FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DRIVER ROW ARRANGEMENT

• US 20130334286A1
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Hueil, Joseph C., Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 9,844,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/105 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 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• 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 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments

Abstract

A surgical stapling device that comprises an end effector. According to various embodiments, the end effector comprises a circular anvil having a staple forming surface and a plurality of staples facing the staple forming surface of the anvil. The end effector also comprises a staple driver assembly comprising a plurality of staple drivers. Each staple driver supports one of the plurality of staples and is configured such that, when the staple driver assembly is actuated, each staple driver drives the staple into the staple forming surface of the anvil. A first quantity of the plurality of staple drivers has a first height and a second quantity of the plurality of staple drivers has a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height.

Claims

1. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw, comprising;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a longitudinal row of first fasteners removably stored in said first jaw, wherein said row of first fasteners extends between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said slot, and wherein each said first fastener comprises;

a base;

a first leg extending from said base in a first direction;

a second leg extending from said base in a second direction, wherein said first direction is not parallel to said second direction; and

a longitudinal row of second fasteners removably stored in said first jaw, wherein said row of second fasteners extends between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said row of first fasteners;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform said fasteners;

a firing member movable longitudinally toward said distal end portion; and

a fastener driver, wherein said fastener driver supports a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein said first fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second fastener, wherein said firing member is configured to lift said fastener driver toward said anvil, wherein said fastener driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first fastener to a first fired height and to deform said second fastener to a second fired height, and wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

3. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising said cutting member.

4. The end effector of claim 3, wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal portion and said distal end portion.

5. The end effector of claim 1, wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

6. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

7. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a longitudinal row of first fasteners extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said slot, wherein each said first fastener comprises;

a base;

a first leg extending from said base in a first direction;

a second leg extending from said base in a second direction, wherein said first direction is not parallel to said second direction; and

a longitudinal row of second fasteners extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said row of first fasteners;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame;

an anvil configured to deform said fasteners;

a firing member movable longitudinally toward said distal end portion; and

a fastener driver, wherein said fastener driver supports a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein said first fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second fastener, wherein said firing member is configured to lift said fastener driver toward said anvil, wherein said fastener driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first fastener to a first fired height and to deform said second fastener to a second fired height, and wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

9. The end effector of claim 7, further comprising said cutting member.

10. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal portion and said distal end portion.

11. The end effector of claim 7, wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

12. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

13. An end effector for a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw;

a plurality of staple cavities;

a slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a longitudinal row of first staples extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said slot, wherein each said first staple comprises;

a base;

a first leg extending from said base in a first direction;

a second leg extending from said base in a second direction, wherein said first direction is not parallel to said second direction; and

a longitudinal row of second staples extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said row of first fasteners;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame;

an anvil configured to deform said staples; and

a staple driver movable toward said anvil, wherein said fastener driver supports a first staple and a second staple, wherein said first staple is positioned distally with respect to said second staple, wherein said staple driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first staple to a first fired height and to deform said second staple to a second fired height, and wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

14. The end effector of claim 13, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

15. The end effector of claim 13, further comprising said cutting member.

16. The end effector of claim 15, wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal portion and said distal end portion.

17. The end effector of claim 13, wherein each said second staple comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

18. The end effector of claim 13, wherein said row of first staples includes a first distal-most staple, wherein said row of second staples includes a second distal-most staple, and wherein said first distal-most staple is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most staple.