Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 8,272,552 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• 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 E., Viola, Frank J., Emmons, Clifford L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US13/361,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/180.1, 227/179.1, 227/109, 227/155, 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 17/11 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 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 surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a staple cartridge having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces each include a plurality of retention slots and define a planar axis, each retention slot being dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener, the first surface being adjacent to the second surface wherein the first planar axis does not intersect the second planar axis;

an anvil member cooperative with the staple cartridge such that when the anvil member is proximate to the staple cartridge a plurality of gaps are defined therebetween, wherein a first gap between the first surface and the anvil member is not equal to a second gap between the second surface and the anvil member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first gap is less than the second gap and the second gap is more proximate an outer surface of said staple cartridge than the first gap.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one fastener ejection member, wherein actuation of an actuation mechanism causes the at least one fastener ejection member to translate through the staple cartridge such that the surgical fasteners are ejected from their respective retention slots.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein surgical fasteners of the first surface have a first leg length and surgical fasteners in the second surface have a second leg length and the first leg length is different from the second leg length.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil member has a substantially planar tissue contacting surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anvil member has at least two surfaces that are substantially parallel to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least two surfaces of the anvil member define a stepped arrangement that substantially corresponds to a stepped arrangement defined by the at least two surfaces of the staple cartridge.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least two surfaces of the anvil member define a stepped arrangement that substantially diverges from a stepped arrangement defined by the at least two surfaces of the staple cartridge.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least two surfaces of the staple cartridge and the corresponding surfaces of the anvil member are annular.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a passage fluidly coupled to the staple cartridge for delivering a quantity of a wound closure material to at least one of the surfaces of the staple cartridge.