Staple cartridge

• US 9,131,940 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Huitema, Thomas W., Siebenaler, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/772,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20130161375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder

Abstract

A staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staples positioned within a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body can comprise a tissue-contacting deck and a plurality of ridges extending from the tissue-contacting deck. The ridges can be configured to prevent, or reduce the possibility of, tissue from moving relative to the staple cartridge during use. The staple cartridge can further comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity can comprise an opening in the deck which is at least partially surrounded by a ridge. The ridges can comprise a uniform height or a height which varies along the length thereof. The height can vary relative to a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body and/or between the center of the cartridge body and the side.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

tissue flow control means for controlling the flow of tissue relative to said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said tissue flow control means extends from said tissue-supporting deck intermediate adjacent openings;

wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein at least a portion of said tissue flow control means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening without extending over said opening.

2. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means extends from said tissue-supporting deck;

wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said gripping means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening without extending over said opening.

3. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means extends from said tissue-supporting deck;

wherein each said opening is uncovered by said gripping means and at least partially surrounded by a portion of said gripping means.

4. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple comprises a staple leg; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and

guide means for guiding said staple legs, wherein said guide means extends from said tissue-supporting deck and surrounds said proximal ends and said distal ends of at least one said opening without extending over said opening.

5. The staple cartridge of claim 4, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of ridges.

6. The staple cartridge of claim 4, wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.

7. The staple cartridge of claim 6, wherein said guide means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surface.

8. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a row of staple cavities, wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

a plurality of supporting means for supporting said staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said supporting means extends from said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein at least a portion of a said supporting means is positioned within said row of staple cavities without extending over said staple cavities.

9. The staple cartridge of claim 8, wherein each said staple cavity is at least partially surrounded by a said supporting means.

10. The staple cartridge of claim 8, wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.

11. The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein each said supporting means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surfaces.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 8, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein each said supporting means extends along one of said proximal end or said distal end of each said opening.

13. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

tissue compression means for compressing tissue;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staples are removably stored in said staple cavities; and

tissue pre-compression means for pre-compressing tissue, wherein said tissue pre-compression means is at least partially positioned intermediate said staple cavities without extending over said staple cavities.

14. The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue compression means, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said tissue pre-compression means extends around said proximal portion and said distal portion of at least one said opening.

15. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

tissue flow control means for controlling the flow of tissue relative to said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said tissue flow control means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck intermediate adjacent openings;

wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein at least a portion of said tissue flow control means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening.

16. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck;

wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said gripping means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening.

17. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck;

wherein each said opening is at least partially surrounded by a portion of said gripping means.

18. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple comprises a staple leg; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and

guide means for guiding said staple legs, wherein said guide means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck and surrounds said proximal ends and said distal ends of at least one said opening.

19. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of ridges.

20. The staple cartridge of claim 18, wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.

21. The staple cartridge of claim 20, wherein said guide means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surface.

22. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

a tissue-supporting deck;

a row of staple cavities, wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and

a plurality of supporting means for supporting said staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said supporting means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein at least a portion of a said supporting means is positioned within said row of staple cavities.

23. The staple cartridge of claim 22, wherein each said staple cavity is at least partially surrounded by a said supporting means.

24. The staple cartridge of claim 22, wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.

25. The staple cartridge of claim 24, wherein each said supporting means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surfaces.

26. The staple cartridge of claim 22, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein each said supporting means extends along one of said proximal end or said distal end of each said opening.

27. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:

a plurality of staples; and

a cartridge body, comprising;

tissue compression means for compressing tissue;

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staples are removably stored in said staple cavities; and

tissue pre-compression means for pre-compressing tissue, wherein said tissue pre-compression means is integrally formed with said tissue compression means and at least partially positioned intermediate said staple cavities.

28. The staple cartridge of claim 27, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue compression means, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said'"'"'tissue pre-compression means extends around said proximal portion and said distal portion of at least one said opening.