Surgical staple

• US 7,108,709 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Vascular Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Vascular Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cummins, Christy
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/240,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20040028502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 606/219, 606/215, 606/143, 606/157, 606/158, 411/460
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body

Abstract

A generally U-shaped surgical staple comprises a base 10 and a pair of generally “L”-shaped legs 12 extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite ends of the base respectively. The legs 12 in use of the staple are bent through approximately 90° relative to the base. To effect a greater compression of the stapled tissue the legs include a penetrative portion 16 adjacent the tip and a compressive structure 30 which, due to its increased height relative to that of the penetrative portion, spreads the compressive forces of the staple further along the length of the incision being closed. The compressive portion also provides a depth stop to avoid the tip penetrating too deeply into the tissue in which it is deployed.

Claims

1. A surgical staple comprising a base and a pair of legs each extending from an opposite end of the base, each leg having a penetrative portion terminating at a tip, the staple being deformable at a bend point on each leg to bend each leg relative to the base causing each tip to approach the other leg along a substantially arcuate path, wherein each leg further comprises a compressive portion located between a proximal portion of the leg extending from the base and the penetrative portion, and each compressive portion extending transverse to a plane containing said proximal portion such that each compressive portion has a height greater than a height of said proximal portion of said legs.

2. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressive portion has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the penetrative portion.

3. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressive portion comprises a shoulder from which the penetrative portion extends.

4. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shoulder is defined by an elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to the penetrative portion.

5. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein each leg branches to two or more penetrative portions each terminating at a respective tip, the penetrative portions being connected by said compressive structure.

6. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 5, wherein each compressive portion is in the form of a bar extending substantially perpendicular to the proximal portion of the leg, and said penetrative portions extending from the ends of said bar substantially perpendicular thereto.

7. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein each leg is generally “

L”

-shaped having a proximal portion connected to the base and a distal portion including said penetrative portion, said proximal and distal portions being connected at an angle of about 70-110 degrees and lying substantially within the same plane.

8. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 7, wherein said angle is approximately 90 degrees.

9. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 7, wherein the penetrating portions are round in cross-section and the compressive portions are substantially flat in cross-section.

10. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 9, wherein the staple is formed from a length of round wire and said compressive portions are formed by flattening a length of said wire forming part of each leg.

11. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flat portions are plates attached to a round wire staple.

12. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the staple is cut from flat metal stock and bent.

13. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressive portions comprise sections of elongate material bent out of alignment with the penetrative portions.

14. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bent portions are sinusoidal.

15. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legs are divided and opposite divisions bent in opposite directions to provide said compressive portions.

16. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the penetrative portion on one leg is staggered from the penetrative portion of the other leg, whereby the staple is deformable in a manner which allows the respective tips to approach and pass one another, each moving along a different but substantially parallel plane.

17. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is in the form of a horseshoe shape extending substantially transverse to the plane containing the proximal portion of each leg.

18. A surgical staple as claimed in claim 17, wherein the thickness of the base varies about the curve of the horseshoe shape, with a greater thickness at the apex than at the sides.

19. A surgical staple, comprising a base having first and second legs extending therefrom and bendable relative to the base at opposed ends of the base, each leg including a distal tissue penetrating tip formed thereon and a compressive member formed proximal to the distal tissue penetrating tip and having a size adapted to prevent passage of tissue there over when the distal tissue penetrating tips are inserted through tissue and bended relative to the base, wherein each leg including a proximal portion that is proximal to the compressive member and each compressive member extends in a direction substantially transverse to a plane containing said proximal portion of each leg such that each compressive member has a height that is greater than a height of said proximal portion of each leg.

20. The surgical staple of claim 19, wherein the base includes at least one arc formed therein.

21. The surgical staple of claim 19, wherein the distal tissue penetrating tip on each leg comprises first and second penetrating tips, and wherein the compressive member connects the first and second penetrating tips on each leg.

22. A surgical staple, comprising a base portion having first and second leg portions extending from opposed terminal ends thereof, each leg being bendable at a bend point, and each leg including a compressive member formed thereon at a location between the bend point and a tissue piercing tip formed on the leg, wherein each leg including a proximal portion that is proximal to the compressive member and each compressive member extends substantially transverse to a plane containing said proximal portion of each leg such that each compressive member has a height that is greater than a height of said proximal portion of each leg.

23. A surgical staple, comprising a base having at least one curve formed therein, and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the base, each leg including a proximal portion bendable relative to the base, and a distal portion having a pair of tissue penetrating tips that are connected by a compressive bar, each compressive bar having a height that is greater than a height of the proximal portion of the leg, the heights being measured in a direction perpendicular to a plane containing the proximal portion of the leg.

24. The surgical staple of claim 23, wherein the base extends in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to each plane containing the distal portion of each leg.