STAPLE DRIVE ASSEMBLY

• US 20160262758A1
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Lee Ann, Stearns, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 11,045,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/072 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 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder

Abstract

A staple drive assembly includes an actuation sled and at least one staple pusher. The staple drive assembly is adapted to fit within a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples and a corresponding number of retention slots. The at least one staple pusher includes at least one pusher plate for releasably engaging a backspan of a staple. The staple pusher may include a plurality of pusher plates that may be laterally and longitudinally spaced apart. An actuation member has at least one angled camming surface for engaging a complimentary angled surface of the at least one staple pusher. Camming engagement between the actuation member and the at least one staple pusher causes vertical movement of the at least one staple pusher. Lateral and longitudinal offset of the actuation member camming surfaces and the corresponding staple pusher following surfaces improves stability and control of the staple pusher during firing.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a housing having proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal axis that extends through the proximal and distal end portions;

a first staple pusher supported within the housing and including at least two pusher plates that are longitudinally aligned and laterally spaced apart; and

a second staple pusher positioned within the housing longitudinally offset relative to the first staple pusher, the second staple pusher including at least two pusher plates that are longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the housing defines a first outer row, a second outer row, and at least one inner row, the at least one inner row positioned between the first and second outer rows, each row including a plurality of retention slots.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 3, wherein the at least two pusher plates of the first staple pusher are engageable with staples retained in the retention slots of the first and second outer rows.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 3, wherein one of the at least two pusher plates of the second staple pusher is engageable with a staple retained in one of the retention slots of the at least one inner row.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 3, further comprising a third staple pusher positioned within the housing longitudinally offset relative to the first and second staple pushers, the third staple pusher including at least three pusher plates that are longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein two of the at least three pusher plates of the third staple pusher are engageable with staples retained in the retention slots of the first and second outer rows and one of the at least three pusher plates of the third staple pusher is engageable with a staple retained in a retention slot of the at least one inner row.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 2, further comprising an actuation sled supported within the housing, wherein the actuation sled is translatable along the longitudinal axis to contact the first and second staple pushers as the actuation sled translates along the longitudinal axis.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 8, wherein the actuation sled includes at least one camming member and a base, the at least one camming member including spaced apart first and second cam wedges, each cam wedge including a first drive face oriented at a first drive angle with respect to the base and a second drive face oriented at a second drive angle with respect to the base, the first and second drive angles being different.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein the at least one camming member of the actuation sled is disposed on a first side of a longitudinal axis of the actuation sled such that the first and second cam wedges are disposed on the first side of the longitudinal axis of the actuation sled.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 3, wherein the retention slots are arranged in columns, the at least two pusher plates of the first staple pusher being aligned with two different rows of retention slots within a given column of retention slots.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein a pair of first staple pushers and a pair of second staple pushers are positioned within the housing in a mirrored relationship about the longitudinal axis.

13. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling device, the staple cartridge comprising:

a housing defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of rows of retention slots; and

first and second staple pushers positioned within the housing at longitudinally adjacent locations relative to one another, each staple pusher including at least two pusher plates aligned with two rows of the plurality of rows of retention slots, one of the pusher plates of the first staple pusher being aligned with one row of retention slots that is different from the two rows of retention slots aligned with the pusher plates of the second staple pusher.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein the retention slots are aligned in columns, the at least two pusher plates of one of the first and second staple pushers being aligned with two different rows of retention slots within a given column of retention slots.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein the plurality of rows of retention slots includes two outer rows of retention slots and at least one inner row of retention slots positioned between the at least two outer rows of retention slots, the at least two pusher plates of one of the first and second staple pushers being aligned with the at least two outer rows of retention slots.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a third staple pusher positioned within the housing longitudinally offset relative to the first and second staple pushers, the third staple pusher including at least three pusher plates that are longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart.

17. The staple cartridge of claim 16, wherein two of the at least three pusher plates of the third staple pusher are engageable with staples retained in the respective retention slots of the two outer rows of retention slots and at least one of the at least three pusher plates of the third staple pusher is engageable with a staple retained in a retention slot of the at least one inner row of retention slots.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 13, further comprising an actuation sled supported within the housing, wherein the actuation sled is translatable along the longitudinal axis to contact the first and second staple pushers for firing staples as the actuation sled translates along the longitudinal axis.

19. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein the actuation sled includes at least one camming member and a base, the at least one camming member including spaced apart first and second cam wedges, each cam wedge including a first drive face oriented at a first drive angle with respect to the base and a second drive face oriented at a second drive angle with respect to the base, the first and second drive angles being different.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 19, wherein the at least one camming member of the actuation sled is disposed on a first side of a longitudinal axis of the actuation sled such that the first and second cam wedges are disposed on the first side of the longitudinal axis of the actuation sled.