Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes

• US 9,675,349 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• 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:
  US15/295,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20170027564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271761, 2271781, 2271801, 2271752, 606139, 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 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 staple cartridge assembly for use in a surgical stapling instrument, the staple cartridge assembly defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:

an outer wall spaced apart from and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a tissue contacting surface extending from the outer wall, the tissue contacting surface comprising;

a first portion, and

a second portion located closer to the outer wall than the first portion, wherein the second portion is not coplanar with the first portion;

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

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

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

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting surface comprises a third portion located closer to the outer wall than the second portion and wherein the third portion is not coplanar with either the first portion or the second portion.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a third plurality of staple pushers disposed closer to the outer wall than the second plurality of staple pushers and having a third pusher height shorter than the second pusher height; 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 to form a third plurality of completed surgical fasteners.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are parallel to one another.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion and second portion are disposed in a stepped configuration.

6. A staple cartridge assembly for use in a surgical stapling instrument, the staple cartridge assembly defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:

a bottom surface;

an outer wall extending transversely from the bottom surface and parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a tissue contacting surface spaced apart from the bottom surface and extending from the outer wall, the tissue contacting surface comprising;

a first portion, and

a second portion disposed closer to the outer wall than the first portion and disposed closer to the bottom surface than the first portion;

a first plurality of staples having a first unformed leg length, configured to be ejected through the first portion to form a first plurality of formed fasteners; and

a second plurality of staples having a second unformed leg length longer than the first unformed leg length, configured to be ejected through the second portion to form a second plurality of formed fasteners.

7. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein the tissue contacting surface comprises a third portion disposed closer to the outer wall than the second portion and disposed closer to the bottom surface than the second portion.

8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a third plurality of staples having a third unformed leg length longer than the second unformed leg length, configured to be ejected through the third portion to form a third plurality of formed fasteners.