STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR

• US 20160106427A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Weaner, Lauren S., Morgan, Jerome R., Vendely, Michael J., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Baxter, Chester O. III, Zeiner, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,052,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above 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 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can comprise a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck. The staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. Additionally, a plurality of wells can be defined into the staple cartridge from the deck to a lowermost surface of the well. A plurality of staples can be removably positioned in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge can comprise a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the wells. Each well can surround at least one staple cavity and/or can extend between at least two staple cavities.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface; and

a plurality of wells, wherein each well comprises a lowermost surface, and wherein each well extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the lowermost surface of the well;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a compensator body; and

a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the wells.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least one lowermost surface is positioned intermediate the deck and the bottom surface of the cartridge body.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each well surrounds at least one staple cavity.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein each well extends between at least two staple cavities.

5. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows comprises a first row and a second row; and

a well defined into the cartridge body, wherein the well extends between one of the staple cavities in the first row and one of the staple cavities in the second row;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a compensator body; and

an extension extending from the compensator body into the well, wherein the extension is compressed within the well.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the plurality of rows comprises a third row positioned intermediate the first row and the second row.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein the well surrounds the staple cavities in the third COW.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the well extends from a proximal portion of the cartridge body to a distal portion of the cartridge body.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 5, further comprising a longitudinal slot extending at least partially through the cartridge body, wherein the well is positioned on a first side of the longitudinal slot.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein the well comprises a first well, and wherein the cartridge body further comprises a second well on a second side of the longitudinal slot.

11. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end and a distal end;

a knife slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of recesses, wherein each recess surrounds at least one staple cavity;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a compensator body; and

a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the recesses, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the recesses.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein each recess extends along a row of staple cavities.

13. The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein at least one recess asymmetrically surrounds at least one staple cavity.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein the tissue thickness compensator further comprises a longitudinal projection extending from the compensator body, and wherein the longitudinal projection is releasably retained within the longitudinal knife slot.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein each recess comprises a proximal wall, a distal wall, and a pair of sidewalls extending between the proximal wall and the distal wall.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein each extension is compressed between the proximal wall and the distal wall of the recess into which the extension extends.

17. The staple cartridge of claim 11, further comprising a sled configured to move along the longitudinal knife slot of the cartridge body to fire the staples from the staple cavities.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein a retention force between the extensions and the recesses secures the tissue thickness compensator to the cartridge body, and wherein a firing force on the staples from the sled is configured to overcome the retention force to release the tissue thickness compensator from the cartridge body.

19. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

a slot extending along at least a portion of the axis;

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of depressions, wherein at least one depression is positioned around at least a portion of two adjacent staple cavities;

a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises;

a compensator body; and

a plurality of protrusions protruding from the compensator body, wherein the protrusions are closely retained in the depressions defined in the cartridge body.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 19, wherein each staple cavity is defined into the cartridge body within one of the depressions.