SURGICAL FASTENER INSTRUMENTS

• US 20120234899A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Scheib, Charles J., Shankarsetty, Jeevan M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1322 comprising a flexible encircling member A61B17/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

Surgical instruments and cartridges for cutting and fastening tissues and organs such as vessels are disclosed. In various non-limiting forms, the surgical instrument includes a first jaw that operably supports a substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly therein. A second jaw is movably supported relative to the first jaw and is selectively movable between open and closed positions in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto. A closure retraction assembly is configured to selectively apply cinching motions to the substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical fastening instrument, comprising:

a first jaw operably supporting a substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly therein;

a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw and being selectively movable between open and closed positions in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto; and

a closure retraction assembly configured to selectively apply cinching motions to said substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly.

2. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 wherein said substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly comprises:

a first absorbable suture; and

a second absorbable suture.

3. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 2 wherein said first and second absorbable sutures are linked together by a absorbable bridge member.

4. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 2 wherein said first absorbable suture comprises a first substantially U-shaped flexible first body portion terminating in a first locking end that defines a first locking aperture and a first hooked-shaped end spaced from said first locking aperture and in substantial registration therewith and wherein said second absorbable suture comprises a second substantially U-shaped flexible second body portion terminating in a second locking end that defines a second locking aperture and a second hooked-shaped end spaced from said second locking aperture and in substantial registration therewith.

5. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 4 wherein said closure retraction assembly comprises:

a first retraction hook that is movably supported for selective hooking engagement with said first hooked-shaped end after said first hook-shaped end has been advanced through said first locking aperture; and

a second retraction hook that is movably supported for selective hooking engagement with said second hooked shaped end after said second hook-shaped end has been advanced through said second locking aperture.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said substantially flexible elongated tissue closure assembly comprise:

a first absorbable closure member having a plurality of unidirectional barbs thereon; and

a second absorbable closure member having a plurality of unidirectional barbs thereon.

7. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 6 wherein said first and second absorbable closure members are linked together by a absorbable bridge member.

8. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 6 wherein said first absorbable closure member comprises a first substantially U-shaped flexible first body portion terminating in a first locking end that defines a first locking aperture and a first hooked-shaped end spaced from said first locking aperture and in substantial registration therewith and wherein said second absorbable closure member comprises a second substantially U-shaped flexible second body portion terminating in a second locking end that defines a second locking aperture and a second hooked-shaped end spaced from said second locking aperture and in substantial registration therewith.

9. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 8 wherein said first locking end and said second locking end are linked together by a bridge member.

10. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of staples operably supported in said first jaw on a first side of a slot configured to receive said cutting member therein; and

a second plurality of staples operably supported in said first jaw on a second side of said slot.

11. A fastener cartridge for cutting and occluding a vessel, comprising:

a body portion having a deck face and a centrally disposed slot therein for receiving a cutting member of a surgical instrument therethrough, said deck face configured to operably support a pair of substantially flexible elongated closure members wherein one member is supported on a first side of said centrally disposed slot and the other member is disposed on a second side of said slot; and

a closure retraction assembly at least partially operably supported in said body portion and configured to selectively apply cinching motions to each of said substantially flexible elongated closure members.

12. The fastener cartridge of claim 11 further comprising:

a first plurality of unformed staples operably supported in said body portion on a first side of said slot; and

a second plurality of unformed staples operably supported in said body portion on a second side of said slot.

13. The fastener cartridge of claim 11 wherein said closure retraction assembly comprises:

a first retraction hook operably configured to hookingly engage a portion of a first one of the substantially flexible elongated closure members; and

a second retraction hook operably configured to hookingly engage a portion of a second one of the substantially flexible elongated closure members.

14. A closure assembly for use with a surgical fastener cartridge having a closure retraction assembly therein, said closure assembly comprising:

a first absorbable closure member having a first lower elongated portion supportable on a portion of the fastener cartridge and having a first locking end defining a first locking aperture, said first absorbable closure member having a first upper elongated portion integrally formed with said first lower elongated portion and having a first hook-shaped end supported in spaced relation to said first locking end;

a second absorbable closure member having a second lower elongated portion supportable on another portion of the fastener cartridge and having a second locking end defining a second locking aperture, said second absorbable closure member having a second upper elongated portion integrally formed with said second lower elongated portion and having a second hook-shaped end supported in spaced relation to said first locking end; and

a bridge member coupling said first absorbable closure member and said second absorbable closure member in spaced relation to each other.

15. The closure assembly of claim 14 wherein said first absorbable closure member comprises a first suture and wherein said second absorbable closure member comprises a second suture.

16. The closure assembly of claim 14 wherein said first absorbable member has a first plurality of first unidirectional barbs formed thereon and wherein said second absorbable member has a second plurality of second unidirectional barbs formed thereon.

17. The closure assembly of claim 14 wherein said first locking end comprises a first locking loop formed in an end of said first lower portion of said first absorbable closure member and defining said first locking aperture therein and wherein said first upper portion of said first absorbable closure member has a first hook portion that extends through said first locking aperture and terminates in a first retraction loop and wherein said second locking end comprises a second locking loop formed in an end of said second lower portion of said second absorbable closure member and defining said second locking aperture therein and wherein said second upper portion of said first absorbable closure member has a second hook portion that extends through said second locking aperture and terminates in a second retraction loop.

18. The closure assembly of claim 17 wherein said first locking loop and said second locking loop are linked together by said bridge member.