Surgical stapling device

• US 9,724,091 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Morgan, Jerome R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/013,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20140001240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271761
• 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 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

In various embodiments, an end effector for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a linear portion, a first jaw, and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw, wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein the curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction. The end effector further comprises a curved path extending between two curved staple cavity rows of the plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein the curved path curves in the first direction, and a drive assembly extending along at least a portion of the linear portion, wherein the drive assembly comprises a cutting element structured to travel along the curved path, wherein the cutting element comprises a distal pre-biased cutting edge structured to lead the cutting element in the first direction.

Claims

1. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a linear portion;

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction;

a curved path extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved path curves in the first direction; and

a drive assembly extending along at least a portion of said linear portion, wherein said drive assembly comprises a cutting element structured to travel along said curved path, wherein said cutting element comprises a distal pre-biased cutting edge structured to lead said cutting element in the first direction.

2. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

3. The end effector of claim 2, further comprising a sled structured to move said cutting element along said curved path, wherein said sled is structured to progressively eject said staples from said staple cavities.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said cutting element comprises:

a proximal end;

a central axis extending distally from said proximal end; and

a distal end laterally offset from said central axis.

5. The end effector of claim 4, wherein said cutting element is asymmetrical relative to said central axis.

6. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said cutting element comprises:

a cutting element body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and

said distal pre-biased cutting edge extending from said distal end, wherein said distal pre-biased cutting edge is non-centered relative to said proximal end.

7. The end effector of claim 1, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises six curved staple cavity rows.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein three curved staple cavity rows are positioned on a first side of said curved path, and wherein three curved staple cavity rows are positioned on a second side of said curved path.

9. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a linear portion;

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction;

a curved slot extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved slot curves in the first direction; and

a drive assembly extending along at least a portion of said linear portion, wherein said drive assembly comprises a cutting element structured to travel along said curved slot, wherein said cutting element comprises a distal pre-biased cutting edge structured to guide said cutting element toward the first direction.

10. The end effector of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

11. The end effector of claim 10, further comprising a sled structured to move said cutting element along said curved slot, wherein said sled is structured to progressively deploy said staples from said staple cavities.

12. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said cutting element comprises:

a proximal end;

a central axis extending distally from said proximal end; and

a distal end laterally offset from said central axis.

13. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said cutting element comprises:

a cutting element body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and

said distal pre-biased cutting edge extending from said distal end, wherein said distal pre-biased cutting edge is non-centered relative to said proximal end.

14. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said cutting element comprises:

a proximal end; and

a longitudinal axis extending distally from said proximal end, wherein said cutting element is asymmetrical relative to said longitudinal axis.

15. The end effector of claim 9, wherein said plurality of curved staple cavity rows comprises six curved staple cavity rows.

16. The end effector of claim 15, wherein three curved staple cavity rows are positioned on a first side of said curved slot, and wherein three curved staple cavity rows are positioned on a second side of said curved slot.

17. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a linear portion;

a first jaw;

a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction;

a curved path extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved path curves in the first direction; and

a flexible drive assembly extending along at least a portion of said linear portion, wherein said flexible drive assembly comprises a cutting element structured to travel along said curved path, wherein said cutting element comprises distal means for leading said cutting element in a predisposed direction, and wherein the predisposed direction corresponds to the first direction.

18. The end effector of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities.

19. The end effector of claim 18, further comprising means for progressively deploying said staples from said staple cavities.

20. The end effector of claim 17, wherein said cutting element comprises:

a proximal end;

a central axis extending distally from said proximal end; and

a distal end laterally offset from said central axis.