FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR INCLUDING OPENINGS THEREIN

• US 20140291382A1
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lloyd, Brandon J., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Vendely, Michael J., Schellin, Emily A., Weaner, Lauren S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,572,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder

Abstract

A fastener cartridge assembly. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body, a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, and a fastener removably positioned in a staple cavity of the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator can comprise a first clearance aperture extending along a first predefined trajectory and a second clearance aperture extending along a second predefined trajectory. The fastener can comprise a first leg aligned with the first clearance aperture and moveable along the first predefined trajectory, a second leg aligned with the second clearance aperture and moveable along the second predefined trajectory. The first and second predefined trajectories can be parallel.

Claims

1. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity;

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a first aperture extending along a first predefined trajectory; and

a second aperture extending along a second predefined trajectory; and

a fastener removably positioned in said fastener cavity, wherein said fastener comprises;

a first leg aligned with said first aperture and moveable along said first predefined trajectory; and

a second leg aligned with said second aperture and moveable along said second predefined trajectory.

2. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said first predefined trajectory is parallel to said second predefined trajectory.

3. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said fastener is moveable along a fastener axis, and wherein said first leg and said second leg are parallel to said fastener axis.

4. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein a clearance is defined between said first leg and said first aperture when said first leg moves along said first predefined trajectory.

5. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said second aperture is wider than said second leg.

6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said first aperture and said second aperture extend at least partially through said tissue thickness compensator.

7. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity;

a fastener comprising a first leg and a second leg, wherein said fastener is moveable from an unfired configuration to a fired configuration; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a first clearance path defined at least partially through said tissue thickness compensator; and

a second clearance path defined at least partially through said tissue thickness compensator, wherein said first leg moves along said first clearance path and said second leg moves along said second clearance path when said fastener moves from the unfired configuration to the fired configuration.

8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein said first clearance path is parallel to said second clearance path.

9. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein said first clearance path is longer than said first leg.

10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein a gap is defined between said second leg and said tissue thickness compensator when said second leg moves along said second clearance path.

11. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity;

a fastener comprising a fastener leg, wherein said fastener leg defines a leg length; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a predefined opening that is aligned with said fastener leg, and wherein said predefined opening defines an opening length that is greater than said leg length.

12. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein said fastener moves along a fastener axis between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration, and wherein said predefined opening extends along an axis that is parallel to said fastener axis.

13. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein said fastener leg defines a leg width, and wherein said predefined opening further comprises an opening width that is greater than said leg width.

14. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein said predefined opening further comprises an opening trajectory, and wherein said fastener leg further comprises a leg trajectory that matches said opening trajectory.

15. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity;

a fastener comprising a fastener leg, wherein said fastener leg defines a leg diameter; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a predefined opening that is aligned with said fastener leg, and wherein said predefined opening defines an opening diameter that is greater than said leg diameter.

16. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein said cartridge body comprises a deck, and wherein said predefined opening extends into said cartridge body along an axis that is perpendicular to said deck.

17. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein said fastener leg defines a leg length, and wherein said predefined opening further comprises an opening length that is greater than said leg length.

18. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein said predefined opening further comprises an opening trajectory, and wherein said fastener leg further comprises a leg trajectory that matches said opening trajectory.

19. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are moveable from a unfired configuration to a fired configuration; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body, wherein said fasteners move at least partially through said tissue thickness compensator when said fasteners are moved from the unfired configuration to the fired configuration, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises clearance means for reducing friction between said fasteners and said tissue thickness compensator.

20. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 19, wherein each said fastener further comprises a staple leg that is at least partially embedded in said tissue thickness compensator when said fastener is in the unfired configuration.

21. A fastener cartridge assembly for fastening patient tissue, the fastener cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are moveable from a unfired configuration to a fired configuration;

a tissue thickness compensator, wherein said fasteners are configured to capture a portion of the patient tissue and a portion of the tissue thickness compensator when said fasteners are moved between the unfired configuration and the fired configuration; and

expansion means for reforming the tissue thickness compensator to consume the space within the fasteners not consumed by the patient tissue.