SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED CUTTING MEMBER

• US 20130341374A1
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R.
• Application Number:
  US14/012,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341374A1
• 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 17/0686 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
• 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 first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows; and

a cutting element structured to travel along a curved path between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said cutting element comprises;

a proximal end;

a central axis extending distally from said proximal end; and

a distal end laterally offset from said central axis.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the curved path curves in a first direction, and wherein said distal end of said cutting element is laterally offset from said central axis in the first direction.

3. The end effector of claim 2, wherein said distal end comprises a pre-biased cutting edge, and wherein said pre-biased cutting edge is structured to lead said cutting element toward the first direction.

4. The end effector of claim 2, wherein said distal end comprises means for leading said cutting element in a predisposed direction, and wherein the predisposed direction corresponds to the first direction.

5. The end effector of claim 1, wherein at least one curved staple cavity row extends along an arc defining a subtended angle, and wherein the subtended angle is greater than 90 degrees.

6. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first jaw further comprises a first proximal portion, wherein said second jaw further comprises a second proximal portion, and wherein said end effector further comprises a hinge connecting said first proximal portion and said second proximal portion.

7. The end effector of claim 6, wherein said second jaw is structured to pivot relative to said first jaw at said hinge.

8. The end effector of claim 6, wherein said second jaw is structured to tilt relative to said first jaw at said hinge.

9. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

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

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows; and

a cutting element structured to travel along a curved path between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said cutting element comprises;

a cutting element body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and

a cutting edge extending from said distal end, wherein said cutting edge is non-centered relative to said proximal end.

11. The end effector of claim 10, wherein the curved path curves in a first direction, and wherein said cutting edge is pre-biased toward the first direction.

12. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said distal end comprises means for leading said cutting element in a predisposed direction, and wherein the predisposed direction corresponds to the first direction.

13. The end effector of claim 10, wherein at least one curved staple cavity row extends along an arc defining a subtended angle, and wherein the subtended angle is greater than 90 degrees.

14. The end effector of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

15. The end effector of claim 14, further comprising means for progressively deploying said staples from said staple cavities.

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

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows; and

a cutting element structured to travel along a curved path between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said cutting element comprises;

a proximal end;

a longitudinal axis extending distally from said proximal end, wherein said cutting element is asymmetrical relative to said longitudinal axis.

17. The end effector of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

18. The end effector of claim 17, further comprising a sled structured to move said cutting element along the curved path, wherein said sled is structured to progressively deploy said staples from said staple cavities.

19. The end effector of claim 16, wherein the curved path curves in a first direction, and wherein said cutting element is predisposed to move in the first direction.

20. The end effector of claim 16, wherein at least one curved staple cavity row extends along an arc defining a subtended angle, and wherein the subtended angle is greater than 90 degrees.