End effectors, surgical stapling devices, and methods of using same

1. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure; and

an engagement element that movably couples the first end of the anvil to the first end of the cartridge to transition the end effector from a first open position to a second closed position;

a knife, having a first flange, a second flange, and a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange; wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector; and

wherein the second end of the anvil is pivotally coupled to the second end of the cartridge with a hinge.

2. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure; and

an engagement element that movably couples the first end of the anvil to the first end of the cartridge to transition the end effector from a first open position to a second closed position; and

a knife, having a first flange, a second flange, and a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange; wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector; and

wherein the knife is operably configured to move from a first position at about a distal end of the end effector to a second position at about a proximal end of the end effector.

3. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure;

a knife, having a first flange, a second flange, and a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange,

a first slot, the first slot being defined at least partially by the face of the anvil, wherein the first slot is configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

a second slot, the second slot being defined at least partially by the face of the cartridge, wherein the second slot is configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure; and

wherein the knife is operably configured to move from a first position at about a distal end of the end effector to a second position at about a proximal end of the end effector.

4. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure;

a knife, having a first flange, a second flange, and a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange,

a first slot, the first slot being defined at least partially by the face of the anvil, wherein the first slot is configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

a second slot, the second slot being defined at least partially by the face of the cartridge, wherein the second slot is configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife;

wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure; and

an alignment mechanism operably configured to facilitate alignment between the anvil and the cartridge when the end effector transitions from an open position to a closed position, the alignment mechanism comprising;

a. a housing, the housing extending from the cartridge adjacent the first end of the cartridge, wherein the knife is retained within the housing when the end effector transitions from the open position to the closed position; and

b. a recess being at least partially defined by the anvil, the recess being configured to receive the housing.

5. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure;

a knife, having a first flange, a second flange, and a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange,

a first slot, the first slot being defined at least partially by the face of the anvil, wherein the first slot is configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

a second slot, the second slot being defined at least partially by the face of the cartridge, wherein the second slot is configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure; and

wherein the second end of the anvil is pivotally coupled to the second end of the cartridge with a hinge.

6. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil, the anvil comprising;

a. a first end,

b. a second end,

c. an anvil face,

d. a first track defined at least partially by the anvil, and

e. a first slot defined at least partially by the anvil face;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising;

a. a first end,

b. a second end,

c. a cartridge face, the cartridge face being positioned substantially opposite the anvil face,

d. a second track defined at least partially by the cartridge, and

e. a second slot defined at least partially by the cartridge face;

a knife, wherein the knife is operably configured to move longitudinally from a first position at the second end of the end effector to a second position at about the first end of the end effector, the knife comprising;

a. a first flange,

b. a second flange, and

c. a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange such that the knife has a substantially I-shaped configuration;

wherein the first slot of the anvil and the second slot of the cartridge are configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

a hinge, the hinge being positioned at the second end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge, wherein the hinge pivotally couples the anvil and the cartridge

wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure; and

wherein the first end of the anvil is a proximal end of the anvil and the second end of the anvil is a distal end of the anvil.

7. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil, the anvil comprising;

a. a first end,

b. a second end,

c. an anvil face,

d. a first track defined at least partially by the anvil, and

e. a first slot defined at least partially by the anvil face;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising;

a. a first end,

b. a second end,

c. a cartridge face, the cartridge face being positioned substantially opposite the anvil face,

d. a second track defined at least partially by the cartridge, and

e. a second slot defined at least partially by the cartridge face;

a knife, wherein the knife is operably configured to move longitudinally from a first position at the second end of the end effector to a second position at about the first end of the end effector, the knife comprising;

a. a first flange,

b. a second flange, and

c. a web including a cutting edge connecting the first flange and the second flange such that the knife has a substantially I-shaped configuration;

wherein the first slot of the anvil and the second slot of the cartridge are configured to slidably receive the web of the knife during movement of the knife; and

a hinge, the hinge being positioned at the second end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge, wherein the hinge pivotally couples the anvil and the cartridge

wherein the second end of the anvil is movably coupled to the second end of the cartridge, each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure; and

an alignment mechanism operably configured to facilitate alignment between the anvil and the cartridge when the end effector transitions from an open position to a closed position, the alignment mechanism comprising;

a. a housing, the housing extending from the cartridge adjacent the first end of the cartridge, wherein the knife is retained within the housing when the end effector transitions from an open position to a closed position; and

b. a recess being at least partially defined by the anvil, the recess being configured to receive the housing.