners, each pusher configured for ejecting an associated surgical fastener towards a depression in an anvil; and

an actuation sled housed within the cartridge body, the actuation sled includes a plurality of cam wedges, the plurality of cam wedges configured to sequentially contact the plurality of pushers such that a surgical fastener that is ejected closer to a cut line produces a greater compression force to stapled tissue than a surgical fastener ejected further from the cut line.

2. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the actuation sled is adapted to operatively connect to a drive assembly associated with a surgical fastening apparatus such that the actuation sled is longitudinally movable within the cartridge body.

3. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting surface includes a channel configured to accommodate longitudinal movement of a cutting element.

4. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a central support of the sled is configured to engage an abutment surface of the cutting element.

5. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of cam wedges on opposing sides of the central support includes inner, middle, and outer cam wedges.

6. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the inner cam wedges include proximal ends that are relatively rigid and the middle and outer cam wedges each include proximal ends that are relatively flexible.

7. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the middle and outer cam wedges each define a respective gap distance “

G₁” and

“

G₂”

.

8. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 7, wherein each of the gap distances “

G₁”

, “

G₂”

separate respective deflectable portions of middle and outer cam wedges, wherein the respective deflectable portions are configured to deflect toward a base of the actuation sled when the plurality of surgical fastener contacts a corresponding surgical fastener forming depression associated with an anvil of the surgical fastening apparatus.

9. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 8, wherein each of the deflectable portions is configured to contact a respective non-deflectable portion of the middle and outer cam wedges.

10. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 5, wherein each of the proximal ends of middle and outer cam wedges include a notched area configured to alter the amount of deflection of the middle and outer cam wedges.

11. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the gap distance “

G₁”

of the middle cam wedge is less than the gap distance “

G₂”

of the outer cam wedge.

12. A surgical fastener cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the sled has a first cam wedge with a proximal end and a second cam wedge with a proximal end, the proximal end of the first cam wedge including a notched area configured to deflect the proximal end of the first cam wedge during the formation of the surgical fasteners.