Fastener cartridge comprising a firing member including fastener transfer surfaces

• US 9,549,735 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Baxter, Chester O. III, Dunki-Jacobs, Adam R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US14/138,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/177.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below 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 17/105 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

A fastener cartridge can comprise a cartridge body including a plurality of fastener cavities and a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a firing member including a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface which can be configured to co-operatively lift and eject the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The first ramp surface can initially lift the fasteners. The second ramp surface can then complete the lift of the fasteners. In such circumstances, the fasteners can be transferred from the first ramp surface to the second ramp surface of the firing member. In various circumstances, the first ramp surface and/or the second ramp surface can directly engage the fasteners. In other circumstances, the fastener cartridge can include fastener drivers which are directly lifted by the first ramp surface and/or the second ramp surface. The fastener cartridge can further include an anvil.

Claims

1. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, wherein said fastening instrument comprises an anvil, and wherein said fastener cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck including a tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity includes an opening in said tissue supporting surface;

a longitudinal row of fasteners; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position to lift said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said sled comprises a first ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between an unlifted position and a partially lifted position, wherein said sled comprises a second ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between said partially lifted position and a fully lifted position, and wherein said second ramp portion is positioned laterally and parallel with respect to said first ramp portion.

2. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said fasteners are directly engaged by said sled.

3. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fasteners are supported by said fastener drivers, and wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward the anvil.

4. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first ramp portion extends along a first ramp axis, wherein said second ramp portion extends along a second ramp axis, and wherein said first ramp axis and said second ramp axis are aligned with said longitudinal row of fasteners.

5. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a layer positioned relative to said tissue supporting surface.

6. The fastener cartridge of claim 5, wherein said layer comprises a tissue thickness compensator.

7. The fastener cartridge of claim 5, wherein said fasteners are at least partially embedded in said layer when said fasteners are in said unlifted position.

8. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second proximal end a second distal end, and wherein said first distal end is positioned distally with respect to said second distal end.

9. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second proximal end a second distal end, and wherein said first distal end is movable with respect to said second distal end.

10. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first height, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second height, and wherein said second height is taller than said first height.

11. The fastener cartridge of claim 1, further comprising said anvil.

12. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, wherein said fastening instrument comprises an anvil, and wherein said fastener cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck including a tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity includes an opening in said tissue supporting surface;

a longitudinal row of fasteners; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position to lift said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said sled comprises a first ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between an unlifted position and a partially lifted position, wherein said sled comprises a second ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between said partially lifted position and a fully lifted position, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first ramp height, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second ramp height, and wherein said second ramp height is taller than said first ramp height.

13. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, wherein said fasteners are directly engaged by said sled.

14. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fasteners are supported by said fastener drivers, and wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward the anvil.

15. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, wherein said first ramp portion extends along a first ramp axis, wherein said second ramp portion extends along a second ramp axis, and wherein said first ramp axis and said second ramp axis are aligned with said longitudinal row of fasteners.

16. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, further comprising a layer positioned relative to said tissue supporting surface.

17. The fastener cartridge of claim 16, wherein said layer comprises a tissue thickness compensator.

18. The fastener cartridge of claim 16, wherein said fasteners are at least partially embedded in said layer when said fasteners are in said unlifted position.

19. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second proximal end a second distal end, and wherein said first distal end is positioned laterally and distally with respect to said second distal end.

20. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second proximal end a second distal end, and wherein said first distal end is movable with respect to said second distal end.

21. The fastener cartridge of claim 12, further comprising said anvil.

22. A fastener cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck including a tissue supporting surface; and

a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity includes an opening in said tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of fasteners; and

a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said firing member comprises a first ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between a first position and a partially lifted position, wherein said firing member comprises a second ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between said partially lifted position and a fired position, and wherein said second ramp portion is positioned laterally and parallel with respect to said first ramp portion.

23. The fastener cartridge of claim 22, further comprising an anvil.

24. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, wherein said surgical stapling instrument comprises an anvil, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck including a tissue supporting surface; and

a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity includes an opening in said tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of staples; and

a camming member movable between an unfired position and a fired position to lift said staples toward the anvil, wherein said camming member comprises a first ramp portion configured to lift each said staple between an unlifted position and a partially lifted position, wherein said camming member comprises a second ramp portion configured to lift each said staple between said partially lifted position and a fully lifted position, and wherein said second ramp portion is positioned laterally and parallel with respect to said first ramp portion.

25. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, wherein said surgical fastening instrument comprises an anvil, and wherein said fastener cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck comprising a tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of fasteners; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position to move said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said sled comprises a first ramp portion configured to move each said fastener between an unfired position and a partially fired position, wherein said sled comprises a second ramp portion configured to move each said fastener between said partially fired position and a fully fired position, wherein said first ramp portion comprises a first ramp height, wherein said second ramp portion comprises a second ramp height, and wherein said second ramp height is taller than said first ramp height.

26. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from said handle; and

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

an anvil; and

a fastener cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck comprising a tissue supporting surface; and

a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting surface;

a plurality of fasteners; and

a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said firing member comprises a first ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between a first position and a partially lifted position, wherein said firing member comprises a second ramp portion configured to lift each said fastener between said partially lifted position and a fired position, and wherein said second ramp portion is positioned laterally and parallel with respect to said first ramp portion.