Actuator for releasing a tissue thickness compensator from a fastener cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10213198-B2
Application number	US-201313763035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2013
Priority date	Sep 30, 2010
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body having fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a layer of material releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, a connector configured to secure the layer of material to the cartridge body at a location distal to at least one fastener cavity, and an actuator. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. When actuated, the actuator can overcome the connector, and can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The actuator can be actuated at a location proximal to at least one fastener cavity, and can extend distally past at least one fastener cavity toward the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in a said fastener cavity;
a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body;
a connector, wherein said connector secures said tissue thickness compensator to said cartridge body at a location, and wherein the location is distal to at least one said fastener cavity;
an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said actuator overcomes said connector prior to the removal of said fasteners from said fastener cavities; and
a firing element configured to remove said fasteners from said fastener cavities during a firing stroke, wherein said firing element is configured to actuate said actuator during the firing stroke.

2. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said tissue thickness compensator is released from said cartridge body when said actuator overcomes said connector.

3. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said actuator shifts distally to cut said connector when actuated.

4. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a slot extending from a proximal end of said actuator, and wherein said slot comprises a release stop.

5. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in a said fastener cavity;
a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to said cartridge body;
a connector, wherein said connector secures said tissue thickness compensator to said cartridge body at a location, and wherein the location is distal to at least one said fastener cavity;
an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said actuator overcomes said connector prior to the removal of said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said actuator comprises a slot extending from a proximal end of said actuator, and wherein said slot comprises a release stop; and
a firing element configured to translate along said slot through said release stop, wherein said firing element is configured to move said actuator when said firing element pushes against said release stop.

6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 5 , wherein said slot comprises a first width, wherein said release stop comprises a second width that is narrower than said first width, and wherein said firing element is configured to widen said second width to pass through said release stop.

7. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 5 , wherein said release stop comprises a breakable portion, and wherein said firing element breaks said breakable portion to pass through said release stop.

8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 5 , wherein said release stop comprises a detent configured to hold said firing element, and wherein said firing element overcomes said detent to pass through said release stop.

9. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 5 , wherein said cartridge body comprises a hard stop, and wherein said hard stop blocks movement of said actuator distally past said hard stop.

10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 5 , comprising a tab configured to engage said firing element as said firing element moves through said release stop.

11. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said connector comprises a suture.

12. A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a fastening instrument for fastening tissue, said fastener cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are ejected from said fastener cavities during a portion of a firing stroke of the fastening instrument;
compensation means for compensating for thickness variations within the tissue, wherein said compensation means is releasably attached to said cartridge body;
attachment means for attaching said compensation means to said cartridge body, wherein said attachment means is positioned distal to at least one said fastener cavity;
releasing means for releasing said compensation means from said cartridge body, wherein said releasing means overcomes said attachment means before the portion of the firing stroke; and
firing means for firing said fasteners from said fastener cavities and for actuating said releasing means during the firing stroke.

13. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said releasing means shifts distally to overcome said attachment means.

14. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13 , wherein said releasing means comprises:
a proximal portion positioned proximal to said fastener cavities, wherein said releasing means is actuated at said proximal portion; and
a distal portion, wherein said distal portion overcomes said attachment means.

15. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said compensation means comprises a bioabsorbable foam.

16. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity;
a fastener removably positioned in said fastener cavity;
a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to said cartridge body;
a connector, wherein said connector secures said tissue thickness compensator to said cartridge body distal to said fastener cavity; and
an actuator, wherein said actuator extends past said fastener in said fastener cavity, wherein said actuator is actuated proximal to said fastener cavity, and wherein a firing element is configured to remove said fastener from said fastener cavity and actuate said actuator during a firing stroke.

17. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 16 , wherein said actuator breaks said connector when actuated.

18. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 16 , wherein said actuator overcomes said connector prior to the removal of said fastener from said fastener cavity.

19. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 16 , wherein said firing element is configured to move along a slot in said cartridge body, and wherein said firing element actuates said actuator and then fires said fastener from said fastener cavity when said firing element moves distally along the slot.

20. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 16 , wherein said actuator shifts distally toward said connector when actuated.

21. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 16 , wherein said actuator comprises a cutting edge, and wherein said cutting edge cuts said connector to disconnect said tissue thickness compensator from said cartridge body when actuated.

22. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 16 , wherein said actuator comprises a release stop, wherein said firing element is configured to translate through said release stop, and wherein said firing element is configured to move said actuator when said firing element pushes against said release stop.

23. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a fastener cavity;
a fastener removably positioned in said fastener cavity;
compensation means for compensating, wherein said compensation means is releasably attached to said cartridge body;
attachment means for attaching said compensation means to said cartridge body, wherein said attachment means is positioned distal to said fastener cavity; and
releasing means for releasing said compensation means fr

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Aronhalt Taylor W
• Vendely Michael J
• Weaner Lauren S
• Lloyd Brandon J
• Shelton Iv Frederick E

Classifications

• A61B2017/00862

  elastic or resilient · CPC title

• A61B2017/07228

  Arrangement of the staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/0053

  Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools · CPC title

• A61B17/0686

  having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling · CPC title

• A61B2017/320052

  Guides for cutting instruments · CPC title