END EFFECTORS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT

• US 20090206140A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hall, Steven G., Blair, Gregory B., Timm, Richard W., Morgan, Jerome R., Moore, Kyle P., Parihar, Shailendra K., Smith, Bret W., Ortiz, Mark S., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Weizman, Patrick A., Korvick, Donna L., Zwolinski, Andrew M., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Hueil, Geoffrey C., Messerly, Jeffrey D., Bruewer, Dean B., Tanguay, Randall J., Kelly, William D., Hoffman, Douglas B., Weisenburgh, William B. II, Robertson, Galen C., Armstrong, Glen A., Ransick, Mark H., Doll, Kevin R., Scheib, Charles J., Uth, Joshua R., Huitema, Thomas W., Kolata, Ronald J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

In various embodiments, an anvil of a disposable loading unit including a first member having staple pockets for deforming staples, a first cover plate secured to the first member, and a second cover plate secured to at least one of the first member and the first cover plate, wherein the first and second cover plates can be configured to support the first member. In at least one embodiment, an anvil can include a first member inserted into a second member, where at least one of the first and second members can be deformed to retain one to the other. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a disposable loading unit comprising a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a sleeve, wherein the sleeve can be configured to be slid relative to the staple cartridge and the anvil to hold the anvil in a closed position.

Claims

1. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; and

an anvil assembly, comprising;

an anvil portion including at least one staple-deforming cavity;

a first cover plate secured to said anvil portion, wherein said first cover plate is configured to support said anvil portion; and

a second cover plate secured to at least one of said anvil portion and said first cover plate to support said anvil portion.

2. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, wherein said first cover plate is welded to said anvil portion, and wherein said second cover plate is welded to said anvil portion.

3. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, wherein said first cover plate is welded to said anvil portion, and wherein said second cover plate is welded to said first cover plate.

4. The disposable loading unit of claim 1, wherein said second cover plate includes at least one ridge defined therein which is configured to reduce the flexibility of said second cover plate.

5. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; and

an anvil assembly, comprising;

a first portion; and

a second portion, including;

at least one staple deforming cavity; and

a body defining an internal cavity, wherein said first portion is configured to be at least partially received within said internal cavity, and wherein said second portion is configured to be deformed such that said first portion is retained within said internal cavity.

6. The disposable loading unit of claim 5, wherein said first portion includes first and second projections extending therefrom, wherein said internal cavity includes a first pocket configured to receive said first projection, wherein said internal cavity further includes a second pocket configured to receive said second projection, and wherein said first projection is configured to be retained in said first pocket and said second projection is configured to be retained in said second pocket after said second portion has been deformed.

7. The disposable loading unit of claim 5, wherein said second portion comprises an extrusion having a first end and a second end, and wherein said internal cavity extends between said first end and said second end.

8. The disposable loading unit of claim 5, wherein said first portion is comprised of a first material having a first yield strength, wherein said second portion is comprised of a second material having a second yield strength, and wherein said second yield strength is lower than said first yield strength.

9. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; and

an anvil comprised of a unitary piece of material, comprising;

a first portion including at least one staple deforming cavity;

a second portion including at least one staple deforming cavity; and

an intermediate portion, wherein said first portion and said second portion are bent relative to said intermediate portion.

10. The disposable loading unit of claim 9, wherein said first portion includes a first tissue-contacting surface, wherein said second portion includes a second tissue-contacting surface, and where said first surface is substantially parallel to said second surface.

11. The disposable loading unit of claim 9, further comprising a support member, wherein said first portion, said second portion, and said intermediate portion define an internal cavity therebetween, and wherein said support member is positioned within said internal cavity.

12. The disposable loading unit of claim 11, wherein said support member is press-fit into said internal cavity.

13. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; and

an anvil assembly, comprising;

an anvil portion including at least one staple deforming cavity; and

a support plate clipped onto said anvil portion.

14. The disposable loading unit of claim 13, wherein said anvil portion further comprises a first slot and a second slot, and wherein said support plate comprises:

a first projection configured to fit within said first slot; and

a second projection configured to fit within said second slot, wherein said first and second slots and said first and second projections are configured to cooperatively retain said support plate to said anvil portion.

15. The disposable loading unit of claim 13, wherein said support plate is snap-fit onto said anvil portion.

16. The disposable loading unit of claim 13, wherein said anvil portion is comprised of a first material having a first yield strength, wherein support portion is comprised of a second material having a second yield strength, and wherein said first yield strength is lower than said second yield strength.

17. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;

an anvil, comprising;

at least one staple deforming cavity; and

a guide slot; and

a drive assembly, comprising;

a drive beam movable relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge channel, wherein said drive beam is configured to slide within said guide slot, and wherein said drive beam includes a deformed portion configured to retain said drive beam within said guide slot.

18. The disposable loading unit of claim 17, wherein said drive beam is comprised of multiple sheets of material.

19. The disposable loading unit of claim 17, further comprising a support member, wherein said staple cartridge carrier includes a guide slot, wherein said drive beam includes a connector portion extending through said carrier guide slot, and wherein said support member is connected to said connector portion to retain said drive beam in said carrier guide slot.

20. The disposable loading unit of claim 17, wherein said anvil is pivotably mounted relative to said staple cartridge carrier, and wherein said deformed portion of said drive beam is configured to rotate said anvil relative to said staple cartridge carrier.

21. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;

an anvil comprising at least one staple deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably movable between a first position and a second position; and

a sleeve comprising an aperture, wherein said sleeve is configured to be slid relative to said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil, and wherein at least a portion of said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil are configured to be positioned within said aperture such that said sleeve can hold said anvil in said second position.

22. The disposable loading unit of claim 21, further comprising a staple cartridge positioned within said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said staple cartridge and said anvil define a tissue gap therebetween when said anvil is in said second position, and wherein said sleeve includes at least one slot aligned within said tissue gap.

23. The disposable loading unit of claim 21, further comprising a cantilevered tongue extending from said sleeve, wherein said tongue is configured to be slide relative to said staple cartridge channel and said anvil, and wherein said tongue is configured to engage said anvil to hold said anvil in said second position.

24. The disposable loading unit of claim 21, wherein said sleeve is configured to contact said anvil and rotate said anvil between said first and second positions.

25. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;

an anvil comprising at least one staple deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably movable between a first position and a second position; and

a tongue configured to be slid relative to said staple cartridge channel and said anvil, wherein said tongue is configured to engage said anvil and hold said anvil in said second position.

26. The disposable loading unit of claim 25, further comprising a staple driver movable relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge channel, wherein said tongue is operably engaged with said staple driver such that said tongue is configured to move with said staple driver.

27. The disposable loading unit of claim 25, wherein said tongue includes an arcuate portion and a distal tip, and wherein said distal tip is configured to contact said anvil and hold said anvil in said second position.

28. The disposable loading unit of claim 25, further comprising a second tongue configured to be slid relative to said staple cartridge channel and said anvil, wherein said second tongue is configured to engage said staple cartridge channel.