SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE HAVING SUPPORTS FOR A FLEXIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM

• US 20140263572A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• 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, a cutting member having a cutting surface, and a driver operably engaged with the cutting member to move the cutting member relative 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 also be configured to receive a portion of the driver operably engaged with cutting member and support the driver when it moves the cutting member. In at least one embodiment, the slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot;

a cutting member, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, and wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and guide said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge; and

a flexible driver operably engaged with said cutting member to move said cutting member relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is further configured to receive at least a portion of said driver and support said driver when it moves said cutting member relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said slot is defined by at least one radius of curvature.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said flexible driver is deformable to match said at least one radius of curvature.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising said staple cartridge.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said slot includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein said slot further includes first projections extending from said first surface and second projections extending from said second surface, said first projections and said second projections defining a path for said cutting member and said driver.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the other of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a second slot, wherein said second slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and guide said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, and wherein said second slot is further configured to receive and support at least a portion of said driver and support said driver when it moves said cutting member relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the other of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a second slot, wherein said second slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and guide said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, and wherein said second slot is not further configured to receive said driver.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said flexible driver is comprised of at least first and second layers of material bonded together.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said first layer of material is comprised of a different material than said second layer of material.

10. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, comprising:

obtaining the surgical stapler of claim 1;

sterilizing said surgical stapler; and

storing said surgical stapler in a sterile container.

11. A staple cartridge, comprising:

at least one cavity configured to receive a staple;

a staple driver relatively movable with respect to said cavity, wherein said staple driver is configured to deploy said staple from said cavity when said staple driver is moved relative to said cavity; and

a curved slot configured to receive at least a portion of a drive bar operably engaged with said staple driver, said slot including first and second curved surfaces configured to support said drive bar.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein said slot further includes first projections extending from said first surface and second projections extending from said second surface, said first projections and said second projections defining a path for said cutting member and said drive bar.

13. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, said staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot;

a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot defines a curved path for said cutting member when it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said curved path is defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and guide said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge; and

a driver operably engaged with said cutting member to move said cutting member relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said curved slot is further configured to receive at least a portion of said driver and support said driver when it moves said cutting member relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 13, wherein said curved slot includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein said slot further includes first projections extending from said first surface and second projections extending from said second surface, said first projections and said second projections defining said curved path.

15. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;

an anvil configured to deform said staples;

a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and said staple cartridge;

a driver operably engaged with said cutting member to move said cutting member relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge; and

support means for supporting said driver when it moves said cutting member relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said support means also guides said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said support means includes a curved slot in one of said anvil and said staple cartridge, and wherein said curved slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said driver.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein said support means further includes a second slot in the other of said anvil and said staple cartridge, and wherein said second slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said driver.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein said curved slot includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein said curved slot further includes first projections extending from said first surface and second projections extending from said second surface, said first projections and said second projections defining a curved path for said cutting member and said driver.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said driver is comprised of at least two layers of material bonded together.