Staple cartridge including collapsible deck arrangement

• US 9,687,237 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schmid, Katherine J., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Young, Joseph E., Baxter, III, Chester O., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US14/733,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271761, 2271801, 606139, 606143, 606151, 606213, 606219
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge

Abstract

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler can comprise a cartridge deck and a plurality of staples at least partially positioned within the cartridge deck. In various embodiments, the staples can comprise legs which extend upwardly from the deck wherein the deck can further include supports, or guides, which are configured to hold the staple legs in a particular alignment. In at least one such embodiment, the staple legs can extend upwardly from the supports into a tissue thickness compensator.

Claims

1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

a plurality of staples comprising at least a first row of staples and a second row of staples, and wherein each said staple comprises a base and at least two legs extending from said base;

an implantable layer; and

a movable cartridge portion, comprising;

a deck surface;

a plurality of apertures defined in said deck surface, wherein said first row of staples are removably stored within said apertures, and wherein relative movement is afforded between said movable cartridge portion and said staples upon an application of a firing actuation to said staple cartridge assembly; and

a plurality of elevated staple guide portions extending higher than said deck surface.

2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said implantable layer comprises a fibrous material.

3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said implantable layer comprises a biocompatible foam.

4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of staples further comprises a third row of staples.

5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein each said staple is comprised of metal wire.

6. A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said fastener cartridge assembly comprising:

a plurality of fasteners comprising a first row of fasteners and a second row of fasteners, and wherein each said fastener comprises a base and at least two legs extending from said base;

an implantable layer; and

a movable cartridge body, comprising;

a deck surface;

a plurality of apertures defined in said deck surface, wherein said first row of fasteners are removably stored within said apertures, wherein said movable cartridge body is movable from a first position to a second position such that said movable cartridge body is movable between said first position and said second position upon an application of a firing actuation to said fastener cartridge assembly, and wherein the movement of said moveable cartridge body comprises relative movement between said fasteners and said movable cartridge body; and

a plurality of elevated fastener guide portions extending above said deck surface.

7. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein said implantable layer comprises a fibrous material.

8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein said implantable layer comprises a biocompatible foam.

9. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein said plurality of fasteners further comprises a third row of fasteners.

10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 6, wherein each said fastener is comprised of metal wire.