Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 7,726,539 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Emmons, Clifford L., Holsten, Henry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada; Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOW, LINDSAY M
• Application Number:
  US12/390,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• 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 17/11 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 17/32053 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 2017/07235 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 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments

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 surgical stapling instrument comprising:

an anvil having a first annular array of staple forming depressions and a second annular array of staple forming depressions;

a staple retaining portion having a first tissue contacting surface with a first height and a second tissue contacting surface with a second height, the second height being different from the first height, the first tissue contacting surface defining a first plane and the second tissue contacting surface defining a second plane that is parallel to the first plane;

a first annular array of staple retaining slots disposed in the first tissue contacting surface of the staple retaining portion and arranged for alignment with the first annular array of staple forming depressions;

a second annular array of staple retaining slots disposed in the second tissue contacting surface of the staple retaining portion and arranged for alignment with the second annular array of staple forming depressions;

a first plurality of staples disposed in the first annular array of staple retaining slots, each staple in the first plurality of staples having a first leg length, the first plurality of staples movable through the first annular array of staple retaining slots towards the first annular array of staple forming depressions of the anvil; and

a second plurality of staples disposed in the second annular array of staple retaining slots, each staple in the second plurality of staples having a second leg length that is different from the first leg length, the second plurality of staples movable through the second annular array of staple retaining slots towards the second annular array of staple forming depressions of the anvil.

2. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein a tissue compression gradient is defined such that tissue located between the first annular array of staple forming depressions and the first annular array of staple retaining slots is subjected to a first pressure and tissue located between the second annular array of staple forming depressions and the second annular array of staple retaining slots is subjected to a second pressure that is different from the first pressure.

3. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the first plane is vertically spaced from the second plane.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the anvil includes a first surface defining a first plane and a second surface defining a second plane, the first and second planes being vertically spaced.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first plane is spaced apart from the second plane.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first leg length is longer than the second leg length.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a knife blade disposed adjacent the first annular array of staple retaining slots.

8. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

an anvil having a first annular array of staple forming depressions and a second annular array of staple forming depressions, the anvil including a first surface defining a first plane and a second surface defining a second plane, the first and second planes being vertically spaced;

a staple retaining portion having a first tissue contacting surface with a first height and a second tissue contacting surface with a second height, the second height being different from the first height, the first tissue contacting surface defining a first plane and the second tissue contacting surface defining a second plane that is parallel to the first plane;

a first annular array of staple retaining slots disposed in the staple retaining portion and arranged for alignment with the first annular array of staple forming depressions;

a second annular array of staple retaining slots disposed in the staple retaining portion and arranged for alignment with the second annular array of staple forming depressions;

a first plurality of staples disposed in the first annular array of staple retaining slots, each staple in the first plurality of staples having a first leg length; and

a second plurality of staples disposed in the second annular array of staple retaining slots, each staple in the second plurality of staples having a second leg length that is different from the first leg length.

9. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 8, wherein a tissue compression gradient is defined such that tissue located between the first annular array of staple forming depressions and the first annular array of staple retaining slots is subjected to a first pressure and tissue located between the second annular array of staple forming depressions and the second annular array of staple retaining slots is subjected to a second pressure that is different from the first pressure.

10. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 8, wherein the first plane is vertically spaced from the second plane.

11. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the first annular array of staple retaining slots is defined in the first tissue contacting surface and the second annular array of staple retaining slots is defined in the second tissue contacting surface.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the first plane is spaced apart from the second plane.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the first leg length is longer than the second leg length.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising a knife blade disposed adjacent the first annular array of staple retaining slots.