SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED CUTTING MEMBER

• US 20130186934A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/177.1
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• 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 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a curved end-effector which is configured to deploy staples in at least one curved staple line. The surgical stapler can include a staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein, an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cutting member having a cutting surface. The staple cartridge and/or anvil can include a curved slot configured for receiving and guiding the cutting member wherein at least a portion of the cutting member can be defined by a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of the slot. In these embodiments, the curved cutting member can be easily moved within the curved slot thereby reducing the possibility that the cutting member will become stuck within the slot.

Claims

1. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a curved staple cartridge, comprising;

a first curved row of staple cavities;

a second curved row of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples, wherein a first quantity of said staples are ejectably stored in the staple cavities of said first curved row of staple cavities, and wherein a second quantity of said staples are ejectably stored in the staple cavities of said second curved row of staple cavities; and

a curved slot positioned intermediate said first curved row of staple cavities and said second curved row of staple cavities, wherein said curved slot extends between a proximal portion of said curved staple cartridge and a distal portion of said curved staple cartridge; and

a sled configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises;

a first permanently curved camming wedge; and

a second permanently curved camming wedge.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first permanently curved camming wedge is configured to translate along a first curved axis defined by said first curved row of staple cavities during the firing stroke, and wherein said second permanently curved camming wedge is configured to translate along a second curved axis defined by said second curved row of staple cavities during the firing stroke.

3. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising:

a first plurality of curved rows of staple cavities on a first side of said curved slot, wherein said first plurality of curved rows of staple cavities comprises said first curved row of staple cavities; and

a second plurality of curved rows of staple cavities on a second side of said curved slot, wherein said second plurality of curved rows of staple cavities comprises said second curved row of staple cavities.

4. The end effector of claim 3, further comprising

a permanently curved guide positioned, wherein said curved slot is configured to received said permanently curved guide;

a first plurality of permanently curved camming wedges on a first side of said permanently curved guide, wherein said first plurality of permanently curved camming wedges comprises said first permanently curved camming wedge; and

a second plurality of permanently curved camming wedges on a second side of said permanently curved guide, wherein said second plurality of permanently curved camming wedges comprises said second permanently curved camming wedge.

5. A replaceable end effector for cutting and stapling tissue, the end effector comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw;

a longitudinally curved staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staple cavities are arranged along a plurality of longitudinally curved axes;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and

a longitudinally curved slot; and

a longitudinally curved sled configured to translate through at least a portion of said longitudinally curved staple cartridge, wherein said longitudinally curved sled comprises a plurality of longitudinally curved camming wedges, and wherein each said longitudinally curved camming wedge comprises an inflexible radius of curvature.

6. The replaceable end effector of claim 5, wherein said longitudinally curved slot comprises a radius of curvature, and wherein said inflexible radius of curvature of each said longitudinally curved camming wedge matches the radius of curvature of said longitudinally curved slot.

7. The replaceable end effector of claim 5, wherein each longitudinally curved camming wedge is configured to translate along a longitudinally curved axis to remove said staples from said staple cavities arranged along the longitudinally curved axis.

8. An end effector for cutting and stapling tissue, the end effector comprising:

a curved staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of curved rows of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are ejectably positioned in the staple cavities of said plurality of curved rows of staple cavities; and

a slot extending between a proximal portion of said curved staple cartridge and a distal portion of said curved staple cartridge, wherein said slot defines a curved trajectory within said curved staple cartridge; and

a curved sled configured to translate through at least a portion of said curved staple cartridge during a firing stroke, wherein said curved sled comprises;

a plurality of staple-ejecting cams; and

a curved trajectory that is fixed prior to the firing stroke, wherein said curved trajectory of said curved sled matches said curved trajectory of said slot.

9. The end effector of claim 8, wherein said staples are ejectably positioned in the staple cavities.

10. The end effector of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of staple drivers, wherein said staple drivers are positioned in the staple cavities.

11. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a curved staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of curved rows of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities of said plurality of curved rows of staple cavities; and

a curved slot extending between a proximal portion of said curved staple cartridge and a distal portion of said curved staple cartridge; and

an irreversibly curved sled configured to eject staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke, wherein said irreversibly curved sled comprises a plurality of irreversibly curved ramps.

12. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said irreversibly curved sled comprises a sled radius of curvature, wherein said curved staple cartridge comprises a cartridge radius of curvature, and wherein said sled radius of curvature matches said cartridge radius of curvature pre-firing stroke.

13. A disposable end effector for cutting and stapling tissue, the surgical end effector comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in staple cavities; and

a slot extending from a proximal portion of said staple cartridge to a distal portion of said staple cartridge, wherein said slot comprises a radius of curvature between the proximal portion of said staple cartridge and the distal portion of said staple cartridge; and

a sled comprising a central section, wherein said central section comprises an inflexible radius of curvature, wherein said inflexible radius of curvature relates to said radius of curvature of said slot, and wherein said central section is configured to translate along at least a portion of said slot.

14. The disposable end effector of claim 13, wherein said sled further comprises a plurality of ramps, wherein each said ramp comprises an inflexible radius of curvature.

15. The disposable end effector of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of staple cavities arranged along a plurality of curved axes, wherein each said ramp is configured to translate along a curved axis to eject said staples from said staple cavities arranged along the curved axis.

16. An end effector for a surgical stapler, the end effector comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in staple cavities, wherein said staples are removed from said staple cavities during a firing stroke; and

a curved slot extending between a proximal portion of said staple cartridge and a distal portion of said staple cartridge; and

a permanently curved sled configured to translate along said curved slot during the firing stroke.

17. The end effector of claim 16, wherein said permanently curved sled comprises a plurality of permanently curved camming wedges.

18. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities; and

a slot extending between a proximal portion of said staple cartridge and a distal portion of said staple cartridge, wherein said slot defines a trajectory between the proximal portion of said staple cartridge and the distal portion of said staple cartridge; and

a sled comprising a ramp configured to translate between the proximal portion of said staple cartridge and the distal portion of said staple cartridge during a firing stroke, wherein said ramp defines a predefined trajectory that is defined pre-firing stroke, and wherein said predefined trajectory is coextensive with said trajectory of said slot.

19. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of staple cavities arranged in staple cavity rows;

a plurality of staples ejectably stored in said staple cavities; and

a slot comprising a longitudinal curvature;

a staple-ejecting sled configured to translate along said slot during a firing stroke, wherein said staple-ejecting sled comprises an irreversibly curved guide, and wherein said irreversibly curved guide comprises a longitudinal curvature that matches said longitudinal curvature of said slot.

20. The end effector of claim 19, wherein said staple-ejecting sled comprises a plurality of irreversibly curved wedges, and wherein an irreversibly curved wedge is configured to translate along a curved axis defined by a staple cavity row during a firing stroke.

21. A disposable end effector for cutting and stapling tissue, the surgical end effector comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw;

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in a plurality of staple cavities; and

a slot extending between a proximal portion of said staple cartridge and a distal portion of said staple cartridge, wherein said slot comprises a curvature between the proximal portion of said staple cartridge and the distal portion of said staple cartridge; and

a sled configured to translate at least partially through said staple cartridge during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises;

a staple-camming body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and

a pre-defined radius of curvature between the proximal end and the distal end of said staple-camming body, wherein said pre-defined radius of curvature is defined pre-firing stroke.