Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes

• US 9,668,736 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• 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., Emmons, Clifford L., Viola, Frank J., Beardsley, John W., Heinrich, Russell, Cullinan, Nicola
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US15/232,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 2271781, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606219
• 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

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 member including a tissue contacting surface;

a staple cartridge having a surface defining first retention slots and second retention slots, a first plurality of staples having a first leg length being disposed in the first retention slots, and a second plurality of staples having a second leg length being disposed in the second retention slots, wherein the second leg length is different from the first leg length, the surface of the staple cartridge including a first tissue contacting surface and a second tissue contacting surface, wherein the first tissue contacting surface and the second tissue contacting surface define different gaps with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member; and

a first filler layer positioned on the surface of the staple cartridge.

2. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the first filler layer is formed from a resilient material.

3. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, further comprising a second filler layer positioned on the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member.

4. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 3, wherein the first filler layer positioned on the surface of the staple cartridge and the second filler layer are formed from a resilient material.

5. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the staple cartridge is receivable in a staple cartridge receiving section of the surgical stapling instrument.

6. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the staple cartridge has staple pushers that have differing heights.

7. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 6, wherein the first and second pluralities of staples are arranged to cooperate with the staple pushers.

8. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the first tissue contacting surface defines a greater gap with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member and the second tissue contacting surface defines a lesser gap with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member.

9. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 8, wherein the second tissue contacting surface is adjacent a knife channel of the staple cartridge.

10. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein the second leg length is smaller than the first leg length, and the second plurality of staples having the second leg length are arranged in a row adjacent the knife channel.

11. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the surgical stapling instrument is of the laparoscopic type.

12. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical stapling instrument is of the transverse anastomosis type.

13. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the surgical stapling instrument is of the transverse anastomosis type.

14. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical stapling instrument is of the laparoscopic type.

15. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, wherein the surgical stapling instrument has an elongated shaft.

16. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 12, wherein the anvil member of the surgical stapling instrument is orthogonally affixed.