Fastener cartridge comprising an extendable firing member

• US 9,585,662 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/138,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 227/177.1, 227/178.1
• 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 for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The fastener cartridge and/or surgical instrument can include an anvil. The fastener cartridge can comprise a cartridge body including a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities. The fastener cartridge can comprise fasteners at least partially stored within the fastener cavities, and a firing member configured to move the fasteners toward the anvil. The firing member can comprise a first ramp and a second ramp configured to lift the fasteners toward the anvil. In various instances, the first ramp and/or the second ramp can directly lift the fasteners. In certain instances, the fastener cartridge can include fastener drivers which are directly lifted by the first ramp and/or the second ramp.

Claims

1. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is at least partially stored within a said fastener cavity; and

a sled configured to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said sled comprises;

a first ramp configured to lift said fasteners from a first position to a partially-lifted position; and

a second ramp configured to lift said fasteners from said partially-lifted position to an elected position, wherein said first ramp is movable relative to said second ramp, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position, an intermediate partially-fired position, and a distal fired position during a firing stroke, wherein said first ramp is at least partially collapsed within said second ramp when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said first ramp is extended relative to said second ramp when said sled is in said intermediate partially-fired position.

2. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said first ramp is at least partially collapsed within said second ramp when said sled is in said distal fired position.

3. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said cartridge body comprises a distal end, and wherein said sled is configured to contact said distal end to collapse said first ramp relative to said second ramp.

4. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is at least partially stored within a said fastener cavity; and

a sled configured to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said sled comprises;

a first ramp configured to lift said fasteners from a first position to a partially-lifted position; and

a second ramp configured to lift said fasteners from said partially-lifted position to an ejected position, wherein said first ramp is movable relative to said second ramp, wherein said sled is movable between an unfired position, a partially-fired position, and a fired position during a firing stroke, wherein said first ramp is in a retracted position relative to said second ramp when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said first ramp is in an extended position relative to said second ramp when said sled is in said partially-fired position.

5. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein said first ramp is in said retracted position when said sled is in said fired position.

6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein said plurality of fasteners are arranged in at least one longitudinal row.

7. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein said plurality of fasteners are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows.

8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 4, further comprising an anvil.

9. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is at least partially stored within a said fastener cavity; and

a sled configured to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said sled comprises;

a first ramp configured to lift said fasteners from a first position to a partially-lifted position; and

a second ramp configured to lift said fasteners from said partially-lifted position to an elected position, wherein said first ramp is movable relative to said second ramp, wherein said first ramp is configured to directly engage said fasteners, and wherein said second ramp is configured to directly engage said fasteners.

10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein said plurality of fasteners are arranged in a longitudinal row.

11. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein said plurality of fasteners are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows.

12. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 9, further comprising an anvil.

13. A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument including an anvil, said fastener cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is at least partially stored within a said fastener cavity; and

a firing member configured to move said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said firing member comprises;

a first ramp configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil; and

a second ramp configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said first ramp is movable relative to said second ramp, wherein said firing member is movable between a proximal unfired position, an intermediate partially-fired position, and a distal fired position during a firing stroke, wherein said first ramp is at least partially collapsed within said second ramp when said firing member is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said first ramp is extended relative to said second ramp when said firing member is in said intermediate partially-fired position.

14. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said first ramp is at least partially collapsed within said second ramp when said firing member is in said distal fired position.

15. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 14, wherein said cartridge body comprises a distal end, and wherein said firing member is configured to contact said distal end to collapse said first ramp relative to said second ramp.

16. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein said first ramp is in a retracted position when said firing member is in said distal fired position.

17. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said plurality of fasteners are arranged in at least one longitudinal row.

18. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein said plurality of fasteners are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows.

19. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13, further comprising an anvil.

20. A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument including an anvil, said fastener cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising;

a deck;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is at least partially stored within a said fastener cavity; and

a firing member configured to move said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said firing member comprises;

a first ramp configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil; and

a second ramp configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil, wherein said first ramp is movable relative to said second ramp, wherein said first ramp is configured to directly engage said fasteners, and wherein said second ramp is configured to directly engage said fasteners.