SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH CUTTING MEMBER ARRANGEMENT

• US 20100072256A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bedi, James J., Baxter, Chester O. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.100
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• 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 2017/00446 for use only by lefthanded or only by righthanded persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument including a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a cutting member. In at least one form of the invention, the surgical stapling instrument can further include a housing which can at least partially extend over and/or around the cutting member. In various embodiments, the housing can at least partially cover the cutting member when the first and second jaw members are detached from one another, yet permit the cutting member to be moved relative to the first and second jaw members during use.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

a staple cartridge body including;

a top surface;

a channel; and

at least one staple cavity;

a cutting member, wherein at least a top portion of said cutting member extends above said top surface when said cutting member is in said channel, and wherein said cutting member is configured to be slid between a proximal position and a distal position within said channel; and

a housing extending from staple cartridge body, wherein said top portion of said cutting member is positioned underneath said housing when said cutting member is in said proximal position.

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge body includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein said channel is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, and wherein said housing extends over said channel.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said housing includes:

a first wall extending from said first portion;

a second wall extending from said second portion; and

a top wall extending between said first wall and said second wall.

4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said cutting member includes a cutting surface, wherein said housing has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said cutting surface does not extend beyond said distal portion when said cutting member is in said proximal position.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing is integrally-formed with said staple cartridge body.

6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sled slidably positioned within said staple cartridge body, wherein said sled is configured to deploy at least one staple from said staple cartridge body, and wherein said sled includes said cutting member.

12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sled slidably positioned within said staple cartridge body, wherein said sled is configured to deploy at least one staple from said staple cartridge body, and wherein said sled includes said cutting member.

7. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

a staple cartridge body including;

a deck;

a channel; and

at least one staple cavity;

a cutting member, wherein an exposed portion of said cutting member extends above said deck when said cutting member is in said channel, and wherein said cutting member is configured to be slid between a first position and a second position within said channel; and

a housing extending from staple cartridge body, wherein said exposed portion of said cutting member is positioned within said housing when said cutting member is in said first position.

8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein said staple cartridge body includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein said channel is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, and wherein said housing extends over said channel.

9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 8, wherein said housing includes:

a first wall extending from said first portion;

a second wall extending from said second portion; and

a top wall extending between said first wall and said second wall.

10. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein said cutting member includes a cutting surface, wherein said housing has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said cutting surface does not extend beyond said distal portion when said cutting member is in said first position.

11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein said housing is integrally-formed with said staple cartridge body.

13. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a staple cartridge body including;

at least one staple cavity;

a first portion;

a second portion;

a channel positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said channel is configured to receive a cutting member such that the cutting member can be slid between a first position and a second position; and

a top surface, wherein the cutting member can extend above said top surface when the cutting member is positioned within said channel; and

a housing extending from at least one of said first portion and said second portion of said staple cartridge body, wherein said housing extends over said channel.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein said staple cartridge includes said cutting member.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 14, wherein said cutting member includes a cutting surface, wherein said housing has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said cutting surface does not extend beyond said distal portion when said cutting member is in said first position.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 14, further comprising a sled slidably positioned within said staple cartridge body, wherein said sled is configured to deploy at least one staple from said staple cartridge body, and wherein said sled includes said cutting member.

17. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein said housing includes:

a first wall extending from said first portion;

a second wall extending from said second portion; and

a top wall extending between said first wall and said second wall.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein said housing is integrally-formed with said staple cartridge body.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 14, wherein said cutting member includes a cutting surface, wherein said housing has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said cutting surface does not extend beyond said distal portion when said cutting member is in said first position.

19. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a first portion including a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge includes at least one staple cavity and a channel;

a second portion including an anvil;

a cutting member, wherein said cutting member is configured to be slid between a first position and a second position within said channel, and wherein at least an exposed portion of said cutting member extends above said staple cartridge when said cutting member is in said channel; and

a housing surrounding at least a portion of said exposed portion of said cutting member when said cutting member is in said first position.

21. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

a staple cartridge body configured to be attached to a jaw member of a surgical stapling instrument, said cartridge body including;

a top surface;

a channel; and

at least one staple cavity;

a cutting member, wherein at least a top portion of said cutting member extends above said top surface when said cutting member is in said channel, and wherein said cutting member is configured to be slid between a proximal position and a distal position within said channel.

22. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 21, wherein said staple cartridge body is configured to be at least one of snap-fit and press-fit into a staple cartridge channel of the surgical stapling instrument.