Staple forming features for surgical stapling instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10092292-B2
Application number	US-201313780379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2013
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An end effector for a surgical instrument comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw and is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples. The anvil has staple forming pockets. Each staple forming pocket comprises first and second staple forming surface regions configured to receive respective first and second staple legs. The first and second staple forming surface regions each have a respective length that is greater than half of the length of the staple forming pocket. The staple forming surface regions may include convex surfaces that drive staple legs laterally. The pocket minimizes re-entry of staple leg tips into tissue.

First claim

We claim:

1. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and
(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a tissue contacting surface, and
(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises:
(A) a first staple forming surface region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall,
wherein the first staple forming surface region is laterally defined on a first side by the first, second and third sidewall portions and on a second side by the fourth sidewall portion,
wherein the first sidewall of the first staple forming surface region has a shorter length than the second sidewall,
wherein the first side of the first staple forming surface region is positioned opposite of the second side of the first staple forming surface region, and

(B) a second staple forming surface region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall,
wherein the second staple forming surface region is laterally defined on a first side by the first, second and third sidewall portions and on a second side by the fourth sidewall portion,
wherein the first sidewall of the second staple forming surface region has a shorter length than the second sidewall,
wherein the first side of the second staple forming surface region is positioned opposite of the second side of the second staple forming surface region, and

(C) a dividing structure located between the first staple forming surface region and the second staple forming surface region,
wherein the third sidewall of the first staple forming surface region and third sidewall of the second staple forming surface region abut one another to thereby define the dividing structure; and
wherein the first sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a first length, wherein the second sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a second length, wherein the third sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a third length, wherein the fourth sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a fourth length, wherein the first length is less than the second length, wherein the third length is less than the fourth length.

2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the first staple forming surface region is defined within a first channel, wherein the second staple forming surface region is defined within a second channel.

3. The end effector of claim 2 , wherein the dividing structure separates the first channel from the second channel.

4. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the dividing structure is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket.

5. The end effector of claim 4 , wherein the first sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the second sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

6. The end effector of claim 5 , wherein the third sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a third angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the fourth sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a fourth angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the third angle is greater than the fourth angle.

7. The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the first angle is equal to the third angle.

8. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the second angle is equal to the fourth angle.

9. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the first channel terminates at a region along the length of the staple forming pocket that is common with the region along the length of the staple forming pocket where the third sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region transitions to the fourth sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region, wherein the second channel terminates at a region along the length of the staple forming pocket that is common with the region along the length of the staple forming pocket where the first sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region transitions to the second sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region.

10. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and
(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises:
(i) a tissue contacting surface, and
(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises:
(A) a first staple forming surface region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first staple forming surface region includes a first convex surface configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, and
(B) a second staple forming surface region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second staple forming surface region includes a second convex surface configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall;
wherein the first sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions are separated by the second sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions by a first transition portion and extend parallel to one another and parallel to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the third sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions are separated by the second sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions by a second transition portion and extend parallel to one another and obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the fourth sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions extend along a side facing the first, second and third sidewall portions of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions and extend obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis but at a different angle than the third sidewalls.

11. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is co

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Boudreaux Chad P
• Scheib Charles J
• Hoffman Douglas B
• Volz Janna B
• O'Connor Megan
• Dunki-Jacobs Adam R
• Kruth Robert P

Classifications

• A61B2017/07264

  characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material · CPC title

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

  using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids · CPC title

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• A61B2090/0814

  Preventing re-use · CPC title