MULTIPLE THICKNESS IMPLANTABLE LAYERS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES

• US 20130146642A1
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R., Baxter, Chester O. III
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/177.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/005 hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 : Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 : details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 : reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 : Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 : Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40

Abstract

A staple cartridge assembly includes a stepped staple cartridge deck and an implantable layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, positioned thereon. The layer can include a first portion positioned over a first deck surface of the multi-step staple cartridge and a second portion positioned over a second deck surface of the multi-step staple cartridge. The first portion includes a first tissue-contacting surface and the second portion includes a second tissue-contacting surface, wherein the first tissue-contacting surface is vertically offset from the second tissue-contacting surface.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler comprising an anvil, wherein the anvil comprises a row of first forming pockets and a row of second forming pockets, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck, comprising;

a slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a first deck surface positioned on a first side of said slot; and

a second deck surface positioned on said first side of said slot, wherein said second deck surface is vertically offset from said first deck surface relative to a datum in the anvil;

a row of first staple cavities, wherein the first forming pockets are positioned relative to said first staple cavities when the anvil is in a closed position; and

a row of second staple cavities, wherein the second forming pockets are positioned relative to said second staple cavities when the anvil is in said closed position, and wherein each of said first and second staple cavities comprises an opening in said deck;

a plurality of first staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said first staple driver comprises a first support portion, and wherein a first distance is defined between each said first support portion and a first forming pocket of the anvil when said first staple drivers are in said unfired position and the anvil is in said closed position;

a plurality of second staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said second staple driver comprises a second staple support portion, wherein a second distance is defined between each said second support portion and a second forming pocket of the anvil when said second staple drivers are in said unfired position, and wherein said first distance is different from said second distance;

a plurality of first staples, wherein each said first staple is positioned in a said first staple cavity and supported by a first support portion;

a plurality of second staples, wherein each said second staple is positioned in a said second staple cavity and supported by a second support portion; and

a layer configured to be captured within said first staples and said second staples, wherein said layer comprises;

a first portion positioned over said first deck surface, said first portion comprising a first tissue-contacting surface; and

a second portion positioned over said second deck surface, said second portion comprising a second tissue-contacting surface, wherein said second tissue-contacting surface is vertically offset from said first tissue-contacting surface relative to said datum in the anvil.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said layer is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said first and second staples.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said layer comprises a uniform uncompressed thickness through said first portion and said second portion.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said second portion is laterally offset from said first portion in a direction away from said slot.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 4, wherein said first portion comprises a first uncompressed thickness, wherein said second portion comprises a second uncompressed thickness, and wherein said second uncompressed thickness is greater than said first uncompressed thickness.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 4, wherein said layer is configured to be compressed a greater amount within said first staples than said second staples.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said second deck surface is laterally offset from said first deck surface in a direction away from said slot.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein said layer is configured to be compressed a greater amount within said first staples than said second staples.

9. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler comprising an anvil, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a row of first staple cavities defined in said deck;

a plurality of first staples, wherein said first staples are positioned in said first staple cavities;

a row of second staple cavities defined in said deck; and

a plurality of second staples, wherein said second staples are positioned in said second staple cavities; and

a layer, wherein said layer comprises;

a first portion positioned over said first staple cavities and configured to be captured within said first staples, said first portion comprising;

a first deck-contacting surface; and

a first tissue-contacting surface; and

a second portion positioned over said second staple cavities and configured to be captured within said second staples, said second portion comprising;

a second deck-contacting surface, wherein said first deck-contacting surface is closer to the anvil than said second deck-contacting surface when the anvil is in a closed position; and

a second tissue-contacting surface, wherein said first tissue-contacting surface is closer to the anvil than said second tissue-contacting surface when the anvil is in said closed position.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein said layer is configured to be compressed a greater amount within said first staples than said second staples.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein said layer comprises a uniform uncompressed thickness through said first portion and said second portion.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein said deck comprises a slot configured to receive a cutting member, and wherein said second portion is laterally offset from said first portion relative to said slot.

13. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein said first portion comprises a first uncompressed thickness, wherein said second portion comprises a second uncompressed thickness, and wherein said second uncompressed thickness is greater than said first uncompressed thickness.

14. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a row of first staple cavities defined in said deck;

a plurality of first staples, wherein said first staples are positioned in said first staple cavities;

a row of second staple cavities defined in said deck; and

a plurality of second staples, wherein said second staples are positioned in said second staple cavities;

a first layer, wherein said first layer comprises;

a first portion positioned over said first staple cavities and configured to be captured within said first staples; and

a second portion positioned over said second staple cavities and configured to be captured within said second staples; and

a second layer positioned over said second portion and not positioned over said first portion of said first layer.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 14, wherein said deck comprises a slot configured to receive a cutting member, and wherein said second portion is laterally offset from said first portion relative to said slot.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein said first layer is comprised of a first biocompatible material, wherein said second layer is comprised of a second biocompatible material, and wherein said first biocompatible material is different from said second biocompatible material.

17. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein said second biocompatible material comprises an elastomer.