Surgical Staple

• US 20070010854A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Vascular Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Vascular Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cummins, Christy
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body

Abstract

A generally U-shaped surgical staple comprises a base 10 and a pair of generally “L”-shaped legs 12 extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite ends of the base respectively. The legs 12 in use of the staple are bent through approximately 90° relative to the base. To effect a greater compression of the stapled tissue the legs include a penetrative portion 16 adjacent the tip and a compressive structure 30 which, due to its increased height relative to that of the penetrative portion, spreads the compressive forces of the staple further along the length of the incision being closed. The compressive portion also provides a depth stop to avoid the tip penetrating too deeply into the tissue in which it is deployed.

Claims

1. A surgical staple comprising a base and a pair of legs each extending from an opposite end of the base, each leg having a penetrative portion terminating at a tip, the staple being deformable to bend each leg relative to the base causing each tip to approach the other leg along a substantially arcuate path lying in a plane, wherein each leg further comprises a compressive portion located intermediate the base and the penetrative portion, the compressive portion having a height greater than that of the penetrative portion, said heights being measured in the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the arcuate path.

2. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the compressive portion has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the penetrative portion.

3. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the compressive portion comprises a shoulder from which the penetrative portion extends.

4. The surgical staple of claim 3, wherein the shoulder is defined by an elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to the penetrative portion.

5. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein each leg branches to two or more penetrative portions each terminating at a respective tip, the penetrative portions being connected by said compressive structure.

6. The surgical staple of claim 5, wherein each leg comprises a proximal portion connected to the base, said compressive structure being in the form of a bar substantially perpendicular to said proximal portion, and said penetrative portions extending from the ends of said bar substantially perpendicular thereto.

7. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the leg is generally “

L”

-shaped having a proximal portion connected to the base and a distal portion including said penetrative portion, said proximal and distal portions being connected at an angle of 70-110 degrees and lying substantially within said plane.

8. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein said angle is approximately 90 degrees.

9. The surgical staple of claim 7, wherein the penetrating portions are round in cross-section and the compressive portions are substantially flat in cross-section, the flat surfaces of the proximal section extending in said direction of measurement of height.

10. The surgical staple of claim 9, wherein the staple is formed from a length of round wire and said compressive portions are formed by flattening a length of said wire forming part of each leg.

11. The surgical staple of claim 10, wherein the flat portions are plates attached to a round wire staple.

12. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the staple is cut from flat metal stock and bent.

13. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the compressive portions comprise sections of elongate material bent out of alignment with the penetrative portions.

14. The surgical staple of claim 13, wherein the bent portions are sinusoidal.

15. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the legs are divided and opposite divisions bent in opposite directions to provide said compressive portions.

16. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the penetrative portion on one leg is staggered in the direction of measurement of height from the penetrative portion of the other leg, whereby the staple is deformable in a manner which allows the respective tips to approach and pass one another, each moving an a different but substantially parallel plane.

17. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein the base is in the form of a horseshoe shape extending in the direction of measurement of height.

18. The surgical staple of claim 17, wherein the thickness of the base varies about the curve of the horseshoe shape, with a greater thickness at the apex than at the sides.