SURGICAL STAPLES, STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND SURGICAL END EFFECTORS

• US 20150173751A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Baxter, Chester O. III, Morgan, Jerome R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

A surgical staple. The staple can define a seamless unitary piece. In various instances, the staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple can include a base and staple legs. A staple drive surface can be integrally formed in the base, and a sled can directly contact the staple drive surface to directly drive the staple.

Claims

1. A surgical staple, comprising:

a base comprising an inclined drive surface; and

a first leg extending from the base; and

a second leg extending from the base, wherein the base, the first leg and the second leg define a seamless unitary piece.

2. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the inclined drive surface is positioned intermediate the first leg and the second leg.

3. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises:

a first portion comprising an initial drive surface, wherein the first leg extends from the first portion; and

a second portion, wherein the second leg extends from the second portion.

4. The surgical staple of claim 3, wherein the inclined drive surface is laterally offset from the initial drive surface.

5. The surgical staple of claim 3, wherein the initial drive surface comprises a nub.

6. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the base is asymmetrical.

7. A surgical staple, comprising:

a base comprising a drive surface;

a first leg extending from the base;

a second leg extending from the base, wherein the first leg and the second leg define a first plane; and

wherein the drive surface extends along a portion of the base in a direction parallel to the first plane, and wherein the drive surface is laterally offset from the first plane.

8. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein the drive surface further comprises a ramp.

9. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein the base further comprises:

a first contour intermediate the drive surface and the first leg; and

a second contour intermediate the drive surface and the second leg.

10. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein the base extends non-linearly between the first leg and the second leg.

11. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein the base further comprises a proximal portion, wherein the first leg extends from the proximal portion, and wherein the proximal portion further comprises an initial drive surface.

12. The surgical staple of claim 11, wherein the initial drive surface is positioned in the first plane.

13. The surgical staple of claim 11, wherein the proximal portion further comprises a nub.

14. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein the base, the first leg, and the second leg define a unitary piece.

15. A system, comprising:

a seamless staple, comprising;

a leg; and

an integral drive surface; and

a sled comprising an inclined driving surface configured to directly contact the integral drive surface of the seamless staple.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the integral drive surface further comprises an inclined surface.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of seamless staples, wherein the sled is configured to contact the plurality of seamless staples.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the sled further comprises a plurality of inclined driving surfaces.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the seamless staple further comprises a plurality of integral drive surfaces.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sled further comprises an overdrive portion.

21. A method for forming a fastener, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a sheet of material defined by a sheet plane;

directing an intermediate portion of the sheet of material laterally away from the sheet plane; and

extracting a fastener form from the sheet of material, wherein the fastener form comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a base region connecting the first leg and the second leg.

22. A surgical staple, comprising:

an integral base;

a first deformable leg seamlessly extending from the base; and

a second deformable leg seamlessly extending from the base, wherein the base comprises a variable height intermediate the first deformable leg and the second deformable leg.