SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED END EFFECTOR

• US 20140008414A1
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• 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 9,655,624 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 17/0686 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, comprising;

a first lateral side comprising an outside radius of curvature; and

a second lateral side comprising an inside radius of curvature;

a second 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 said second jaw is moveable relative to said first jaw between an open orientation, a partially-closed orientation, and a closed orientation, and wherein said second jaw comprises;

a first lateral side comprising an outside radius of curvature, wherein an outside partially-closed distance is defined between said first lateral sides when said second jaw is in said partially-closed orientation; and

a second lateral side comprising an inside radius of curvature, wherein an inside partially-closed distance is defined between said second lateral sides when said second jaw is in said partially-closed orientation, and wherein said inside partially-closed distance is less than said outside partially-closed distance; 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.

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

3. The end effector of claim 2, wherein said staples are progressively deployable from said staple cavities.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first jaw further comprises:

a first intermediate portion; and

a first distal portion; and

wherein said second jaw further comprises;

a second intermediate portion, wherein said second intermediate portion is positioned a partially-closed intermediate distance from said first intermediate portion when said second jaw is in said partially-closed orientation; and

a second distal portion, wherein said second distal portion is positioned a partially-closed distal distance from said first distal portion when said second jaw is in said partially-closed orientation, and wherein said partially-closed distal distance is less than said partially-closed intermediate distance.

5. The end effector of claim 4, wherein said first and second distal portions are structured to clamp tissue before said first and second intermediate portions.

6. The end effector of claim 4, wherein said first distal portion further comprises a pivot surface, and wherein said second jaw is structured to pivot relative to said pivot surface of said first distal portion when said second jaw moves between said partially-closed configuration and said closed configuration.

7. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises:

a first curved row comprising a first quantity of staple cavities; and

a second curved row comprising a second quantity of staple cavities, wherein said second curved row is positioned radially inward relative to said first curved row, and wherein said second quantity of staple cavities is less than said first quantity of staple cavities.

8. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises:

a first curved row positioned adjacent to a curved slot;

a second curved row; and

an intermediate curved row positioned intermediate said first curved row and said second curved row, wherein each said staple cavity of said first curved row is radially aligned with a single said staple cavity of said second curved row.

9. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises:

a first pair of curved rows extending along a first side of a curved slot, wherein each said curved row of said first pair of curved rows comprises a first quantity of staple cavities; and

a second pair of curved rows extending along a second side of the curved slot, wherein said second side of the curved slot is radially outward relative to said first side of the curved slot, wherein each said curved row of said second pair of curved rows comprises a second quantity of staple cavities, and wherein said second quantity of staple cavities is greater than said first quantity of staple cavities.

10. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a cutting element structured to travel along a curved path between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows.

11. The end effector of claim 10, wherein said cutting element further comprises:

a proximal end;

a central axis extending distally from said proximal end; and

a distal end laterally offset from said central axis.

12. The end effector of claim 10, wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction, wherein said cutting element comprises a pre-biased cutting edge, and wherein said pre-biased cutting edge leads said cutting element toward the first direction.

13. 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.

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

a first jaw, comprising;

a first lateral side comprising an outside radius of curvature; and

a second lateral side comprising an inside radius of curvature; and

a second 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 said second jaw is moveable relative to said first jaw between an open orientation, a partially-closed orientation, and a closed orientation, and wherein said second jaw comprises;

a first lateral side comprising an outside radius of curvature, wherein an outside partially-closed distance is defined between said first lateral sides when said second jaw is in said partially-closed orientation; and

a second lateral side comprising an inside radius of curvature, wherein an inside partially-closed distance is defined between said second lateral sides when said second jaw is in said partially-closed orientation, and wherein said inside partially-closed distance is less than said outside partially-closed distance.

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

16. The end effector of claim 14, further comprising a curved path between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein a cutting element is structured to travel along said curved path.

17. The end effector of claim 14, further comprising a hinge connecting said first jaw and said second jaw.

18. The end effector of claim 17, wherein said second jaw is structured to pivot and tilt relative to said first jaw at said hinge.

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

a first jaw;

a second 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 said second jaw is moveable relative to said first jaw between an open orientation and a closed orientation, and wherein said second jaw comprises;

a first lateral side comprising an outside radius of curvature; and

a second lateral side comprising an inside radius of curvature, wherein said first lateral side is structured to clamp tissue against said first jaw before said second lateral side when said second jaw moves from said open orientation toward said closed orientation; and

a plurality of staples removably positioned in said plurality of staple cavities.

20. The end effector of claim 19, wherein said second jaw tilts and pivots toward said first jaw when said second jaw moves between said open orientation and said closed orientation.