Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

• US 8,292,146 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• 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): LOW, LINDSAY M
• Application Number:
  US12/765,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20100200641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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. An end effector for a surgical stapling instrument comprising:

a staple cartridge having a cross-sectional profile defined by a first tissue contacting surface, a second tissue contacting surface, and a third surface, the first tissue contacting surface and the second tissue contacting surface defining respective first and second planes, the first and second planes being substantially parallel to each other and extending from a proximal portion of the staple cartridge to a distal portion of the staple cartridge, and the third surface connecting the first and second surfaces, the third surface defining a third plane that intersects the first and second planes;

an anvil arranged with the staple cartridge, the anvil and the cross-sectional profile of the staple cartridge defining a tissue compression gradient, the tissue compression gradient including a first value of tissue compression between the anvil and the first plane, and a second value of tissue compression between the anvil and the second plane, the first value of tissue compression different from the second value of tissue compression;

the cartridge having a first plurality of staples associated with the first tissue contacting surface and a second plurality of staples associated with the second surface, the size of the first plurality of staples being selected to correspond to the first tissue contacting surface and the size of the second plurality of staples being selected to correspond to the second tissue contacting surface.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of staples has a first leg length and the second plurality of staples has a second leg length that is different from the first leg length.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the end effector is releasably attachable to a body of the surgical instrument.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first leg length is greater than the second leg length.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 1, further including a knife channel extending longitudinally along the staple cartridge.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of staples has a first leg length and the second plurality of staples has a second leg length that is less than the first leg length, the second plurality of staples being disposed closer to the knife channel than the first plurality of staples.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein a length of the third surface defines a distance between the first plane of the first tissue contacting surface and the second plane of the second tissue contacting surface.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 5, further including a knife disposed in the knife channel, the knife being movable longitudinally between the proximal portion of the staple cartridge and the distal portion of the staple cartridge.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the knife channel is located adjacent the first tissue contacting surface.