STAPLE FORMING FEATURES FOR SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT

• US 20140239037A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Scheib, Charles J., Hoffman, Douglas B., Volz, Janna B., Dunki-Jacobs, Adam R., O'Connor, Megan, Kruth, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,092,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

An end effector for a surgical instrument comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw and is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples. The anvil has staple forming pockets. Each staple forming pocket comprises first and second staple forming surface regions configured to receive respective first and second staple legs. The first and second staple forming surface regions each have a respective length that is greater than half of the length of the staple forming pocket. The staple forming surface regions may include convex surfaces that drive staple legs laterally. The pocket minimizes re-entry of staple leg tips into tissue.

Claims

1. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the anvil comprises;

(i) a tissue contacting surface, and

(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises;

(A) a first staple forming surface region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first region has a length greater than half of the length of the staple forming pocket,

(B) a second staple forming surface region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second staple forming surface region has a length greater than half of the length of the staple forming pocket, and

(C) a dividing structure located between the first staple forming surface region and the second staple forming surface region,

wherein the dividing structure is defined by a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion, a third sidewall portion, and a fourth sidewall portion,

wherein the first and second sidewall portions further define a side of the first staple forming surface region, wherein the third and

fourth sidewall portions further define a side of the second staple forming surface region.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple forming surface region is defined within a first channel, wherein the second staple forming surface region is defined within a second channel.

3. The end effector of claim 2, wherein the dividing structure separates the first channel from the second channel.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the dividing structure is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket.

6. The end effector of claim 4, wherein the first sidewall portion defines a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the second sidewall portion defines a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

7. The end effector of claim 6, wherein the third sidewall portion defines a third angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the fourth sidewall portion defines a fourth angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the third angle is greater than the fourth angle.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein the first angle is equal to the third angle.

9. The end effector of claim 8, wherein the second angle is equal to the fourth angle.

10. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall portion has a first length, wherein the second sidewall portion has a second length, wherein the third sidewall portion has a third length, wherein the fourth sidewall portion has a fourth length, wherein the first length is less than the second length, wherein the third length is less than the fourth length.

11. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first channel terminates at a region along the length of the staple forming pocket that is common with the region along the length of the staple forming pocket where the third sidewall portion transitions to the fourth sidewall portion, wherein the second channel terminates at a region along the length of the staple forming pocket that is common with the region along the length of the staple forming pocket where the first sidewall portion transitions to the second sidewall portion.

12. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the dividing structure is recessed relative to the tissue contacting surface.

13. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first and second sidewall portions are parallel with each other and are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket.

14. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a single continuous channel extending from one end of the staple forming pocket to an opposite end of the staple forming pocket.

15. The end effector of claim 14, wherein the first staple forming surface region and the second staple forming surface region are both formed in the single continuous channel.

16. The end effector of claim 14, wherein the single continuous channel comprises a vertically presented floor, wherein the staple forming pocket further comprises:

(A) a first camming feature including a first laterally presented convex surface, and

(B) a second camming feature including a second laterally presented convex surface,

wherein the first and second laterally presented convex surfaces face opposite lateral directions.

17. The end effector of claim 16, wherein the first camming feature further comprises a first vertically presented concave surface terminating in the floor of the single continuous channel,

wherein the second camming feature further comprises a second vertically presented concave surface terminating in the floor of the single continuous channel,

wherein the first vertically presented concave surface, the second laterally presented convex surface, and the floor together define the first staple forming surface region, and

wherein the second vertically presented concave surface, the first laterally presented convex surface, and the floor together define the second staple forming surface region.

18. The end effector of claim 17, wherein a first entry portion of the floor lies along an arc defined by a radius of a first length, wherein a second entry portion of the floor also lies along an arc defined by a radius of the first length, wherein the first entry portion is associated with the first vertically presented concave surface, wherein the second entry portion is associated with the second vertically presented concave surface,

wherein the first vertically presented concave surface lies along an arc defined by a radius of a second length, wherein the second vertically presented concave surface lies along an arc defined by a radius of the second length,

wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

21. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first staple forming surface region further comprises a first downwardly sloping concave surface defined by a first radius length and a first upwardly sloping concave surface defined by a second radius length and wherein the second staple forming surface region further comprises a second downwardly sloping concave surface defined by a third radius length and a second upwardly sloping concave surface defined by a fourth radius length.

5. (canceled)

19. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises;

(i) a tissue contacting surface, and

(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises;

(A) a first staple forming surface region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first staple forming surface region includes a first convex surface configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, and

(B) a second staple forming surface region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second staple forming surface region includes a second convex surface configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis.

20. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises;

(i) a tissue contacting surface, and

(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis extends along the length of the staple forming pocket through a laterally central region of the staple forming pocket, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises;

(A) a first region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first region includes a first surface region configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis,

(B) a second region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second region includes a second surface region configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein parts of the first and second regions extend along a common range of the length of the staple forming pocket such that portions of the first and second regions are positioned lateral to each other, and

(C) a dividing wall located between the first staple forming surface region and the second staple forming surface region,

wherein the dividing wall is defined by a first sidewall portion, and a second sidewall portion, wherein the first sidewall portion further defines an inner side of the first staple forming surface region,

wherein the second sidewall portion defines an inner side of the second staple forming surface region, and

wherein the first and second sidewall portions are parallel with each other and are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket.