Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes

• US 8,113,407 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Holsten, Henry, Viola, Frank J., Emmons, Clifford L., Beardsley, John W., Heinrich, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/791,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/178.1, 606/139, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• 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 2017/07214 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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 staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a vertical member;

a first planar surface having a plurality of retention slots and a first planar axis, said first planar surface including a first side attached to said vertical member;

a second planar surface having a plurality of openings and a second planar axis, said second planar surface including first and second sides, the first side being flexibly attached to said vertical member and defining an orthogonal angle therebetween in a first position, the second planar surface spaced apart from said first planar surface defining a gap therebetween, wherein movement of the second side of said second planar surface towards the first planar surface flexes said second planar surface; and

a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first plurality of retention slots, said plurality of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second planar surface defines a curvate surface as it moves from the first position to a second position.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of surgical fasteners are disposed in a plurality of rows such that surgical fasteners disposed in a first row have a first leg length, surgical fasteners disposed in a second row have a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 3, further including a third row of surgical fasteners that have a leg length not equal to the first or second leg lengths.

5. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

an outer wall;

a first surface having a plurality of retention slots, said first surface being planar and including a first side attached to said outer wall;

a second surface having a plurality of openings aligned with the plurality of retention slots, said second surface including first and second sides, the first side being flexibly attached to said outer wall and defining an angle therebetween, the second surface and the first surface defining a gap therebetween; and

a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first plurality of retention slots, said plurality of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the second surface is movable from a first position to a second position.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein the second surface is curved in the second position.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein the second surface is planar in the first position.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein the first side of the second surface is movable toward the first surface.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the plurality of surgical fasteners are disposed in a plurality of rows such that surgical fasteners disposed in a first row have a first leg length, surgical fasteners disposed in a second row have a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 10, further including a third row of surgical fasteners that have a leg length not equal to the first or second leg lengths.