Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 7,455,676 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heinrich, Russell, Viola, Frank J., Beardsley, John W., Emmons, Clifford L., Holsten, Henry E., Cullinan, Nicola
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/974,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.1, 227/180.1, 606/139, 606/219
• US Class Current: 606/139
• 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 17/072 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• 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 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.

Claims

1. A method of joining tissue using a surgical stapler having jaws, comprising:

disposing the tissue between the jaws of the surgical stapler, one of the jaws being a staple cartridge containing a first row of staples and a second row of staples;

compressing the tissue more along the first row of staples than along the second row of staples;

applying the first row of staples; and

applying the second row of staples, wherein at least one staple in the first row of staples has a first staple size and at least one staple in the second row of staples has a second staple size, the first staple size being smaller than the second staple size.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one staple in the first row of staples has a first leg length and at least one staple in the second row of staples has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first row of staples are proximate a central longitudinal axis of the surgical stapler.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaws has a tissue contacting surface defining a plane.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaws has a tissue contacting surface defining a curve.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting the tissue adjacent the first row of staples.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a third row of staples and a fourth row of staples.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising cutting the tissue between the first row of staples and the third row of staples, and compressing the tissue more along the first and third row of staples than along the second and fourth row of staples.