IP Library Granted Patent US 9,307,988
Granted Patent B2
US 9,307,988 · App. 14/064,940 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Staple cartridges for forming staples having differing formed staple heights

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,307,988
App. No.
14/064,940
Granted
Apr 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a staple cartridge body comprising a first side, a second side, and an elongated slot comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The staple cartridge body further comprises, one, a deck having elevationally offset first and second portions, and, two, a plurality of staple cavities. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staples comprising, one, a first row of staples supported a first forming distance from an anvil and formed against the anvil to a first deformed height and, two, a second row of staples supported a second forming distance from the anvil and formed against the anvil to a second deformed height, wherein the second deformed height is different than the first deformed height, and wherein the second forming distance is different than the first forming distance.

Claims (47)

1. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a staple cartridge body, comprising:

a first side;

a second side;

an elongated slot comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side;

a deck, said deck comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is elevationally offset from said second portion; and

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples, comprising:

a first row of staples, wherein the staples in said first row of staples are supported a first forming distance from an anvil and formed against the anvil to a first deformed height; and

a second row of staples, wherein the staples in said second row of staples are supported a second forming distance from the anvil and formed against the anvil to a second deformed height, wherein said second deformed height is different than said first deformed height, and wherein said second forming distance is different than said first forming distance.

2. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument assembly including an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:

a staple cartridge body, comprising:

a first side;

a second side;

an elongated slot; and

a deck, wherein said deck comprises a central portion and a lateral portion, and wherein said central portion is offset from said lateral portion, and wherein said deck comprises a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staples comprises:

a first row of staples, wherein said first row of staples comprises a plurality of first staples, wherein said first staples are supported a first distance from a datum, and wherein said first staples are formed against the anvil to a first deformed height; and

a second row of staples, wherein said second row of staples comprises a plurality of second staples, wherein said second row of staples are supported a second distance from the datum, wherein said second distance is different than said first distance, wherein said second staples are formed against the anvil to a second deformed height, and wherein said second deformed height is different that than said first deformed height.

3. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, said end effector comprising:

an anvil; and

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising:

a first side;

a second side;

an elongate slot extending along a longitudinal axis;

a deck comprising a first deck portion and a second deck portion, wherein said first deck portion is elevationally offset from said second deck portion; and

a plurality of staple cavities, comprising:

a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first deck portion; and

a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second deck portion; and

a plurality of staples, comprising:

a first row of staples deployable from said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first row of staples comprises first staples, wherein said first staples are supported a first row forming distance from said anvil, and wherein said first staples are formed against said anvil to a first deformed height; and

a second row of staples deployable from said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second row of staples comprises second staples, wherein said second staples are supported a second row forming distance from said anvil, wherein said second staples are formed against said anvil to a second deformed height, wherein said second deformed height is different than said first deformed height, and wherein said second row forming distance is different than said first row forming distance.

4. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, said end effector comprising:

an anvil comprising a plurality of forming pockets, wherein said plurality of forming pockets comprises:

a first row of forming pockets comprising first pockets defined by a pocket depth; and

a second row of forming pockets comprising second pockets defined by said pocket depth; and

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, comprising:

a first side;

a second side;

an elongate slot extending along a longitudinal axis;

a deck, wherein said deck comprises a central portion and a lateral portion, wherein said central portion is offset from said lateral portion; and

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staples comprises:

a first longitudinal row of staples comprising first staples, wherein said first staples are supported a first distance from a datum defined by said forming pockets, and wherein said first staples are formed by said first pockets to a first deformed height; and

a second longitudinal row of staples comprising second staples, wherein said second staples are supported a second distance from the datum, wherein said second distance is different than said first distance, wherein said second staples are formed by said second pockets to a second deformed height, and wherein said second deformed height is different than said first deformed height.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056601/0339 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 041821/0186 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2015
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
Reel/Frame 037220/0212 →
TO CORRECT AN ERROR IN A COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 032443/0650 TO CORRECT ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER. Recorded Mar 20, 2014
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032487/0054 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2014
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032443/0650 →