STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLE ADJUNCT MATERIAL

• US 20160128694A1
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, Chester O. III, Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 9,844,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/0686 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 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises cartridge body and a layer. The layer is implantable against tissue by staples deployed from the cartridge body and deformed by an anvil. The cartridge and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the cartridge and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the cartridge body. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the anvil and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the anvil and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the anvil. In certain instances, the layer can be positioned against the anvil, but releasably attached to the cartridge. The layer can comprise buttress material and/or a tissue thickness compensator, for example.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a firing member movable between a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and

a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainer and lift said layer retainer relative to said deck.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said layer retainer comprises a clip movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said deck comprises a clip slot, and wherein a portion of said layer is wedged between said clip and said clip slot when said clip is in said retaining position.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said layer retainer comprises a retainer lip, wherein said deck comprises a deck lip, and wherein said retainer lip and said deck lip releasably hold said layer therebetween.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said layer comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said layer retainer is positioned at said distal end of said cartridge body and is configured to releasably hold said distal portion against said deck, and wherein said proximal portion is wedged between said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said proximal portion is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position.

5. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive a portion of the firing member therein, wherein said layer comprises a series of tabs aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said tabs to progressively release said tabs from said longitudinal slot.

6. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a plurality of staple drivers comprising a proximal driver and a distal driver;

a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to lift said staple drivers toward said deck to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and

a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said distal driver is configured to retract said layer retainer relative to said deck.

7. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6, wherein said layer retainer comprises a pin movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said layer comprises a pin aperture, wherein said pin is positioned in said pin aperture when said layer retainer is in said retaining position, and wherein said pin is disengaged from said pin aperture when the layer retainer is in said released position.

8. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6, wherein said layer comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said layer retainer is positioned at said distal end of said cartridge body and is configured to releasably hold said distal portion relative to said deck, and wherein said proximal portion is wedged between said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said proximal portion is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position.

9. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6, wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive a portion of the firing member therein, wherein said layer comprises a series of tabs aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said tabs to progressively release said tabs from said longitudinal slot.

10. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a longitudinal slot;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein a portion of said firing member is positioned within said longitudinal slot;

a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and

a longitudinal series of layer retainers configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said layer retainers are aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainers to progressively release said layer retainers from said longitudinal slot.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises a first longitudinal sidewall and a second longitudinal sidewall, and wherein each said layer retainer comprises a tab releasably wedged between said first sidewall and said second sidewall.

12. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10, wherein said layer comprises an implantable body, and wherein said layer retainers are integrally formed with said implantable body.

13. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of staple drivers configured to lift said staples toward said deck, wherein said staple drivers comprise a proximal staple driver and a distal staple driver; and

a distal layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said distal driver is configured to retract said distal layer retainer relative to said deck.

14. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein said distal layer retainer comprises a pin movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said layer comprises a pin aperture, wherein said pin is positioned in said pin aperture when said layer retainer is in said retaining position, and wherein said pin is disengaged from said pin aperture when said layer retainer is in said released position.

15. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10, wherein said layer comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said proximal portion is wedged between said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said proximal portion is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position.

16. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a distal layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said distal layer retainer and lift said distal layer retainer relative to said deck.

17. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 16, wherein said distal layer retainer comprises a clip movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said deck comprises a clip slot, and wherein a portion of said layer is wedged between said clip and said clip slot when said clip is in said retaining position.

18. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 16, wherein said layer retainer comprises a retainer lip, wherein said deck comprises a deck lip, and wherein said retainer lip and said deck lip releasably hold said layer therebetween.

19. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and

a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

an anvil configured to deform said staples;

a layer positioned against said anvil, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities, wherein said layer comprises a layer retainer positioned intermediate said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said layer retainer is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position.

20. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19, wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive a portion of said firing member, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and wherein said layer retainer is positioned intermediate said firing member and said first sidewall when said firing member is in said proximal position.

21. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19, wherein said anvil includes a longitudinal anvil slot configured to receive a portion of the firing member, wherein said layer further comprises a longitudinal series of anvil layer retainers configured to releasably hold said layer to said anvil, wherein said anvil layer retainers are aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal anvil slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said anvil layer retainers to progressively release said anvil layer retainers from said longitudinal anvil slot.

22. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a cartridge layer releasably attached to said cartridge body by at least one cartridge layer retainer.

23. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 22, wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive a portion of said firing member, wherein said at least one cartridge layer retainer comprises a longitudinal series of cartridge layer retainers configured to releasably hold said cartridge layer to said cartridge body, wherein said cartridge layer retainers are aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal cartridge slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said cartridge layer retainers to progressively release said cartridge layer retainers from said longitudinal cartridge slot.

24. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 22, wherein said at least one cartridge layer retainer comprises a layer retainer positioned at said distal end.

25. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 23, wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said anvil and a second cam configured to engage said staple cartridge, wherein said first cam is configured to progressively release said anvil layer retainers from said anvil longitudinal slot, and wherein said second cam is configured to progressively release said cartridge layer retainers from said cartridge longitudinal slot.

26. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 25, wherein said first cam and said second cam are configured to control a tissue gap between said anvil and said staple cartridge.

27. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19, wherein said layer comprises a layer body, wherein said layer body comprises a body thickness, wherein each said anvil layer retainer comprises a dimple extending from said layer body, and wherein each said dimple comprises a dimple thickness which is thinner than said body thickness.

28. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 19, wherein each said anvil layer retainer comprises a dimple, wherein at least one said dimple comprises a first dimple having a first dimple thickness, and wherein at least one said dimple comprises a second dimple having a second dimple thickness which is thinner than said first dimple thickness.

29. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein a distal-most dimple comprises a first dimple, wherein a proximal-most dimple comprises a first dimple, and wherein said second dimples are positioned intermediate said proximal-most dimple and said distal-most dimple.

30. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein said firing member comprises a cutting portion, and wherein said cutting portion is configured to incise said dimples when said firing member is moved from said proximal position toward said distal position.