STAPLE CARTRIDGE

• US 20150265276A1
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Huitema, Thomas W., Siebenaler, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder

Abstract

A staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staples positioned within a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body can comprise a tissue-contacting deck and a plurality of ridges extending from the tissue-contacting deck. The ridges can be configured to prevent, or reduce the possibility of, tissue from moving relative to the staple cartridge during use. The staple cartridge can further comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity can comprise an opening in the deck which is at least partially surrounded by a ridge. The ridges can comprise a uniform height or a height which varies along the length thereof. The height can vary relative to a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body and/or between the center of the cartridge body and the side.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-contacting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck, and wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and

a plurality of ridges extending from said tissue-contacting deck, wherein each said opening is at least partially surrounded by a said ridge.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each said opening is entirely encompassed by a said ridge.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of staple drivers configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein each said staple is supported by a staple driver, wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-contacting deck.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 3, wherein each said ridge comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surfaces.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said ridges surround said proximal ends and said distal ends.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein said plurality of staple cavities comprise a first row of staple cavities housing a first row of staples and a second row of staple cavities housing a second row of staples, and wherein the ridges surrounding the openings of said first row of stale cavities are connected to the ridges surrounding the openings of said second row of staple cavities.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each said ridge comprises an array of knurls.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 7, wherein said knurls each comprise one of a pyramid-shaped configuration and a cone-shaped configuration.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 7, wherein said knurls cover the entirety of said tissue-contacting deck.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said plurality of staple cavities comprises a row of staple cavities housing a row of staples, and wherein said ridges are positioned intermediate the staple cavities in said row of staple cavities.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein each said ridge comprises an X-shaped configuration.

12. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a middle portion;

a lateral portion;

a tissue-contacting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and

a plurality of ridges extending from said tissue-contacting deck, wherein each said ridge extends between said middle portion and said lateral portion.

13. The staple cartridge of claim 12, wherein each said ridge comprises a uniform height.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 12, wherein each said ridge comprises a height which varies along the length thereof.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 14, wherein each said ridge comprises a height which tapers from a tall portion positioned adjacent to said lateral portion of said cartridge body to a short portion positioned adjacent to said middle portion of said cartridge body.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 12, wherein said plurality of staple cavities comprises a first row of staple cavities housing a first row of staples and a second row of staple cavities housing a second row of staples, and wherein each said ridge extends along a line which transects said first row of staples and said second row of staples.

17. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a tissue-contacting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and

a plurality of ridges extending from said tissue-contacting deck, wherein each said ridge comprises a height which varies between a proximal height and a distal height, and wherein said proximal height is closer to said proximal end than said distal height.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein said proximal height is taller than said distal height.

19. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein said height of each said ridge tapers between said proximal height and said distal height.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein each said ridge comprises a ramp having a maximum height at said proximal end.