Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes

• US 9,579,102 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Holsten, Henry E., Viola, Frank J., Emmons, Clifford L., Beardsley, John W., Heinrich, Russell, Cullinan, Nicola
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US15/263,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 168 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.2, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 606/139, 606/219
• 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 17/068 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• 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 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• 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 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/320052 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 instrument comprising:

an anvil;

a staple cartridge assembly, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly is movable relative to the other, the staple cartridge assembly comprising;

an outer wall;

a tissue contacting surface comprising;

a first portion defining a first gap between the first portion and the anvil, and

a second portion defining a second gap between the second portion and the anvil, wherein the second gap is larger than the first gap, and wherein the second portion is located closer to the outer wall than the first portion;

a first plurality of staple pushers having a first pusher height;

a second plurality of staple pushers having a second pusher height shorter than the first pusher height, wherein the second plurality of staple pushers is disposed closer to the outer wall than the first plurality of staple pushers;

a first plurality of staples having a first unformed leg length, configured to be ejected by the first plurality of staple pushers and engage with the anvil to form a first plurality of completed surgical fasteners; and

a second plurality of staples having a second unformed leg length longer than the first unformed leg length, configured to be ejected by the second plurality of staple pushers and engage with the anvil to form a second plurality of completed surgical fasteners.

2. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting surface comprises a third portion defining a third gap between the third portion and the anvil, wherein the third gap is larger than the second gap, and wherein the third portion is located closer to the outer wall than the second portion.

3. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein the staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a third plurality of staple pushers having a third pusher height shorter than the second pusher height, wherein the third plurality of staple pushers is disposed closer to the outer wall than the second plurality of staple pushers; and

a third plurality of staples having a third unformed leg length longer than the second unformed leg length, configured to be ejected by the third plurality of staple pushers and engage with the anvil to form a third plurality of completed surgical fasteners.

4. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the staple cartridge assembly comprises an inner wall, wherein the outer wall has an outer wall height and the inner wall has an inner wall height greater than the outer wall height.

5. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 4, wherein the tissue contacting surface and the anvil are configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the tissue contacting surface and the anvil, wherein the amount of pressure applied at the inner wall is greater than the amount of pressure applied at the outer wall.

6. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

an anvil comprising a planar anvil surface defining a plurality of staple-forming depressions;

a staple cartridge assembly, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly is movable relative to the other between an open position and a pre-fire position, the staple cartridge assembly comprising;

an outer wall;

a first cartridge tissue contacting surface including a first plurality of staple retaining slots, wherein the first cartridge tissue contacting surface and the anvil are configured to apply a first pressure to tissue in the pre-fire position;

a second cartridge tissue contacting surface disposed closer to the outer wall than the first cartridge tissue contacting surface, the second cartridge tissue contacting surface including a second plurality of staple retaining slots and wherein the second cartridge tissue contacting surface and the anvil are configured to apply a second pressure to tissue that is less than the first pressure in the pre-fire position;

a first plurality of unformed staples having a first leg length and configured to be ejected through the first plurality of staple retaining slots and into engagement with a first row of the plurality of staple-forming depressions to form a first plurality of formed staples; and

a second plurality of unformed staples disposed closer to the outer wall than the first plurality of unformed staples, the second plurality of unformed staples having a second leg length longer than the first leg length and configured to be ejected through the second plurality of staple retaining slots and into engagement with a second row of the plurality of staple-forming depressions to form a second plurality of formed staples.

7. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 6, the staple cartridge assembly comprising:

a third cartridge tissue contacting surface disposed closer to the outer wall than the second cartridge tissue contacting surface, the third tissue cartridge contacting surface including a third plurality of staple retaining slots and wherein the third cartridge tissue contacting surface and the anvil are configured to apply a third pressure to tissue that is less than the second pressure in the pre-fire position; and

a third plurality of unformed staples disposed closer to the outer wall than the second plurality of unformed staples, the third plurality of unformed staples having a third leg length longer than the second leg length and configured to be ejected through the third plurality of staple retaining slots and into engagement with a third row of the plurality of staple-forming depressions to form a third plurality of formed staples.

8. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 7, wherein the first cartridge tissue contacting surface is positioned in a first plane, the second cartridge tissue contacting surface is positioned in a second plane different from the first plane, and the third cartridge tissue contacting surface is positioned in a third plane different from the first plane and the second plane, wherein the first plane, second plane, and third plane are parallel to each other.

9. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

an anvil having a planar anvil tissue contacting surface comprising a plurality of staple-forming depressions;

a staple cartridge assembly, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly is movable relative to the other between an open position and a pre-fire position, the staple cartridge assembly comprising;

an outer wall;

a first cartridge tissue contacting surface including a first plurality of staple retaining slots, wherein the first cartridge tissue contacting surface is located a first distance from the anvil tissue contacting surface;

a second cartridge tissue contacting surface disposed closer to the outer wall than the first cartridge tissue contacting surface, the second cartridge tissue contacting surface including a second plurality of staple retaining slots and wherein the second cartridge tissue contacting surface is located a second distance from the anvil tissue contacting surface and the second distance is greater than the first distance;

a first plurality of unformed staples having a first leg length and configured to be ejected through the first plurality of staple retaining slots and into engagement with a first plurality of the staple-forming depressions to form a first plurality of formed staples; and

a second plurality of unformed staples disposed closer to the outer wall than the first plurality of unformed staples, the second plurality of unformed staples having a second leg length longer than the first leg length and configured to be ejected through the second plurality of staple retaining slots and into engagement with a second plurality of the staple-forming depressions to form a second plurality of formed staples.

10. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, the staple cartridge assembly comprising:

a third cartridge tissue contacting surface disposed closer to the outer wall than the second cartridge tissue contacting surface, the third tissue cartridge contacting surface including a third plurality of staple retaining slots and wherein the third cartridge tissue contacting surface is located a third distance from the anvil tissue contacting surface and the third distance is greater than the second; and

a third plurality of unformed staples disposed closer to the outer wall than the second plurality of unformed staples, the third plurality of unformed staples having a third leg length longer than the second leg length and configured to be ejected through the third plurality of staple retaining slots and into engagement with a third plurality of the staple-forming depressions to form a third plurality of formed staples.