SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED END EFFECTOR

• US 20140001239A1
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• 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., Balek, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,603,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

Claims

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

a first jaw; and

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, wherein at least one curved staple cavity row extends along a path, and wherein said path comprises;

a first curved portion comprising a first vector component; and

a second curved portion comprising a second vector component, wherein said second vector component is opposite of said first vector component.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first vector component comprises a distal vector component, and wherein said second vector component comprises a proximal vector component.

3. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first curved portion is distal relative to said second curved portion.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first curved portion and said second curved portion comprise a third vector component, and wherein said third vector component is perpendicular to said first and second vector components.

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

6. The end effector of claim 5, further comprising:

a cutting element structured to travel along a curved slot between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows; and

a sled structured to move said cutting element along the curved slot, wherein said sled is structured to progressively deploy said staples from said staple cavities.

7. The end effector of claim 6, 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.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said cutting element is asymmetrical relative to said central axis.

9. The end effector of claim 6, 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.

10. The end effector of claim 6, wherein the curved slot curves in a first direction, and wherein said cutting element is pre-biased toward the first direction.

11. The end effector of claim 10, wherein said cutting element comprises means for leading said cutting element in a predisposed direction, and wherein the predisposed direction corresponds to the first direction.

12. 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, 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; 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.

13. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the curved path comprises:

a proximal curved portion extending distally; and

a distal curved portion extending proximally.

14. The end effector of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of progressively-deployable staples positioned in said staple cavities.

15. The end effector of claim 12, 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.

16. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the curved path curves in a first direction, and wherein said cutting element is pre-biased toward the first direction.

17. 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;

a curved slot positioned between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved slot extends along a curve defining a subtended angle, and wherein the subtended angle is greater than 90 degrees; and

means for cutting, wherein said means for cutting is structured to travel along said curved slot.

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

19. The end effector of claim 18, further comprising means for progressively deploying said staples from said staple cavities.

20. The end effector of claim 17, wherein said curved slot curves in a first direction, and wherein said means for cutting is pre-biased toward the first direction.