STAPLE CARTRIDGE

• US 20100213241A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2090/0801 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 and, in addition, a staple cartridge comprising a cutting member positioned therein. The staple cartridge can comprise alignment features configured to align the cutting member of the staple cartridge with a distal end of a drive bar when the staple cartridge is assembled to the surgical stapling instrument.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:

a movable member comprising a cutting edge;

a staple cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-contacting surface;

a cutting slot configured to receive said cutting edge;

a first body portion positioned on a first side of said cutting slot;

a second body portion positioned on a second side of said cutting slot;

a plurality of first staple cavities in said first body portion;

a plurality of second staple cavities in said second body portion;

a first alignment slot in said first body portion configured to receive a first alignment member of the surgical stapler;

a second alignment slot in said second body portion configured to receive a second alignment member of the surgical stapler;

a first lateral gripping member positioned laterally with respect to said first alignment slot;

a second lateral gripping member positioned laterally with respect to said second alignment slot;

a distal end; and

a proximal end, comprising;

a first proximal retention portion positioned on said first side of said cutting slot, wherein said first proximal retention member is configured to releasably engage a portion of the surgical stapler; and

a second proximal retention portion positioned on said second side of said cutting slot, wherein said second proximal retention member is configured to releasably engage a portion of the surgical stapler;

a plurality of first staples positioned within said plurality of first staple cavities;

a plurality of second staples positioned within said plurality of second staple cavities;

a plurality of first staple drivers positioned within said first staple cavities;

a plurality of second staple drivers positioned within said second staple cavities; and

a retainer attached to said staple cartridge body configured to retain said first staple drivers in said first staple cavities and said second staple drivers in said second staple cavities.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said distal end comprises a datum surface, wherein said first alignment slot comprises a first distal portion, wherein said second alignment slot comprises a second distal portion, and wherein said first distal portion and said second distal portion define a predetermined distance with respect to said datum surface.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said distal end comprises a datum surface, and wherein said first proximal retention portion and said second proximal retention portion define a predetermined distance with respect to said datum surface.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first proximal retention portion comprises a first retention slot configured to receive a first retention key of the surgical stapler, and wherein said second proximal retention portion comprises a second retention slot configured to receive a second retention key of the surgical stapler.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 4, wherein said first retention slot comprises:

a first distal side; and

a first proximal side positioned opposite said first distal side, wherein said first proximal side is configured to deflect proximally when said first retention slot is engaged with the first retention key, and wherein said second retention slot comprises;

a second distal side; and

a second proximal side positioned opposite said second distal side, wherein said second proximal side is configured to deflect proximally when said second retention slot is engaged with the second retention key.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said distal end comprises a datum surface, wherein said cutting member comprises a slot configured to receive a drive member of the surgical stapler, wherein said cutting member is movable between a proximal position and a distal position by the drive member, and wherein said slot defines a predetermined distance with respect to said datum surface when said cutting member is in said proximal position.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said distal end comprises a projection configured to hook underneath a distal projection extending from a staple cartridge channel of the surgical stapler.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cutting member comprises:

a slot configured to receive a drive member of the surgical stapler; and

a projection positioned proximally with respect to said slot configured to be positioned within a slot in the drive member.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said plurality of first staple cavities comprises a first proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said plurality of second staple cavities comprises a second proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said first alignment slot is positioned laterally with respect to said first proximal-most staple cavity and said cutting slot, and wherein said second alignment slot is positioned laterally with respect to said second proximal-most staple cavity and said cutting slot.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first alignment slot comprises:

a first lateral sidewall;

a second lateral sidewall; and

a first base wall extending between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall, wherein said second alignment slot comprises;

a third lateral sidewall;

a fourth lateral sidewall; and

a second base wall extending between said third lateral sidewall and said fourth lateral sidewall, wherein said plurality of first staple cavities comprises a first proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said plurality of second staple cavities comprises a second proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said first proximal-most staple cavity is positioned proximally with respect to said first base wall, and wherein said second proximal-most staple cavity is positioned proximally with respect to said second base wall.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first alignment slot comprises:

a first lateral sidewall;

a second lateral sidewall; and

a first base wall extending between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall, wherein said second alignment slot comprises;

