STAPLING END EFFECTOR CONFIGURED TO COMPENSATE FOR AN UNEVEN GAP BETWEEN A FIRST JAW AND A SECOND JAW

• US 20160287251A1
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,201 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 17/07207 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• 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 2017/07257 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 2017/2903 transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots

Abstract

A staple cartridge disclosed herein comprises a cartridge body and staples removably stored therein. The staple cartridge further comprises a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive the staples toward an anvil and a firing system movable toward a distal end of the cartridge body to sequentially move the staple drivers toward their fired positions. The staple drivers comprise a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface and a first staple support surface, wherein a first driver distance is defined between the first bottom drive surface and the first staple support surface, and a second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface and a second staple support surface, wherein a second driver distance is defined between the second bottom drive surface and the second support surface which is different than the first driver distance.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck;

a longitudinal slot defined in said deck; and

a longitudinal row of staple cavities;

staples removably stored in said longitudinal row of staple cavities;

a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said staples toward the anvil;

a firing system movable toward said distal end to sequentially move said staple drivers between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers comprises;

a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a first support surface configured to drive a first said staple toward the anvil, wherein a first driver distance is defined between said first bottom drive surface and said first support surface; and

a second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a second support surface configured to drive a second said staple toward the anvil, wherein a second driver distance is defined between said second bottom drive surface and said second support surface, and wherein said second driver distance is different than said first driver distance.

2. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first staple driver is positioned proximally with respect to said second staple driver, and wherein said first driver distance is shorter than said second driver distance.

3. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first support surface comprises a first cradle configured to receive a portion of said first staple therein, and wherein said second support surface comprises a second cradle configured to receive a portion of said second staple therein.

4. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first staple driver is not connected to said second staple driver.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first staple driver is connected to said second staple driver.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers comprises a third staple driver positioned distally with respect to said second staple driver, wherein said third staple driver comprises a third bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a third support surface configured to drive a third said staple toward the anvil, wherein a third driver distance is defined between said third bottom drive surface and said third support surface, and wherein said second driver distance is shorter than said third driver distance.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first driver height, said second driver height, and said third driver height increase in height according to a linear gradient.

8. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first driver height, said second driver height, and said third driver height increase in height according to a geometric gradient.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple drivers are configured to drive a first group of said staples, wherein said first staple and said second staple are part of said first group of staples, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a second longitudinal row of staple drivers configured to drive a second group of said staples, wherein said first group of staples are defined by a first undeformed height and said second group of staples are defined by a second undeformed height, and wherein said first undeformed height is different than said second undeformed height.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein said deck comprises a first step aligned with said first group of staples and a second step aligned with said second group of staples, wherein said first step is defined by a first height, wherein said second step is defined by a second height, and wherein said first height is different than said second height.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said deck is flat.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said staples are positioned below said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.

13. The staple cartridge of claim 12, further comprising a piece of adjunct material positioned over said deck.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein said adjunct material comprises a tissue thickness compensator.

15. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first staple is positioned below said deck and said second staple is partially positioned above said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises an adjunct material positioned over said deck, and wherein said second staple is partially embedded in said adjunct material when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.

16. The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein said adjunct comprises a tissue thickness compensator.

17. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said staples driven by said longitudinal row of staple drivers are stored within said cartridge body such that they are positioned at the same distance relative to said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.

18. The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein said staples driven by said longitudinal row of staple drivers are stored within said cartridge body such that they are not positioned at the same distance relative to said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.

19. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck;

a longitudinal slot defined in said deck; and

a longitudinal row of staple cavities;

staples removably stored in said longitudinal row of staple cavities;

a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said staples toward the anvil;

a firing system movable toward said distal end to sequentially move said staple drivers between said unfired position and said fired position; and

means for driving said staples to different distances relative to said deck.

20. An end effector for use with a surgical system, said end effector comprising:

a fastener cartridge, comprising;

a distal end;

a deck; and

a longitudinal row of fastener cavities;

fasteners removably stored in said longitudinal row of fastener cavities;

a forming jaw;

a longitudinal row of fastener drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said fasteners toward said forming jaw;

a firing system movable toward said distal end to sequentially move said fastener drivers between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said longitudinal row of fastener drivers comprises;

a first fastener driver comprising a first bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a first support surface configured to drive a first said fastener toward the anvil, wherein a first driver distance is defined between said first bottom drive surface and said first support surface; and

a second fastener driver comprising a second bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a second support surface configured to drive a second said fastener toward the anvil, wherein a second driver distance is defined between said second bottom drive surface and said second support surface, and wherein said second driver distance is different than said first driver distance.