Fastener cartridge assembly comprising a fixed anvil and a staple driver arrangement

• US 9,839,427 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Hueil, Joseph C., Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US13/967,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20130327810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271761, 2271801, 606139, 606219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/0292 with the objects to be stapled together introduced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tool in an opening formed by an anvil and a plunger

Abstract

An end effector comprising a first jaw, a plurality of staple cavities, a first slot, a first longitudinal row of first staples, a second longitudinal row of second staples, a second jaw, an anvil comprising forming pockets, a staple driver, and a firing member is disclosed. The staple driver supports a first staple removably stored in said first longitudinal row and a second staple removably stored in said second longitudinal row. The staple driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first staple to a first fired height and to deform said second staple to a second fired height. The firing member comprises a first portion configured to extend through said first slot and a second portion configured to engage said anvil. The anvil further comprises a second slot including a lateral portion extending behind a longitudinal row of said forming pockets.

Claims

1. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw, comprising;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a first longitudinal slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a first longitudinal row of first fasteners removably stored in said first jaw, wherein said first longitudinal row of first fasteners extends between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said first longitudinal slot; and

a second longitudinal row of second fasteners removably stored in said first jaw, wherein said second longitudinal row of second fasteners extends between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said first longitudinal row of first fasteners;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform said fasteners, wherein said first jaw is movable toward said second jaw, and wherein said anvil comprises a plurality of forming pockets;

a firing member movable toward said distal end portion, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said first jaw and a second portion configured to engage said second jaw, wherein said second portion comprises a pin extending laterally from said second portion, wherein said second jaw comprises a second longitudinal slot comprising a T-shaped opening configured to receive said pin of said firing member, and wherein said T-shaped opening extends behind said forming pockets corresponding to said first longitudinal row of first fasteners; and

a fastener driver, wherein said fastener driver supports a first fastener from said first longitudinal row and a second fastener from said second longitudinal row, wherein said first fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second fastener, wherein said firing member is configured to lift said fastener driver toward said anvil, wherein said fastener driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first fastener to a first fired height and to deform said second fastener to a second fired height, and wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height to provide a smaller tissue compression space within said first fastener than said second fastener.

2. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising said cutting member.

3. The end effector of claim 2, wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal portion and said distal end portion.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

5. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said second longitudinal row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

6. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a first longitudinal slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a first longitudinal row of first fasteners extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said first longitudinal slot; and

a second longitudinal row of second fasteners extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said first longitudinal row of first fasteners;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame, wherein said first jaw is movable toward said second jaw;

an anvil configured to deform said fasteners, wherein said anvil comprises forming pockets;

a firing member movable toward said distal end portion, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to extend through said first longitudinal slot and a second portion configured to engage said anvil, wherein said anvil further comprises a second longitudinal slot including a lateral portion extending at least partially behind a first longitudinal row of said forming pockets, and wherein said second portion of said firing member comprises a cam configured to be received within said lateral portion; and

a fastener driver, wherein said fastener driver supports a first fastener in said first longitudinal row and a second fastener in said second longitudinal row, wherein said first fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second fastener, wherein said firing member is configured to lift said fastener driver toward said anvil, wherein said fastener driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first fastener to a first fired height and to deform said second fastener to a second fired height, and wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height to provide a smaller tissue clamping area within said first fastener than said second fastener.

7. The end effector of claim 6, further comprising said cutting member.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal portion and said distal end portion.

9. The end effector of claim 6, wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

10. The end effector of claim 6, wherein said first longitudinal row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said second longitudinal row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

11. An end effector for a surgical stapling instrument configured to fasten and incise the tissue of a patient, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw;

a plurality of staple cavities;

a first slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a first longitudinal row of first staples extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said first slot;

a second longitudinal row of second staples extending between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said first longitudinal row of first staples;

a second jaw extending fixedly from said frame, wherein said first jaw is movable toward said second jaw;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein said anvil comprises forming pockets;

a staple driver movable toward said anvil, wherein said staple driver supports a first staple removably stored in said first longitudinal row and a second staple removably stored in said second longitudinal row, wherein said first staple is positioned distally with respect to said second staple, wherein said staple driver and said anvil are configured to co-operate to deform said first staple to a first fired height and to deform said second staple to a second fired height, wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height, and wherein the tissue is compressed more in said first longitudinal row of first staples than the tissue in said second longitudinal row of second staples; and

a firing member comprising a first portion configured to extend through said first slot and a second portion configured to engage said anvil, wherein said anvil further comprises a second slot including a lateral portion extending behind a longitudinal row of said forming pockets, and wherein said second portion of said firing member comprises a camming member configured to engage said lateral portion.

12. The end effector of claim 11, further comprising said cutting member.

13. The end effector of claim 12, wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal portion and said distal end portion.

14. The end effector of claim 11, wherein each said second staple comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

15. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said first longitudinal row of first staples includes a first distal-most staple, wherein said second longitudinal row of second staples includes a second distal-most staple, and wherein said first distal-most staple is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most staple.