Staple cartridge comprising a variable thickness compressible portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10136890-B2
Application number	US-201113097954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2011
Priority date	Sep 30, 2010
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an anvil, comprising a longitudinal row of first forming pockets and a longitudinal row of second forming pockets;
a firing member comprising a first cam and a second cam, wherein said first cam comprises a resilient pad, and wherein said second cam is configured to engage said anvil;
a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge is movable relative to said anvil between a first position and a second position, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck, comprising:
a longitudinal slot;
a first deck surface positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and
a second deck surface positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot;

a bottom portion positioned opposite said deck;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal row of first staple cavities extending between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said first forming pockets are positioned relative to said first staple cavities when said staple cartridge is in said second position; and
a longitudinal row of second staple cavities extending between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said second forming pockets are positioned relative to said second staple cavities when said staple cartridge is in said second position, and wherein each said first staple cavity and said second staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck;

a metal support extending under said bottom portion, wherein said metal support comprises a bottom cam surface configured to be engaged by said first cam of said firing member to position said cartridge body relative to said anvil;
a plurality of first staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said first staple driver comprises a first support cradle, and wherein a first distance is defined between each said first support cradle and a said first forming pocket when said first staple drivers are in said unfired position;
a plurality of second staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said second staple driver comprises a second staple support cradle, wherein a second distance is defined between each said second support cradle and a said second forming pocket when said second staple drivers are in said unfired position, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance;
a plurality of first staples, wherein each said first staple is positioned in a said first staple cavity and supported by a said first support cradle, and wherein said first staples comprise a first unformed height;
a plurality of second staples, wherein each said second staple is positioned in a said second staple cavity and supported by a said second support cradle, wherein said second staples comprise a second unformed height, and wherein said first unformed height is different than said second unformed height;
a first tissue thickness compensator, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises polyglycolic acid, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator extends across said longitudinal slot between said first deck surface and said second deck surface, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a first portion on a first side of said longitudinal slot and a second portion on said first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said first portion is positioned closer to said longitudinal slot than said second portion, wherein said first portion is aligned with said first staple cavities and is configured to be captured within said first staples along with tissue having a variable thickness, wherein said second portion is aligned with said second staple cavities and is configured to be captured within said second staples along with tissue having a variable thickness, and wherein said first portion is configured to assume different compressed thickness in response to the varying thickness of the tissue;
a first proximal anchor; and
a first distal anchor, wherein said first proximal anchor and said first distal anchor are configured to releasably hold said first tissue thickness compensator to said cartridge body, and wherein said first proximal anchor and said first distal anchor are configured to be incised to release said first tissue thickness compensator from said cartridge body;

a second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises polyglycolic acid, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator is configured to be captured within said first staples and said second staples along with the tissue having a variable thickness, and wherein said second tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed thickness in response to the varying thickness of the tissue;
a second proximal anchor;
a second distal anchor, wherein said second proximal anchor and said second distal anchor are configured to releasably hold said second tissue thickness compensator to said anvil, and wherein said second proximal anchor and said second distal anchor are configured to be incised to release said second tissue thickness compensator from said anvil; and
a joint configured to rotatably connected said staple cartridge to said surgical instrument.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive a cutting member.

3. A surgical stapler, comprising:
an anvil, wherein said anvil comprises a forming surface comprising a longitudinal row of first forming pockets and a longitudinal row of second forming pockets;
a firing member comprising a bottom cam and a top cam, wherein said bottom cam comprises a resilient pad, and wherein said top cam is configured to engage said anvil;
a cutting member;
a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge is movable relative to said anvil between a first position and a second position, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck, comprising:
a slot configured to receive a cutting member;
a first deck surface positioned on a first side of said slot; and
a second deck surface positioned on a second side of said slot;

a bottom portion positioned opposite said deck:
a longitudinal row of first staple cavities, wherein said first forming pockets are positioned relative to said first staple cavities when said staple cartridge is in said second position; and
a longitudinal row of second staple cavities, wherein said second forming pockets are positioned relative to said second staple cavities when said staple cartridge is in said second position, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck;

a metal support extending under said bottom portion, wherein said metal support comprises a bottom cam surface configured to be engaged by said bottom cam of said firing member to position said cartridge body relative to said anvil;
a plurality of first staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said first staple driver comprises a first support cradle, and wherein a first distance is defined between each said first support cradle and a first forming pocket when said first staple drivers are in said unfired position;
a plurality of second staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said second staple driver comprises a second support cradle, wherein a second distance is defined between each said second support cradle and a second forming pocket when said second staple drivers are in said unfired position, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance;
a plurality of first staples, wherein each said first staple is positioned in a said first staple cavity and supported by a said first support cradle, wherein said first staples comprise

Assignees

• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Baxter Iii Chester O
• Swayze Jeffrey S
• Morgan Jerome R
• Rhee Sora
• Aronhalt Taylor W
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Baxter Iii Chester O
• Swayze Jeffrey S
• Morgan Jerome R
• Rhee Sora
• Aronhalt Taylor W

Classifications

• A61B2017/07264

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

• A61B2017/07214

  Stapler heads · CPC title

• A61B17/1155

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/07228

  Arrangement of the staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title