STAMPED STAPLES AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES USING THE SAME

• US 20170367699A1
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Morgan, Jerome R., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,542,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/105 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 2017/0645 being elastically deformed for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/07257 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A staple cartridge assembly is disclosed which comprises staples including a crown, a cam surface extending from the crown, one or more staple legs, and one or more connectors which connect the staple legs to the crown. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a sled configured to engage the cam surfaces of the staples but not the connectors.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and staple cavities extending between said proximal end and said distal end;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities, wherein each said staple is formed from flat stock, and wherein each said staple comprises;

a crown;

a proximal leg;

a distal leg, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg define a staple leg plane;

an inclined cam surface extending from and integrally formed with said crown, wherein said inclined cam surface defines a cam plane which is different than said staple leg plane;

a proximal connector which extends between and is integrally formed with said proximal leg and said crown; and

a distal connector which extends between and is integrally formed with said distal leg and said crown, wherein said inclined cam surface does not extend from said proximal connector, and wherein said inclined cam surface does not extend from said distal connector; and

a sled configured to engage said inclined cam surfaces of said staples and eject said staples from said staple cavities during a staple firing stroke.

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said inclined cam surface is planar, and wherein said proximal connector and said distal connector bend out of said cam plane toward said staple leg plane.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said inclined cam surface comprises a proximal lead-in in said cam plane.

4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein each said staple further comprises a clearance notch between said proximal lead-in and said proximal connector, and wherein said clearance notch is defined in said cam plane.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg of each said staple extend outwardly in non-parallel directions from said crown when said staples are in an unfired configuration.

6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 5, wherein said proximal and distal legs of said staples are flexed inwardly by the sidewalls of said staple cavities when said staples are stored in said staple cavities.

7. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said sled does not engage said proximal connectors and said distal connectors of said staples during said staple firing stroke.

8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the entirety of said inclined cam surface is positioned below said proximal staple leg and said distal staple leg.

9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said inclined cam surface comprises an initial pick-up point for said sled.

10. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and staple cavities extending between said proximal end and said distal end;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities, wherein said staples are formed from one or more metal sheets, and wherein each said staple comprises;

a crown;

a proximal leg;

a distal leg;

a cam surface extending from and integrally formed with said crown, wherein said cam surface defines a cam plane, and wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are not in said cam plane;

a proximal connector which extends between and is integrally formed with said proximal leg and said crown; and

a distal connector which extends between and is integrally formed with said distal leg and said crown, wherein said cam surface does not extend from said proximal connector; and

a sled configured to engage said cam surfaces of said staples and eject said staples from said staple cavities during a staple firing stroke.

11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein said cam surface is planar, and wherein said proximal connector and said distal connector bend out of said cam plane.

12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein said cam surface comprises a proximal lead-in in said cam plane.

13. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein each said staple further comprises a clearance notch between said proximal lead-in and said proximal connector, and wherein said clearance notch is defined in said cam plane.

14. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg of each said staple extend outwardly in non-parallel directions from said crown when said staples are in an unfired configuration.

15. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 14, wherein said proximal and distal legs of said staples are flexed inwardly by the sidewalls of said staple cavities when said staples are stored in said staple cavities.

16. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein said sled does not engage said proximal connectors of said staples during said staple firing stroke.

17. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein the entirety of said cam surface is positioned below said proximal staple leg and said distal staple leg.

18. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein said cam surface comprises an initial pick-up point for said sled.