SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE HAVING SUPPORTS FOR A FLEXIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM

• US 20160235409A1
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,912,575 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, a cutting member having a cutting surface, and a driver operably engaged with the cutting member to move the cutting member relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can also be configured to receive a portion of the driver operably engaged with cutting member and support the driver when it moves the cutting member. In at least one embodiment, the slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a first cavity configured to receive a first staple;

a second cavity configured to receive a second staple;

a third cavity configured to receive a third staple, wherein said first cavity, said second cavity, and said third cavity define a curved path;

a sled relatively movable along a curved sled path that matches said curved path, wherein said sled comprises at least one ramp, wherein said ramp is configured to drive staple drivers that support said staples toward an anvil, and wherein said sled is configured to deploy said staples from said cavities when said sled is moved along said curved sled path; and

a slot configured to receive at least a portion of a drive bar operably engaged with said sled, wherein said slot includes a curved portion and a straight portion tangential to said curved portion, wherein said curved portion is configured to support the drive bar as the drive bar moves said sled along said curved sled path, wherein the drive bar is configured to travel through both said straight and said curved portions of said slot, and wherein the drive bar is configured to motivate said sled to travel from an initial position within said curved portion.

22. An end effector, comprising:

an anvil; and

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a plurality of staples, comprising;

a first staple;

a second staple; and

a third staple; and

a plurality of cavities, comprising;

a first cavity configured to receive said first staple;

a second cavity configured to receive said second staple;

a third cavity configured to receive said third staple, wherein said plurality of cavities defines extends along a predetermined track;

a plurality of staple drivers configured to support said plurality of staples;

a sled movable along said predetermined track, wherein said sled comprises at least one ramp configured to drive said plurality of staple drivers toward said anvil to deploy said plurality of staples from said plurality of cavities when said sled is moved along said predetermined track;

a drive bar operably engageable with said sled; and

a slot configured to receive at least a portion of said drive bar, wherein said slot comprises;

a curved portion; and

a straight portion tangential to said curved portion, wherein said curved portion is configured to support said drive bar as said drive bar moves said sled along said predetermined track, wherein said drive bar is configured to travel through said straight portion and said curved portion of said slot, and wherein said predetermined track of said sled is curved in its entirety.

23. A staple cartridge for use with an end effector that includes an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples, comprising;

a first staple;

a second staple; and

a third staple; and

a curved row of cavities, comprising;

a first cavity configured to receive said first staple;

a second cavity configured to receive said second staple;

a third cavity configured to receive said third staple;

a plurality of staple drivers configured to support said plurality of staples;

a sled movable along said curved row of cavities, wherein said sled comprises at least one ramp configured to drive said plurality of staple drivers toward said anvil to deploy said plurality of staples from said cavities when said sled is moved along said curved row of cavities;

a drive bar operably engageable with said sled; and

a cutting member proximal to said at least one ramp;

a slot configured to receive at least a portion of said drive bar, wherein said slot comprises;

a curved portion configured to define a predetermined path for said cutting member, wherein said predetermined path is defined by a radius of curvature, and wherein said curved portion is configured to support said drive bar as said drive bar moves said sled along said curved row of cavities; and

a straight portion tangential to said curved portion, wherein said drive bar is configured to extend through said straight portion and said curved portion of said slot.