FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FIXED ANVIL AND DIFFERENT STAPLE HEIGHTS

• US 20160000438A1
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Hueil, Joseph C., Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 10,842,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical stapling device that comprises an end effector. According to various embodiments, the end effector comprises a circular anvil having a staple forming surface and a plurality of staples facing the staple forming surface of the anvil. The end effector also comprises a staple driver assembly comprising a plurality of staple drivers. Each staple driver supports one of the plurality of staples and is configured such that, when the staple driver assembly is actuated, each staple driver drives the staple into the staple forming surface of the anvil. A first quantity of the plurality of staple drivers has a first height and a second quantity of the plurality of staple drivers has a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height.

Claims

1. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a first jaw, comprising;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body;

a longitudinal row of first fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein each said first fastener comprises;

a first base; and

a first pair of legs extending from said first base in non-parallel directions to one another, wherein a first unfired height is defined by said first base and said first pair of legs; and

a longitudinal row of second fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of second fasteners extends alongside said row of first fasteners, and wherein each said second fastener comprises;

a second base; and

a second pair of legs extending from said second base in non-parallel directions to one another, wherein a second unfired height is defined by said second base and said second pair of legs, and wherein said second unfired height is different than said first unfired height; and

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform said first fasteners to a first fired height and said second fasteners to a second fired height, wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

3. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first unfired height is shorter than said second fired height.

4. The end effector of claim 3, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

5. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a knife slidably positionable in a knife slot.

6. The end effector of claim 5, wherein said cartridge body comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said knife is slidable longitudinally between said proximal end and said distal end.

7. The end effector of claim 1, wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

8. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

9. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a first jaw;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body;

a longitudinal row of first fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein each said first fastener comprises;

a first base; and

a first pair of legs extending from said first base in non-parallel directions to one another, wherein a first unfired height is defined by said first base and said first pair of legs;

a longitudinal row of second fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of second fasteners extends alongside said row of first fasteners, and wherein each said second fastener comprises;

a second base; and

a second pair of legs extending from said second base in non-parallel directions to one another, wherein a second unfired height is defined by said second base and said second pair of legs, and wherein said second unfired height is different than said first unfired height; and

an anvil configured to deform said first fasteners to a first fired height and said second fasteners to a second fired height, wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

10. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

11. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said first unfired height is shorter than said second unfired height.

12. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

13. The end effector of claim 9, further comprising a knife slidably positionable in a knife slot.

14. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said cartridge body comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said knife is slidable longitudinally between said proximal end and said distal end.

15. The end effector of claim 9, wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

16. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

17. An end effector for a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a first jaw;

a second jaw extending from said frame, wherein said second jaw is not movable relative to said frame, and wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of staple cavities defined in said cartridge body;

a longitudinal row of first staples removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein each said first staple comprises;

a first base; and

a first pair of legs extending from said first base in non-parallel directions to one another, wherein a first unfired height is defined by said first base and said first pair of legs;

a longitudinal row of second staples removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of second staples extends alongside said row of first staples, and wherein each said second staple comprises;

a second base; and

a second pair of legs extending from said second base in non-parallel directions to one another, wherein a second unfired height is defined by said second base and said second pair of legs, and wherein said second unfired height is different than said first unfired height; and

an anvil configured to deform said first staples to a first fired height and said second staples to a second fired height, wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

18. The end effector of claim 17, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

19. The end effector of claim 17, wherein said first unfired height is shorter than said second unfired height.

20. The end effector of claim 19, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.