METHOD FOR FORMING A STAPLE

• US 20130172929A1
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Published: 07/04/2013
• 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: Hess, Christopher J., Morgan, Jerome R., Weisenburgh, William B. II, Ortiz, Mark S., Stokes, Michael J., Shurtleff, Carl J., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Swayze, Jeffrey S., Bedi, James J., Dunki-Jacobs, Adam R., Voegele, James V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,359 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/1114 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 2017/07264 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 2090/0801 : Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/46 : haberdashery, e.g. buckles, combs; pronged fasteners, e.g. staples
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/00 : Nails; Staples surgical staples A61B17/064; manufacture of nails or staples B21G ; drawing-pins, thumb-tacks B43M15/00; railway spikes E01B9/06

Abstract

A method for deforming a staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed, the method comprising positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of a staple pocket, the first cup comprising a first inner surface, applying a first compressive force to the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and the second staple leg, contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base, and deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg.

Claims

1. A method of forming a surgical staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed by an anvil, said method comprising

supporting the base of the staple;

positioning a staple pocket of the anvil in opposition to the staple, wherein the staple pocket comprises a longitudinal axis;

positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of the staple pocket, wherein the first cup comprises a first inner surface at least partially positioned on a first side of the longitudinal axis;

positioning the second staple leg within a second cup of the staple pocket, wherein the second cup comprises a second inner surface at least partially positioned on a second side of the longitudinal axis;

applying a first compressive force to an end of the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and toward the second staple leg;

applying a second compressive force to an end of the second staple leg to bend the second staple leg toward the base and toward the first staple leg;

contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward the first side of the longitudinal axis and toward a first side of the common plane; and

contacting the second inner surface with the end of the second staple leg to bend the end of the second staple leg toward the second side of the longitudinal axis and toward a second side of the common plane;

deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-plane of the staple, wherein the mid-plane of the staple is defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg; and

deforming the second staple leg such that the end of the second staple leg crosses the mid-plane of the staple.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the end of the first staple leg is deformed in a first direction, wherein the end of the second staple leg is deformed in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is transverse to the second direction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein an angle is defined between the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein an angle is defined between the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the angle is between approximately 0.1 degrees and approximately 90 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first inner surface defines a first plane oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second inner surface defines a second plane oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel to one another.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first cup and the second cup are separated by a sidewall, wherein a first side of the sidewall comprises the first inner surface, and wherein a second side of the sidewall comprises the second inner surface.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said positioning step further comprises placing a tissue-contacting surface of the anvil against tissue positioned intermediate the staple and the staple pocket, wherein at least a portion of the first inner surface is perpendicular to the tissue-contacting surface, and wherein at least a portion of the second inner surface is perpendicular to the tissue-contacting surface.

9. A surgical instrument capable of performing the method of claim 1.

10. A surgical staple produced by the method of claim 1.

11. A method of forming a surgical staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, said method comprising

supporting the base of the staple;

positioning a staple pocket of an anvil in opposition to the staple, wherein the staple pocket comprises a longitudinal axis;

positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of the staple pocket, wherein the first cup comprises a first inner surface;

positioning the second staple leg within a second cup of the staple pocket, wherein the second cup comprises a second inner surface;

applying a first compressive force to an end of the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and toward the second staple leg;

applying a second compressive force to an end of the second staple leg to bend the second staple leg toward the base and toward the first staple leg;

contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base; and

contacting the second inner surface with the end of the second staple leg to bend the end of the second staple leg toward a second side of the base, wherein the second side is opposite the first side;

deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple, wherein the mid-line of the staple is defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg; and

deforming the second staple leg such that the end of the second staple leg crosses the mid-line of the staple.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the end of the first staple leg is deformed in a first direction, wherein the end of the second staple leg is deformed in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is transverse to the second direction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein an angle is defined between the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein an angle is defined between the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the angle is between approximately 0.1 degrees and approximately 90 degrees.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first inner surface defines a first plane oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second inner surface defines a second plane oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel to one another.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first cup and the second cup are separated by a sidewall, wherein a first side of the sidewall comprises the first inner surface, and wherein a second side of the sidewall comprises the second inner surface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said positioning step further comprises placing a tissue-contacting surface of the anvil against tissue positioned intermediate the staple and the staple pocket, wherein at least a portion of the first inner surface is perpendicular to the tissue-contacting surface, and wherein at least a portion of the second inner surface is perpendicular to the tissue-contacting surface.

19. A surgical instrument capable of performing the method of claim 11.

20. A surgical staple produced by the method of claim 11.

21. The surgical staple of claim 20, wherein said staple is at least partially coated by at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene and silicon.

22. A method of forming a surgical staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed by an anvil, said method comprising

supporting the base of the staple;

positioning a staple pocket of the anvil in opposition to the staple, wherein the staple pocket comprises a longitudinal axis;

positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of the staple pocket, wherein the first cup comprises a first inner surface at least partially positioned on a first side of the longitudinal axis;

positioning the second staple leg within a second cup of the staple pocket, wherein the second cup comprises a second inner surface at least partially positioned on a second side of the longitudinal axis;

applying a first compressive force to an end of the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and toward the second staple leg;

applying a second compressive force to an end of the second staple leg to bend the second staple leg toward the base and toward the first staple leg;

contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward the first side of the longitudinal axis and toward a first side of the common plane; and

contacting the second inner surface with the end of the second staple leg to bend the end of the second staple leg toward the second side of the longitudinal axis and toward a second side of the common plane;

deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg is positioned along a first axis, wherein said first axis transects a mid-plane of the staple at an angle, and wherein the mid-plane of the staple is defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg; and

deforming the second staple leg such that the end of the second staple leg is positioned along a second axis, wherein said second axis transects a mid-plane of the staple at an angle.