SURGICAL STAPLES AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES

• US 20150173744A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• 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, Dunki-Jacobs, Adam R., Scheib, Charles J., Fox, William D., Stokes, Michael J., Dugan, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The surgical staple can comprise a plurality of separate and discrete staple drive surfaces. The staple drive surfaces can be configured to move along parallel paths in the staple cartridge. Additionally, the staple cartridge can comprise a staple cavity, and a plurality of lift planes can extend through the staple cavity.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body;

a staple cavity defined in the cartridge body; and

a staple removably positioned in the staple cavity, wherein the staple comprises a plurality of drive surfaces, and wherein the drive surfaces are configured to move along parallel paths in the staple cartridge.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the staple further comprises:

a base comprising an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion further comprises an inclined drive surface; and

a pair of legs flanking the intermediate portion.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the staple cavity further comprises:

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a longitudinal guide surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the intermediate portion of the base is configured to translate along the longitudinal guide surface.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the base is configured to move along a first path, and wherein the legs are configured to move along a second path that is parallel to the first path.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the drive surfaces are longitudinally offset.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive surfaces comprises a first drive surface and a second drive surface, wherein the first drive surface further comprises a nub, and wherein the second drive surface further comprises an inclined surface.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein a sled is configured to lift the drive surfaces along the parallel paths in the staple cartridge.

8. A surgical staple, comprising:

a first staple leg;

a second staple leg; and

a plurality of separate and distinct staple drive surfaces.

9. The surgical staple of claim 8, wherein the separate and distinct staple drive surfaces are longitudinally offset.

10. The surgical staple of claim 8, wherein the separate and distinct staple drive surfaces are laterally offset.

11. The surgical staple of claim 8, further comprising a base, wherein the first and second staple legs extend from the base.

12. The surgical staple of claim 11, wherein the base comprises the plurality of separate and distinct staple drive surfaces, and wherein the separate and distinct staple drive surfaces comprise:

a first separate and distinct drive surface; and

a second separate and distinct drive surface.

13. The surgical staple of claim 12, wherein the first drive surface is aligned with the first staple leg, and wherein the second drive surface is offset from the first staple leg.

14. The surgical staple of claim 12, wherein at least one of the said staple drive surface comprises a nub.

15. The surgical staple of claim 14, wherein at least one of the said staple drive surface comprises an inclined surface.

16. The surgical staple of claim 8, wherein the plurality of separate and distinct staple drive surfaces are integrally formed in the surgical staple.

17. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body;

a staple cavity defined in the cartridge body, wherein a plurality of parallel lift planes are defined across the staple cavity; and

a staple removably positioned in the staple cavity, wherein the staple comprises;

a staple leg configured to move in a first lift plane of the plurality of parallel lift planes; and

a base configured to move in a second lift plane of the plurality of parallel lift planes.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein the staple cavity further comprises:

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a longitudinal guide surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein a portion of the base is configured to translate along the longitudinal guide surface.

19. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein the staple further comprises a plurality of separate and discrete drive surfaces.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 19, wherein the separate and discrete drive surfaces and laterally and longitudinally offset.