a third lateral sidewall;

a fourth lateral sidewall; and

a second base wall extending between said third lateral sidewall and said fourth lateral sidewall, wherein said plurality of first staple cavities comprises first and second proximal-most staple cavities, wherein said plurality of second staple cavities comprises first and second proximal-most staple cavities, wherein at least a portion of said first and second proximal-most staple cavities of said plurality of first staple cavities is positioned proximally with respect to said first base wall, and wherein at least a portion of said first and second proximal-most staple cavities of said plurality of second staple cavities is positioned proximally with respect to said second base wall.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said first lateral gripping portion comprises:

a first tissue-contacting surface on a first side of said first lateral gripping portion; and

a first plurality of ridges on a second side of said first lateral gripping portion, and wherein said second lateral gripping portion comprises;

a second tissue-contacting surface on a first side of said second lateral gripping portion; and

a second plurality of ridges on a second side of said second lateral gripping portion.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said first retention portion is positioned proximally with respect to said first retention slot, and wherein said second retention portion is positioned proximally with respect to said second retention slot.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said first retention slot and said second retention slot are positioned along an axis, and wherein said axis is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by said cutting slot.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said plurality of first staple cavities comprises a first proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said plurality of second staple cavities comprises a second proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said first retention portion is positioned proximally with respect to said first proximal-most staple cavity, and wherein said second retention portion is positioned proximally with respect to said second proximal-most staple cavity.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cutting member is positionable in a proximal-most position, and wherein said first retention portion and said second retention portion are positioned proximally with respect to cutting member in its proximal-most position.

17. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

a surgical stapler, comprising;

a drive bar;

a staple cartridge channel;

a first alignment member;

a second alignment member; and

a retention key;

a staple cartridge configured to be positioned in said staple cartridge channel, said staple cartridge comprising;

a movable member comprising a cutting edge, wherein said movable member is operably engageable with said drive bar;

a staple cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-contacting surface;

a cutting slot configured to receive said cutting edge;

a first body portion positioned on a first side of said cutting slot;

a second body portion positioned on a second side of said cutting slot;

a plurality of first staple cavities in said first body portion;

a plurality of second staple cavities in said second body portion;

a first alignment slot in said first body portion configured to receive said first alignment member of said surgical stapler;

a second alignment slot in said second body portion configured to receive said second alignment member of said surgical stapler;

a first lateral gripping member positioned laterally with respect to said first alignment slot;

a second lateral gripping member positioned laterally with respect to said second alignment slot;

a distal end; and

a proximal end, comprising;

a first proximal retention portion positioned on said first side of said cutting slot, wherein said first proximal retention member is configured to releasably engage said retention key; and

a second proximal retention portion positioned on said second side of said cutting slot, wherein said second proximal retention member is configured to releasably engage said retention key;

a plurality of first staples positioned within said plurality of first staple cavities;

a plurality of second staples positioned within said plurality of second staple cavities;

a plurality of first staple drivers positioned within said first staple cavities;

a plurality of second staple drivers positioned within said second staple cavities; and

a retainer attached to said staple cartridge body configured to retain said first staple drivers in said first staple cavities and said second staple drivers in said second staple cavities.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein said distal end of said staple cartridge comprises a projection configured to hook underneath a distal projection extending from said staple cartridge channel of said surgical stapler.

19. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:

a movable member comprising a cutting edge;

a staple cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-contacting surface;

a cutting slot configured to receive said cutting edge;

a first body portion positioned on a first side of said cutting slot;

a second body portion positioned on a second side of said cutting slot;

a plurality of first staple cavities in said first body portion;

a plurality of second staple cavities in said second body portion;

alignment means for receiving a first alignment member of the surgical stapler;

a lateral gripping portion positioned laterally with respect to said alignment slot;

a distal end; and

a proximal end comprising retention means for releasably engaging a portion of the surgical stapler; and

a plurality of first staples positioned within said plurality of first staple cavities;

a plurality of second staples positioned within said plurality of second staple cavities;

a plurality of first staple drivers positioned within said first staple cavities; and

a plurality of second staple drivers positioned within said second staple cavities.