Surgical staple strips for permitting varying staple properties and enabling easy cartridge loading

• US 10,433,845 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, III, Chester O., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Morgan, Jerome R., Harris, Jason L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel C
• Application Number:
  US14/836,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20170055998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 2271761, 2271751, 227 19, 2271791, 2271801
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/115 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 : Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 : located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 : being elastically deformed for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 : Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 : Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1142 : Purse-string sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 : during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 : Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 : Materials at least partially resorbable by the body

Abstract

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a strip of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The strip of staples comprises a plurality of staples, a base strip, and a plurality of connector portions joining the staples to the base strip.

Claims

1. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:

a sled;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a strip of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein said strip of staples comprises;

a plurality of staples;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said staples to said strip, wherein said connector portions are configured to release said staples from said strip,

wherein said staples comprise a chamfered surface configured to engage said sled when said sled is translated through said cartridge body.

2. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said strip comprise alignment features configured to engage corresponding alignment features on said cartridge body.

3. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a strip of staples removably stored within said cartridge body, said strip of staples comprising;

a plurality of staples;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said staples to said strip, wherein said connector portions are engageable to release said staples from said strip, and wherein said staples, said strip, and said connector portions are metal,

wherein said plurality of staples comprises a first plurality of staples comprising a first crown width and a second plurality of staples comprising a second crown width which is different than said first crown width.

4. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a strip of staples removably stored within said cartridge body, said strip of staples comprising;

a plurality of staples;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said staples to said strip, wherein said connector portions are engageable to release said staples from said strip, and wherein said staples, said strip, and said connector portions are metal,

wherein said plurality of staples comprises a first group of staples comprising staple legs defining a first height and a second group of staples comprising staple legs defining a second height different than said first height.

5. A surgical fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said surgical fastener cartridge comprising:

a longitudinally-movable firing member;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener cavities; and

a strip of fasteners removably stored within said fastener cavities, wherein said strip of fasteners comprises;

a plurality of fasteners;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said fasteners to said strip, wherein said connector portions are configured to release said fasteners from said strip,

wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a first group of fasteners having a first configuration and a second group of fasteners having a second configuration different than said first configuration, and

wherein said longitudinally-movable firing member comprises striking portions configured to break said connector portions.

6. A surgical fastening assembly, comprising:

a sled comprising a ramp, wherein said ramp comprises a slot defined therein;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener cavities; and

a strip of fasteners removably stored within said fastener cavities, wherein said strip of fasteners comprises;

a plurality of fasteners;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said fasteners to said strip, wherein said connector portions are configured to release said fasteners from said strip,

wherein said fasteners comprise a chamfered surface configured to be engaged by said slot of said ramp when said sled is translated through said cartridge body.

7. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 6, wherein each said connector portion comprises a discontinuity configured to encourage the separation of said fasteners from said strip.

8. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 6, wherein said sled is configured to separate said plurality of fasteners from said strip by breaking said connector portions when said sled is translated through said cartridge body.

9. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 6, wherein said sled comprises striking portions configured to break said connector portions.

10. A surgical fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said surgical fastener cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener cavities; and

a strip of fasteners removably stored within said cartridge body, said strip of fasteners comprising;

a plurality of fasteners;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said fasteners to said strip, wherein said connector portions are engageable to release said fasteners from said strip, and wherein said fasteners, said strip, and said connector portions are metal,

wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a first plurality of fasteners comprising a first crown width and a second plurality of fasteners comprising a second crown width which is different than said first crown width.

11. The surgical fastener cartridge of claim 10, wherein each said connector portion comprises a discontinuity configured to encourage the separation of said fasteners from said strip.

12. The surgical fastener cartridge of claim 10, wherein said cartridge body comprises a bottom, and wherein said strip of fasteners is configured to be loaded into said bottom of said cartridge body.

13. A surgical fastening assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener cavities; and

a strip of fasteners removably stored within said cartridge body, said strip of fasteners comprising;

a plurality of fasteners;

a strip; and

a plurality of connector portions joining said fasteners to said strip, wherein said connector portions are engageable to release said fasteners from said strip, and wherein said fasteners, said strip, and said connector portions are metal,

wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a first group of fasteners comprising fastener legs defining a first height and a second group of fasteners comprising fastener legs defining a second height different than said first height.

14. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 13, wherein each said connector portion comprises a discontinuity configured to encourage the separation of said fasteners from said strip.

15. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 13, wherein each said connector portion comprises a discontinuity configured to encourage the separation of said fasteners from said strip when said strip of fasteners is loaded into said cartridge body.

16. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 13, wherein said cartridge body comprises a bottom, and wherein said strip of fasteners is configured to be loaded into said bottom of said cartridge body.