Tissue thickness compensator comprising fibers to produce a resilient load

• US 9,277,919 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Timmer, Mark D., Contiliano, Joseph H., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Yang, Chunlin, Scheib, Charles J., Schmid, Katherine J., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Application Number:
  US13/433,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 606/908, 606/911, 227/176.1, 227/178.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 : antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 : pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00898 : expandable upon contact with fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 : Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• 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 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 : Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 : details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/00 : Materials for other surgical articles , e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices shape or structure of stent-grafts A61F2/07, of stents A61F2/82, of surgical gloves A61B42/00, of surgical drapes A61B46/00, of occluding devices A61B17/12022
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/04 : Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/145 : Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 : Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 : Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group

Abstract

A nonwoven compensator for an end effector of a surgical instrument can comprise a plurality of spring fibers dispersed throughout the nonwoven compensator. The nonwoven compensator can be positioned in the end effector such as adjacent to a deck surface of a fastener cartridge that is positioned in the end effector. When a fastener from the fastener cartridge is moved from an initial position to a fired position, the fastener can be configured to engage the nonwoven compensator. The fastener can compress a portion of the nonwoven compensator in a staple entrapment area defined by the fired staple. The spring fibers in the nonwoven compensator can comprise a resilient material and can be deformed when the fastener compresses a portion of the nonwoven compensator. Further, the nonwoven compensator can comprise non-spring fibers, a haemostatic material, and/or a homogenous absorbable polymer matrix.

Claims

1. A fastener cartridge assembly for a surgical instrument, the fastener cartridge assembly comprising:

a support portion comprising a fastener cavity;

a nonwoven compensator positioned relative to said support portion, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of nonwoven fibers, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of spring fibers, and wherein said plurality of spring fibers are dispersed throughout said plurality of nonwoven fibers; and

a fastener moveable between an initial position and a fired position, wherein said fastener is at least partially positioned in said fastener cavity when said fastener is in said initial position, and wherein said fastener is configured to compress said nonwoven compensator when said fastener is moved between said initial position and said fired position.

2. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one spring fiber comprises a resilient material, and wherein said spring fiber is deformed when said fastener compresses said nonwoven compensator.

3. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said spring fibers are configured to generate a restoring force when deformed.

4. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises:

a base;

a first leg extending from said base; and

a second leg extending from said base, wherein said first leg and said second leg are configured to bend towards said base when said fastener is moved to said fired position;

wherein said fastener captures a portion of said nonwoven compensator between said base and at least one of said first leg and said second leg when said fastener is moved to said fired position.

5. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a slot extending through at least a portion of said support portion; and

a firing member configured to translate within said slot, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said base of said fastener as said firing member translates such that said fastener is ejected from said fastener cavity.

6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said nonwoven compensator is releasably attached to a deck of said support portion by an adhesive.

7. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring fibers are randomly dispersed and randomly oriented throughout said nonwoven compensator.

8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said nonwoven fibers comprise a plurality of non-spring fibers.

9. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring fibers comprise a synthetic bioabsorbable material.

10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring fibers comprise a material selected from a group comprising poly(dioxanone) (PDO), polylactides (PLA), polyglycolides (PGA), polycaprolactones (PCL), polycarbonates, and their copolymers.

11. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring fibers are heat formed to hold a substantially coil-like shape.

12. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said nonwoven compensator is needle punched and comprises a haemostatic material.

13. A fastener cartridge for a surgical instrument, the fastener cartridge comprising:

a body comprising a first body portion and a second body portion, wherein said first body portion comprises fastener cavities, wherein said second body portion comprises a compressible portion, wherein said compressible portion comprises a plurality of nonwoven fibers, wherein said compressible portion comprises a plurality of spring fibers dispersed throughout said plurality of nonwoven fibers, and wherein said spring fibers are at least partially resilient; and

fasteners, wherein each fastener is aligned with a fastener cavity of said first body portion.

14. The fastener cartridge of claim 13, wherein at least one fastener is moveable between an initial position and a fired position, and wherein said fastener is configured to compress a portion of said compressible portion when said fastener is moved to said fired position.

15. The fastener cartridge of claim 14, wherein said compressible portion comprises a homogeneous absorbable polymer matrix.

16. The fastener cartridge of claim 13 further comprising:

a slot extending through at least a portion of said first body portion; and

a firing member configured to translate within said slot, wherein said firing member is configured to engage at least one fastener as said firing member translates such that said firing member ejects said at least one fastener from said first body portion.

17. The fastener cartridge of claim 13, wherein said spring fibers are configured to generate a restoring force when deformed.

18. An end effector assembly for a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

an anvil;

a fastener cartridge comprising;

a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity; and

a fastener, wherein said fastener is at least partially positioned in a fastener cavity when said fastener is in an initial position; and

a nonwoven compensator positioned intermediate said fastener cartridge and said anvil, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of nonwoven fibers, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of spring fibers dispersed throughout said plurality of nonwoven fibers, and wherein said spring fibers are at least partially resilient.

19. The end effector assembly of claim 18, wherein said nonwoven compensator is releasably secured to at least one of said fastener cartridge and said anvil, and wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a nonwoven material.

20. The end effector assembly of claim 19, wherein said fastener is moveable from said initial position to a fired position, and wherein said fastener is configured to compress a portion of said nonwoven compensator when said fastener is moved to said fired position.

21. The end effector assembly of claim 20, wherein said anvil comprises a forming pocket in a tissue contacting surface, and wherein said forming pocket deforms said fastener when said fastener is moved from said initial position to said fired position.

22. The end effector assembly of claim 20, wherein said nonwoven compensator is configured to disengage from the end effector assembly when said fastener compresses said portion of said nonwoven compensator.

23. The end effector assembly of claim 18, wherein said spring fibers are configured to generate a restoring force when deformed.

24. An end effector assembly for a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

an anvil;

a cavity for storing a fastener comprising;

a fastener cartridge comprising;

a cartridge body; and

a fastener, wherein said fastener is at least partially positioned in said cavity when said fastener is in an initial position; and

a nonwoven compensator positioned at least partially within said cavity, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of nonwoven fibers and a plurality of spring fibers dispersed throughout, and wherein said spring fibers are at least partially resilient.