Staple cartridge comprising a releasable adjunct material

• US 10,617,417 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, III, Chester O., Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US15/847,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20180296215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below 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 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises cartridge body and a layer. The layer is implantable against tissue by staples deployed from the cartridge body and deformed by an anvil. The cartridge and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the cartridge and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the cartridge body. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the anvil and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the anvil and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the anvil. In certain instances, the layer can be positioned against the anvil, but releasably attached to the cartridge. The layer can comprise buttress material and/or a tissue thickness compensator, for example.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

an anvil, comprising;

a tissue-facing side;

an anvil layer positioned over said tissue-facing side of said anvil; and

an anvil layer attachment, wherein said anvil layer attachment reduces slippage between said anvil and said anvil layer prior to a firing motion; and

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a longitudinal slot;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

staple cavities;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a sled movable between a proximal position toward a distal position within said longitudinal slot to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

a cartridge layer positioned over said deck; and

a cartridge layer attachment, wherein said anvil layer attachment is positioned within said longitudinal slot on a first side of said sled, wherein said cartridge layer attachment is positioned within said longitudinal slot on a second side of said sled, and wherein the movement of said sled during a firing motion progressively releases said anvil layer attachment and said cartridge layer attachment from said longitudinal slot.

2. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a knife, wherein said knife is configured to incise said anvil layer attachment and said cartridge layer attachment during a firing motion.

3. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises an anvil layer attachment recess and a cartridge layer attachment recess.

4. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said anvil layer attachment is positioned in said longitudinal slot at said proximal end of said cartridge body.

5. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said cartridge layer attachment is positioned in said longitudinal slot at said proximal end of said cartridge body.

6. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said cartridge layer further comprises a second attachment at said distal end of said cartridge body.

7. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said anvil layer further comprises a second attachment at a distal end of said anvil.

8. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

an anvil, comprising;

a tissue-facing side;

an anvil layer positioned over said tissue-facing side of said anvil; and

an anvil layer attachment, wherein said anvil layer attachment holds said anvil layer in place prior to a firing motion; and

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a longitudinal slot;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a firing member movable between a proximal position toward a distal position within said longitudinal slot to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

a cartridge layer positioned over said deck; and

a cartridge layer attachment, wherein said anvil layer attachment is friction fit within said longitudinal slot on a first side of said firing member, wherein said cartridge layer attachment is friction fit within said longitudinal slot on a second side of said firing member, and wherein the movement of said firing member during a firing motion dislodges said anvil layer attachment and said cartridge layer attachment from said longitudinal slot.

9. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 8, wherein said firing member further comprises a knife, wherein said knife is configured to incise said anvil layer attachment and said cartridge layer attachment during a firing motion.

10. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 8, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises an anvil layer attachment recess and a cartridge layer attachment recess.

11. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 8, wherein said anvil layer attachment is positioned in said longitudinal slot at said proximal end of said cartridge body.

12. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 8, wherein said cartridge layer attachment is positioned in said longitudinal slot at said proximal end of said cartridge body.

13. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 8, wherein said cartridge layer further comprises a second attachment at said distal end of said cartridge body.

14. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 8, wherein said anvil layer further comprises a second attachment at a distal end of said anvil.

15. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

an anvil, comprising;

a tissue-facing side;

an anvil layer positioned over said tissue-facing side of said anvil; and

an anvil layer connector, wherein said anvil layer connector reduces movement of said anvil layer before a firing motion; and

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a longitudinal slot;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a sled movable between a proximal position toward a distal position within said longitudinal slot to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

a cartridge layer positioned over said deck; and

a cartridge layer connector, wherein said anvil layer connector is wedged within said longitudinal slot on a first side of said sled, wherein said cartridge layer connector is wedged within said longitudinal slot on a second side of said sled, and wherein the movement of said sled during a firing motion releases said anvil layer connector and said cartridge layer connector from said longitudinal slot.

16. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 15, further comprising a knife, wherein said knife is configured to incise said anvil layer connector and said cartridge layer connector during a firing motion.

17. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 15, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises an anvil layer connector recess and a cartridge layer connector recess.

18. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 15, wherein said anvil layer connector is positioned in said longitudinal slot at said proximal end of said cartridge body.

19. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 15, wherein said cartridge layer connector is positioned in said longitudinal slot at said proximal end of said cartridge body.

20. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 15, wherein said cartridge layer further comprises a second connector at said distal end of said cartridge body.

21. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 15, wherein said anvil layer further comprises a second connector at a distal end of said anvil.

22. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

an anvil, comprising;

a tissue compression surface; and

an anvil layer positioned over said tissue compression surface comprising an anvil layer connector; and

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a longitudinal slot;

a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and

staple cavities;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a sled movable between a proximal position toward a distal position within said longitudinal slot to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing motion; and

a cartridge layer positioned over said deck comprising a cartridge layer connector, wherein said anvil layer connector and said cartridge layer connector are held to said staple cartridge when said sled is in said proximal position, and wherein the distal movement of said sled during said firing motion releases said anvil layer connector and said cartridge layer connector from said staple cartridge.