TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR FOR A SURGICAL STAPLER COMPRISING AN ADJUSTABLE ANVIL

• US 20150034696A1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Baxter, Chester O. III
• Granted Patent: US 9,801,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 : with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 : Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 : Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 : Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 : Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 : Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 : elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 : enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 : pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00951 : adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 : Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 : having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 : Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• 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 2017/07235 : containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/2902 : characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 : Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 : pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 : details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 : connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 : Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• 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 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/1686 : using pre-loaded cassettes

Abstract

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities;

a firing element configured to traverse at least a portion of the cartridge body;

a compressible portion releasably secured relative to the cartridge body; and

a plurality of frangible retainers configured to secure the compressible portion relative to the cartridge body, wherein each frangible retainer extends from a discrete location along the compressible portion to the cartridge body, and wherein the frangible retainers are configured to progressively release the compressible portion from the cartridge body as the firing element traverses the cartridge body.

22. The staple cartridge of claim 21, wherein the compressible portion comprises a plurality of detachable portions, and wherein at least one of the frangible retainers is configured to engage each detachable portion.

23. The staple cartridge of claim 21, wherein the firing element comprises a cutting edge configured to progressively sever the frangible retainers.

24. The staple cartridge of claim 21, wherein the frangible retainers are comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

25. The staple cartridge of claim 21, wherein the frangible retainers are releasably secured to the cartridge body at discrete locations along the length of the cartridge body.

26. The staple cartridge of claim 21, wherein the staples comprise v-shaped staples, and wherein the v-shaped staples are friction-fit in the staple cavities.

27. The staple cartridge of claim 21, wherein the staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows, wherein each longitudinal row comprises a proximal staple cavity and a distal staple cavity, and wherein the firing element is configured to sequentially deploy the staples from the proximal staple cavity to the distal staple cavity in each longitudinal row.

28. The staple cartridge of claim 27, wherein the compressible portion comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is released from the cartridge body as the staples are fired from the proximal staple cavities, and wherein the distal end is released from the cartridge body as the staples are fired from the distal staple cavities.

29. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body;

a plurality of sequentially deployable staples, wherein a portion of each staple is positioned in one of the staple cavities;

a firing element configured to traverse at least a portion of the cartridge body, wherein the firing element is configured to sequentially deploy the staples from the staple cavities; and

a compressible portion releasably secured adjacent to the cartridge body at a plurality of discrete attachment points along at least a portion of the length of the cartridge body, wherein the compressible portion is incrementally released at the discrete attachment points of the cartridge body as the staples are sequentially deployed from the staple cavities.

30. The staple cartridge of claim 29, wherein a portion of each staple extends into the compressible portion.

31. The staple cartridge of claim 30, wherein the staples are friction-fit in the staple cavities.

32. The staple cartridge of claim 29, wherein the staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows, wherein a longitudinal slot is defined at least partially through the cartridge body intermediate adjacent longitudinal rows, and wherein the firing element is configured to translate along the longitudinal slot.

33. The staple cartridge of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of fasteners configured to engage the cartridge body and the compressible portion.

34. The staple cartridge of claim 33, wherein the fasteners are configured to disengage the cartridge body as the compressible portion is incrementally released from the cartridge body.

35. An end effector, comprising:

a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body;

a plurality of staples, wherein each staple is movable from an unfired position to a fired position, and wherein a portion of each staple is positioned in one of the staple cavities when the staple is in the unfired position;

a firing element configured to traverse at least a portion of the cartridge body, wherein the firing element is configured to fire the staples from the staple cavities;

a compressible portion; and

a plurality of retainers extending between the cartridge body and the compressible portion, wherein the retainers are configured to sequentially break as the staples are moved from the unfired positions to the fired positions.

36. The end effector of claim 35, wherein a portion of each staple extends into the compressible portion when the staples are in the unfired positions.

37. The end effector of claim 36, wherein the staples are friction-fit in the staple cavities.

38. The end effector of claim 37, wherein the staples comprise v-shaped staples.

39. The end effector of claim 35, wherein the retainers are engaged with the cartridge body at discrete attachment points along the length of the cartridge body.

40. The end effector of claim 35, wherein the compressible portion comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the compressible portion is progressively released from the cartridge body from the proximal portion to the distal portion.

41. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body;

a plurality of sequentially deployable staples, wherein a portion of each staple is positioned in one of the staple cavities;

a firing element configured to traverse at least a portion of the cartridge body, wherein the firing element is configured to sequentially deploy the staples from the staple cavities; and

a compressible portion releasably secured to the cartridge body at a plurality of locations, wherein the compressible portion is progressively released from the cartridge body as the firing element traverses the cartridge body.