SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH OUTER EDGE COMPRESSION FEATURES

• US 20170027569A1
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Scheib, Charles J., Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,194,912 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a staple cartridge. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes an anvil and a lower jaw. The anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw. The staple cartridge is coupled with the lower jaw. The staple cartridge includes a deck, a plurality of staples, and at least one compressible feature. The deck faces the anvil. The staples are positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck. The at least one compressible feature extends toward the anvil. The at least one compressible feature is positioned along an outer region of the deck. The at least one compressible feature is configured to compress tissue against the anvil.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis;

(c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises;

(i) an anvil, and

(ii) a lower jaw, wherein the anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw; and

(d) a staple cartridge coupled with the lower jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises;

(i) a deck facing the anvil,

(ii) a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, and

(iii) at least one compressible feature extending toward the anvil, wherein the at least one compressible feature is positioned along an outer region of the deck, wherein the at least one compressible feature is configured to compress tissue against the anvil.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deck defines opposing outer edges extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one compressible feature comprises a pair of compressible features, wherein each of the compressible features extends along a corresponding one of the outer edges.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a portion of each of the compressible features is configured to deflect outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of end effector such that a portion of each of the compressible features is outboard of the deck, in response to the end effector grasping tissue.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible feature extends upwardly from the deck.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deck defines a length, wherein the at least one compressible feature extends along the length of the deck.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible feature has a generally triangular cross-sectional profile along a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a firing bar movable through the end effector to effect severing and stapling of tissue captured between the anvil and the deck.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one compressible feature is configured to compress tissue against the anvil as the firing bar severs the tissue.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one compressible feature is configured to remain part of the staple cartridge after the firing bar moves through the end effector to effect severing and stapling of the tissue.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible feature is configured to resiliently urge tissue clamped between the anvil and lower jaw toward the anvil.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible feature is integral with the deck.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible feature is configured to deform in response to compression of tissue by the compressible features against the anvil

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible feature defines an opening.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one compressible feature further defines a length, wherein the opening extends along the length of the compressible feature.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible member comprises an elastomeric material.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible feature comprises foam.

17. A staple cartridge for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler, the staple cartridge comprising:

(a) a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body includes a cartridge deck, wherein the cartridge body further defines a plurality of staple openings passing through the cartridge deck, wherein the cartridge deck includes a first outermost edge and a second outermost edge, wherein the outermost edges extend longitudinally along a length of the cartridge deck, wherein the staple openings are positioned between the outermost edges;

(b) a plurality of staples associated with the plurality of staple openings;

(c) a first compressible bumper extending along the first outermost edge; and

(d) a second compressible bumper extending along the second outermost edge;

wherein the first and second compressible bumpers are configured to remain on the cartridge body after the staples are directed out of the staple openings.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein each of the compressible bumpers defines an opening extending along the length of the compressible bumpers, wherein the opening of each of the compressible bumpers is configured to provide clearance for compression of the compressible bumpers.

19. A method of using a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:

(a) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises;

(i) an anvil,

(ii) a lower jaw, wherein the anvil is configured to move toward and away from the lower jaw, and

(iii) a staple cartridge disposed in the lower jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises;

(A) a plurality of staples,

(B) a deck facing the anvil, wherein the staples are configured to pass through the deck, and

(C) a pair of compressible features extending along outer edges of the deck; and

(b) a firing member configured to advance through the end effector to drive the staple drivers toward the anvil,

the method comprising;

(a) positioning tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw;

(b) moving the anvil toward the jaw to place the anvil a closed position, wherein moving the anvil toward the jaw causes the compressible features to compress the tissue against the anvil, wherein the compressible features compress in response to compressing the tissue against the anvil; and

(c) advancing the firing member through the end effector, wherein advancement of the firing member moves the staples toward the anvil and severs the tissue, wherein the compressible features maintain tautness in the tissue as the firing member is advanced through the end effector.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the anvil and the deck define a gap when the anvil is in the closed position, wherein the gap defines a gap distance, wherein the tissue positioned between the anvil and the lower jaw has a thickness, wherein the thickness is less than the gap distance.