Staple cartridge comprising a tissue thickness compensator

• US 10,052,104 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Weaner, Lauren S., Morgan, Jerome R., Vendely, Michael J., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Baxter, III, Chester O., Zeiner, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US14/587,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20160106427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271761, 2271781, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606219
• 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 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• 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 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface, and a plurality of staple cavities. Each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of wells. Each well comprises sidewalls and a lowermost surface. The sidewalls of each well extend into the cartridge body from the deck to the lowermost surface. The plurality of wells comprises a first well and a second well laterally offset with respect to the first well. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities and a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions. The plurality of extensions comprises a first extension compressed between the sidewalls of the first well.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface; and

a plurality of wells, wherein each well comprises sidewalls and a lowermost surface, wherein the sidewalls of each well extend into the cartridge body from the deck to the lowermost surface of the well, and wherein the plurality of wells comprises;

a first well; and

a second well laterally offset with respect to the first well;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a compensator body; and

a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein the plurality of extensions comprises a first extension compressed between the sidewalls of the first well.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lowermost surfaces is positioned intermediate the deck and the bottom surface of the cartridge body.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each well surrounds at least one staple cavity.

4. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end and a distal end;

a knife slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end;

a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface; and

a plurality of recesses, wherein each recess surrounds at least one staple cavity, and wherein the plurality of recesses comprises a first recess comprising;

a first lower surface intermediate the deck and the bottom surface; and

opposing sidewalls extending from the deck to the first lower surface;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a compensator body; and

a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the recesses, wherein the plurality of extensions comprises a first extension compressed between the opposing sidewalls of the first recess.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 4, wherein at least one of the recesses asymmetrically surrounds at least one staple cavity.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 4, further comprising a sled configured to move along the knife slot of the cartridge body to fire the staples from the staple cavities.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein a retention force between the extensions and the recesses secures the tissue thickness compensator to the cartridge body, and wherein a firing force on the staples from the sled is configured to overcome the retention force to release the tissue thickness compensator from the cartridge body.