SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED END EFFECTOR

• US 20140001238A1
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R., Balek, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,675,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/07207 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 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

Claims

1. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises;

a first curved row comprising a first quantity of staple cavities; and

a second curved row comprising a second quantity of staple cavities, wherein said second curved row is positioned radially inward relative to said first curved row, and wherein said second quantity of staple cavities is less than said first quantity of staple cavities.

2. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

3. The end effector of claim 2, wherein said staples are progressively deployable from said staple cavities.

4. The end effector of claim 3, further comprising a firing element structured to travel along a curved path between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows.

5. The end effector of claim 4, wherein the curved path extends between said first curved row and said second curved row.

6. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises:

a third curved row comprising said first quantity of staple cavities; and

a fourth curved row comprising said second quantity of staple cavities, wherein said fourth curved row is positioned radially inward relative to said third curved row, and wherein a curved slot extends between said third curved row and said fourth curved row.

7. The end effector of claim 6, wherein said third curved row is adjacent to said first curved row, and wherein said fourth curved row is adjacent to said second curved row.

8. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw; and

a curved slot structured to receive a moveable cutting element;

wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises;

a first curved row positioned adjacent to said curved slot;

a second curved row; and

an intermediate curved row positioned intermediate said first curved row and said second curved row, wherein each said staple cavity of said first curved row is radially aligned with a single said staple cavity of said second curved row.

9. The end effector of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of staples ejectably positioned in said staple cavities.

10. The end effector of claim 8, further comprising said moveable cutting element.

11. The end effector of claim 8, wherein said staple cavities of said intermediate curved row are staggered relative to said staple cavities of said first and second curved rows.

12. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said staple cavities of said intermediate curved row are positioned to maximize overlap with two staple cavities of said first curved row.

13. The end effector of claim 8, wherein said second curved row is an outside row.

14. The end effector of claim 8, wherein said first curved row and said second curved row comprise the same quantity of staple cavities.

15. The end effector of claim 8, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises:

a third curved row positioned adjacent to said curved slot;

a fourth curved row; and

a second intermediate curved row positioned intermediate said third curved row and said fourth curved row, wherein each said staple cavity of said third curved row is radially aligned with a single said staple cavity of said fourth curved row.

16. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw; and

a curved slot structured to receive a moveable firing element;

wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises;

a first pair of curved rows extending along a first side of said curved slot, wherein each said curved row of said first pair of curved rows comprises a first quantity of staple cavities; and

a second pair of curved rows extending along a second side of said curved slot, wherein said second side of said curved slot is radially outward relative to said first side of said curved slot, wherein each said curved row of said second pair of curved rows comprises a second quantity of staple cavities, and wherein said second quantity of staple cavities is greater than said first quantity of staple cavities.

17. The end effector of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

18. The end effector of claim 16, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows further comprises a curved row extending along the first side of said curved slot, wherein said curved row comprises a third quantity of staple cavities, and wherein said third quantity of staple cavities is less than said first quantity of staple cavities.

19. The end effector of claim 16, further comprising a deck, wherein said staple cavities are defined through said deck, and wherein said deck on said first side of said curved slot is structured to clamp tissue before said deck on said second side of said curved slot.

20. The end effector of claim 19, wherein said deck comprises a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, and wherein said distal portion is structured to clamp tissue before said intermediate portion.