Surgical staples having attached drivers and stapling instruments for deploying the same

• US 20080078803A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Hess, Christopher J., Clem, Michael, Shelton, Frederick E., Weisenburgh, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,485,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• 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 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/0725 : with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 : characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 : Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical stapling system including a driver and a staple where the driver is connected to the staple. In previous surgical stapling systems, the driver and the staple were not connected. A surgical stapling system in accordance with the present invention may have fewer components, less assembly and manufacturing time, and may accommodate larger staples which are at least partially embedded in the driver. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling system comprises a staple, the staple including a deformable member, and a stapler, the stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge for removably storing the staple, and a cam movable between a first position and a second position. In these embodiments, the surgical stapling system further comprises a driver attached to the staple, the driver being operatively engaged with the cam to move the staple toward the anvil when the cam is moved between the first position and the second position.

Claims

1. A surgical staple for use with a surgical stapler in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

a first deformable member;

a base, said first deformable member extending from said base; and

a driver, wherein at least a portion of said base is embedded in said driver, said driver including;

a cam-contacting surface, said cam-contacting surface configured to operatively engage with a cam of the stapler; and

a tissue-contacting surface, said first deformable member configured to hold tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said tissue-contacting surface after the stapler has been removed from the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein said driver is overmolded onto said base.

3. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein said cam-contacting surface comprises a beveled surface on said driver.

4. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

5. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said driver is comprised of an expandable material which can expand to compress tissue positioned intermediate said driver and said first deformable member.

6. The surgical staple of claim 1, said staple further including a second deformable member extending from said base, wherein said second deformable member is configured to hold tissue intermediate said second deformable member and said tissue-contacting surface.

7. The surgical staple of claim 1, wherein said driver is configured to be assembled to said base in order to embed said base in said driver.

31. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:

obtaining the stapler of claim 1;

sterilizing the stapler; and

storing the stapler in a sterile container.

8. A surgical staple, comprising:

a first deformable member;

a base, said first deformable member extending from said base; and

a driver integrally attached to at least one of said first deformable member and said base, said driver configured to be operatively engaged with a cam of a stapler.

9. The staple of claim 8, wherein said driver is overmolded onto said base.

10. The staple of claim 8, wherein said driver includes a cam-contacting surface, said cam-contacting surface comprising a beveled surface.

11. The staple of claim 8, wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

12. The staple of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said driver is comprised of an expandable material which can expand to compress tissue positioned intermediate said driver and said first deformable member.

13. The staple of claim 8, said staple further including a second deformable member extending from said base, wherein at least a portion of said base is embedded in said driver.

32. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:

obtaining the stapler of claim 8;

sterilizing the stapler; and

storing the stapler in a sterile container.

14. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

a staple, said staple including a first deformable member;

a stapler, including;

an anvil;

a staple cartridge for removably storing said staple; and

a cam movable between a first position and a second position; and

a driver integrally attached to said staple, said driver configured to directly engage said cam to move said staple toward said anvil when said cam is moved between said first position and said second position.

15. The surgical stapling system of claim 14, wherein said driver is overmolded onto a portion of said staple.

16. The surgical stapling system of claim 14, wherein said driver includes a first angled surface, wherein said cam includes a second angled surface, and wherein said second angled surface is configured to co-operate with said first angled surface to move said staple toward said anvil.

17. The surgical stapling system of claim 14, wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

18. The surgical stapling system of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said driver is comprised of an expandable material which can expand to compress tissue positioned intermediate said driver and said first deformable member.

19. The surgical stapling system of claim 14, said staple further including a second deformable member and a base, said first and second deformable members extending from said base, wherein at least a portion of said base is embedded in said driver.

20. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:

obtaining said stapler of claim 14;

sterilizing said stapler; and

storing said stapler in a sterile container.

21. A surgical staple, comprising:

a first deformable member;

a base, said first deformable member extending from said base; and

a driver, wherein at least a portion of said driver is formed on at least one of said base and said first deformable member, said driver including;

a cam-contacting surface, said cam-contacting surface configured to operatively engage with a cam of a stapler; and

a tissue-contacting surface, said first deformable member configured to hold tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said tissue-contacting surface.

22. The surgical staple of claim 21, wherein said driver is overmolded onto at least one of said base and said first deformable member.

23. The surgical staple of claim 21, wherein said driver is fixedly formed on at least one of said base and said first deformable member.

24. The surgical staple of claim 21, wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

25. The surgical staple of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said driver is comprised of an expandable material which can expand to compress tissue positioned intermediate said driver and said first deformable member.

26. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:

obtaining the stapler of claim 21;

sterilizing the stapler; and

storing the stapler in a sterile container.

27. A surgical staple, comprising:

a first deformable member;

a base, said first deforrnable member extending from said base; and

a driver, wherein at least a portion of said driver is integrally formed with at least one of said base and said first deformable member, said driver including;

a cam-contacting surface, said cam-contacting surface configured to operatively engage with a cam of a stapler; and

a tissue-contacting surface, said first deformable member configured to hold tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said tissue-contacting surface.

28. The surgical staple of claim 27, wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

29. The surgical staple of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of said driver is comprised of an expandable material which can expand to compress tissue positioned intermediate said driver and said first deformable member.

30. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:

obtaining the stapler of claim 27;

sterilizing the stapler; and

storing the stapler in a sterile container.