STAPLE CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT A BOTTOM COVER

• US 20170055997A1
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Vendely, Michael J., Baxter, Chester O. III, Harris, Jason L., Aronhalt, Taylor W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 17/072 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 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• 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 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 : Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 : located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 : being elastically deformed for insertion
• 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 2017/07264 : 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 2017/1142 : Purse-string sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 : during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 : Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 : Materials at least partially resorbable by the body

Abstract

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge is insertable into and removable from a jaw of surgical stapling instrument. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body including staple cavities and staples removably stored in the staple cavities. Each of the staple cavities includes a bottom opening and a top opening. The staples include features configured to inhibit the staples from falling out of the bottom openings of the staple cavities. The staple cartridge further comprises a firing member configured to eject the staples from the staple cavities through the top openings of the staple cavities. The firing member further comprises one or more features configured to inhibit the firing member from falling out of the bottom of the cartridge body. In various instances, as a result, a cover extending around the bottom of the cartridge body may not be required.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck;

a longitudinal slot defined in said deck extending from said proximal end toward said distal end; and

staple cavities, wherein said staple cavities are arranged in longitudinal rows, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises;

a top opening defined in said deck;

a bottom opening;

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a staple cavity sidewall extending between said proximal end and said distal end; and

staples removably stored in said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises;

a proximal leg;

a distal leg;

a base extending between said proximal leg and said distal leg; and

a retention projection extending from said base,

wherein said retention projections of said staples are engaged with said staple cavity sidewalls to prevent said staples from falling out of said bottom openings of said staple cavities.

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sled movable from said proximal end toward said distal end to eject said staples through said top openings of said staple cavities.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said cartridge body further comprises:

a bottom surface defined opposite said deck;

a longitudinal channel defined in said bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of said sled is slidably positioned in said longitudinal channel; and

a retention portion configured to prevent said sled from falling out of said longitudinal channel through said bottom surface.

4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal position and a distal position during a firing stroke, wherein said retention portion is engaged with said sled when said sled is in said proximal position, and wherein said retention portion is not engaged with said sled when said sled is in said distal position.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein said staple cartridge assembly does not comprise a cover extending around said bottom surface of said cartridge body.

6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 5, wherein said cartridge body comprises at least one snap-fit feature configured to directly engage the surgical stapler.

7. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein said sled directly engages said staples, and wherein said staple cartridge assembly does not comprise drivers positioned intermediate said sled and said staples.

8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein each said staple is stamped from a sheet of material, wherein said proximal leg, said distal leg, and said base of each said staple are formed in a staple plane, and wherein said retention projection extends laterally from said staple plane.

9. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck;

a bottom portion;

a longitudinal slot defined in said deck extending from said proximal end toward said distal end;

a longitudinal channel defined in said bottom portion; and

staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a top opening defined in said deck and a bottom opening defined in said bottom portion;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a sled slidably positioned in said longitudinal channel, wherein said sled is movable from said proximal end toward said distal end to eject said staples through said top openings of said staple cavities; and

a retention portion configured to prevent said sled from falling out of said longitudinal channel through said bottom portion.

10. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal position and a distal position during a firing stroke, wherein said retention portion is engaged with said sled when said sled is in said proximal position, and wherein said retention portion is not engaged with said sled when said sled is in said distal position.

11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein said staple cartridge assembly does not comprise a cover extending around said bottom portion of said cartridge body.

12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein said sled directly engages said staples, and wherein said staple cartridge assembly does not comprise drivers positioned intermediate said sled and said staples.

13. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes a jaw configured to receive said staple cartridge assembly, and wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck;

a bottom portion, wherein said staple cartridge assembly does not comprise an enclosure extending around said bottom portion;

a longitudinal slot defined in said deck extending from said proximal end toward said distal end;

a longitudinal channel defined in said bottom portion; and

staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a top opening defined in said deck and a bottom opening defined in said bottom portion;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

a sled slidably positioned in said longitudinal channel, wherein said sled is movable from said proximal end toward said distal end to eject said staples through said top openings of said staple cavities during a firing stroke; and

means for preventing said sled from falling out of said longitudinal channel through said bottom portion.

14. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said sled directly engages said staples during said firing stroke.

15. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 14, further comprising means for preventing said staples from falling out of said staple cavities through said bottom openings.

16. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes a jaw configured to receive said staple cartridge assembly, and wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a deck;

a bottom portion, wherein said staple cartridge assembly does not comprise an enclosure extending around said bottom portion; and

staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a top opening defined in said deck and a bottom opening defined in said bottom portion; and

staples removably stored in said staple cavities, wherein said cartridge body includes shelves integrally formed with said cartridge body that prevent said staples from falling out of said staple cavities through said bottom openings.