Fastener cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11065745-B2
Application number	US-201916374181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2019
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A fastener cartridge can be used with a shaft of a tool during an orthopedic procedure. The fastener cartridge can have a main housing that can be attached to fastener housing including a fastener chamber and a backstop component. The fastener chamber includes a plurality of non-flexible tabs and the backstop component includes a plurality of resiliently flexible tabs. The fastener housing is configured to include a plurality of fasteners that are arranged therein such that the longitudinal axes of the fastener chamber and the plurality of fasteners are collinear. The plurality non-flexible tabs prevent one of the fasteners from inadvertently passing entirely out of an outlet of the fastener chamber and the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs allow the fasteners to move axially in the first direction and restrict movement of the fasteners in a second direction opposite the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener cartridge system, comprising:
a fastener housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining an outlet, the fastener housing defining a fastener chamber configured to receive a plurality of fasteners that are arranged along and collinear with a longitudinal axis of the fastener chamber, wherein the fastener housing includes a plurality of non-flexible tabs and a plurality of resiliently flexible tabs that allow the plurality of fasteners to move axially in a first direction and restrict movement of the fasteners in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The fastener cartridge system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of non-flexible tabs extend radially toward the longitudinal axis of the fastener chamber at the outlet of the fastener housing.

3. The fastener cartridge system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs are configured to transition from a first at-rest position to a second flexed position by flexing outward away from the longitudinal axis to allow the fasteners to move axially in the first direction.

4. The fastener cartridge system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fastener chamber is shaped to prevent relative rotation between the fasteners and the fastener chamber and to allow the fasteners to move therein along the longitudinal axis.

5. The fastener cartridge system of claim 1 , wherein the non-flexible tabs are configured to prevent one of the plurality of fasteners from inadvertently passing entirely out of the fastener housing.

6. The fastener cartridge system of claim 1 , further including:
a plurality of fasteners including:
a threaded shaft; and
a head disposed at an end of the threaded shaft, the head including at least two lobes and at least two recesses each disposed between adjacent lobes.

7. The fastener cartridge system of claim 6 , wherein the at least two recesses include a deformable surface.

8. The fastener cartridge system of claim 7 , wherein the deformable surface includes at least one of a ramped surface and a lip extending radially outward.

9. The fastener cartridge system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of non-flexible tabs are configured to engage the deformable surface of a first one of the plurality of fasteners to prevent the first one of the plurality of fasteners from inadvertently passing entirely out of the fastener housing.

10. The fastener cartridge system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of non-flexible tabs are configured to deform the deformable surface of the first one of the plurality of fasteners to release the first one of the plurality of fasteners from the fastener chamber in response to an applied force by a user.

11. The fastener cartridge system of claim 1 , further including:
a main housing extending from a first end to a second end;
a shaft configured to translate a rotational force applied to the shaft to the plurality of fasteners, wherein a portion of the shaft is configured to be received within and coupled to the main housing; and
a locking sleeve configured to move along the main housing and couple the fastener housing to the shaft.

12. A fastener cartridge system, comprising:
a fastener cartridge, including:
a fastener housing including a fastener chamber having a plurality of non-flexible tabs and a plurality of resiliently flexible tabs;
a plurality of fasteners positioned within the fastener chamber, the plurality of fasteners arranged along and collinear with a longitudinal axis of the fastener chamber.

13. The fastener cartridge system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of non-flexible tabs extend radially toward a longitudinal axis of the fastener chamber at an outlet at the distal end of the fastener housing.

14. The fastener cartridge system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs allow the plurality of fasteners to move axially in a first direction and restrict movement of the fasteners in a second direction opposite the first direction.

15. The fastener cartridge system of claim 12 , further including:
a shaft of a tool rotationally coupled to the fastener cartridge such that when a rotational force is applied to the shaft, the shaft translates the rotational force to the plurality of fasteners.

16. The fastener cartridge system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs extend from a fixed end to a free end.

17. The fastener cartridge system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs are configured to transition from a first at rest position to a second flexed position, by flexing outward away from the longitudinal axis to allow the fasteners to move axially in the first direction, wherein, when at the first at rest position, the free end is contacting a head of a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners.

18. The fastener cartridge system of claim 12 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners have a head including at least two recesses that includes a deformable surface that is configured to deform by the plurality of non-flexible tabs in response to an applied force by a user.

19. The fastener cartridge system of claim 18 , wherein a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners extends from the fastener housing such that the plurality of non-flexible tabs engage the deformable surface and the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs contact the head of the first fastener, the plurality of non-flexible tabs preventing the first fastener from inadvertently passing entirely out of the fastener housing in a first direction and the plurality of resiliently flexible tabs preventing the first fastener from moving axially in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Assignees

• Zimmer Biomet Cmf & Thoracic Llc

Inventors

• Garcia Saddy
• Licht James
• Tonkinson Myles
• Suarez Kerwin
• Chadwell Lawrence Jene
• Luby Ryan N
• Ussin Nicolai
• Hale Rachel
• Lamothe Brian

Classifications

• B25B15/02

  operated by rotating the handle · CPC title

• A61B17/861

  specially shaped for gripping driver · CPC title

• A61B2017/0648

  threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread · CPC title

• A61B17/068

  Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) · CPC title

• B25B23/065 Primary

  the magazine being coaxial with the tool axis · CPC title