Granted Patent B2

US 12,616,471 · App. 18/482,773 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventors: Timothy M. Hopkins (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA); Donald L. Gadberry (Capistrano Beach, CA); Matthew M. Becerra (Lake Forest, CA); Babak Jasemian (Trabuco Canyon, CA); Gary M. Johnson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA); Steven E. Decker (Anaheim, CA)

Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation

A61B17/07207A61B2017/0641A61B17/0644A61B2017/07221A61B2017/07228A61B2017/07264A61B2017/07278A61B2017/07285

Abstract

Claims (45)

1 . A surgical stapler comprising:

an elongate shaft assembly having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a jaw assembly at the distal end of the elongate shaft assembly; the jaw assembly comprising:

a first jaw having an anvil surface;

a second jaw; the first jaw being movable relative to the second jaw and having a closed position in which the anvil surface is adjacent to the second jaw and a gap is defined between the second jaw and the anvil surface; the second jaw comprising a staple cartridge receiving portion; and

a staple cartridge positionable in the staple cartridge receiving portion, the staple cartridge comprising:

a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate connected together, the first plate having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the first plate comprising a plurality of staple holding locations formed therein, each staple holding location defined by a substantially U-shaped recess formed in the inner surface of the first plate, the second plate having a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface, a first slot between the inner surface of the first plate and the first outer surface of the second plate, wherein each staple holding location formed in the inner surface of the first plate and a corresponding portion of the first outer surface of the second plate opposite each staple holding location together define a staple pocket;

a plurality of staples positioned in the recesses of the plurality of staple holding locations; and

a slider comprising a slider base and at least two angled caming surfaces extending upwardly from the slider base, one of the at least two angled caming surfaces positioned in the first slot,

wherein the slider is advanceable longitudinally within the jaw assembly such that the angled caming surface positioned in the first slot sequentially contacts the plurality of staples and urges them out of the staple cartridge towards the anvil surface of the first jaw as the slider translates along the jaw assembly and

wherein with the plurality of staples in the staple holding locations, an unsupported portion of each staple of the plurality of staples is positioned in the first slot.

2 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a front sidewall, a rear sidewall parallel to the front sidewall, and a bottom wall interconnected to the rear sidewall to form a generally L-shaped continuous wall.

3 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the angled caming surface of the slider sequentially contacts the unsupported portions of the plurality of staples as the slider translates along the jaw assembly.

4 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis and wherein the staple holding locations extend at an angle between 30 and 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

5 . The surgical stapler of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least two caming surfaces of the slider has an angled distal end extending from the slider base at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the angle of the angled distal end corresponding to the angle of the staple holding locations.

6 . The surgical stapler of claim 5 , wherein each staple of the plurality of staples comprises a first leg and a second leg interconnected by a base, and wherein the angled distal end of the each of the at least two caming surfaces pushes each staple normal to the base of the staple.

7 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the first plate is substantially flat and smooth.

8 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the second plate has a first substantially smooth outer surface facing the inner surface of the first plate.

9 . The surgical stapler of claim 8 , wherein the third plate is a mirror image of the first plate.

10 . The surgical stapler of claim 9 , wherein the second plate has a second substantially smooth outer surface opposite the first substantially smooth outer surface, the second substantially smooth outer surface facing the third plate.

11 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the staple cartridge receiving portion has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the staple cartridge receiving portion comprises a ledge formed at the distal end and a tongue formed at the proximal end.

12 . The surgical stapler of claim 11 , wherein the staple cartridge has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the staple cartridge comprises a tongue at the distal end engageable with the ledge of the staple cartridge receiving portion and a groove at the proximal end engageable with the tongue of the staple cartridge receiving portion.

13 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the first plate extends from a proximal end to a distal end and further comprises a proximal spacer protruding from the inner surface at the proximal end of the first plate and a distal spacer protruding from the inner surface at the distal end of the first plate such that when the first plate is stacked with the second plate, the proximal spacer and the distal spacer space the first plate from the second plate to define the first slot.

14 . A surgical stapler comprising:

a shaft assembly; the shaft assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; the shaft assembly comprising:

a jaw assembly at the distal end of the shaft assembly and extending longitudinally distally relative to the longitudinal axis; the jaw assembly comprising:

a first jaw having an anvil surface;

a second jaw having a top surface defining a horizontal plane; the first jaw being movable relative to the second jaw and having a closed position in which the anvil surface is adjacent to the top surface and a gap is defined between the top surface and the anvil surface; the second jaw including a plurality of staple pockets; each staple pocket comprising an opening to the top surface of the second jaw and a staple holding location beneath the opening with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to the horizontal plane;

a slider movable longitudinally within the second jaw, the slider comprising a caming surface; and

a plurality of staples positioned in the plurality of staple pockets, wherein each staple comprises a supported portion positioned within the staple holding location and an unsupported portion contacted by the caming surface of the slider as the slider is moved longitudinally within the second jaw, wherein the caming surface is angled relative to the longitudinal axis to contact the staples; and

wherein each staple holding location comprises a recess formed in a surface of the second jaw, the recess comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall parallel to the first sidewall, and a bottom wall.

15 . The surgical stapler of claim 14 , wherein each staple holding location extends from the opening at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the top surface.

16 . The surgical stapler of claim 15 , wherein the angle is greater than 30 degrees with respect to the top surface.

17 . The surgical stapler of claim 14 , wherein the anvil surface comprises a flat smooth surface without staple forming pockets therein.

18 . The surgical stapler of claim 14 , wherein the anvil surface comprises a plurality of channels formed therein.

19 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , further comprising a second staple cartridge positionable in the staple cartridge receiving portion, the staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge positioned to define a passageway therebetween.

20 . A surgical stapler comprising:

a shaft assembly; the shaft assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; the shaft assembly comprising:

a jaw assembly at the distal end of the shaft assembly and extending longitudinally distally relative to the longitudinal axis; the jaw assembly comprising:

a first jaw having an anvil surface;

a second jaw having a top surface defining a horizontal plane; the first jaw being movable relative to the second jaw and having a closed position in which the anvil surface is adjacent to the top surface and a gap is defined between the top surface and the anvil surface; the second jaw including a plurality of staple pockets; each staple pocket comprising an opening to the top surface of the second jaw and a staple holding location beneath the opening with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to the horizontal plane;

a slider movable longitudinally within the second jaw, the slider comprising a caming surface; and

a plurality of staples positioned in the plurality of staple pockets, wherein each staple comprises a supported portion positioned within the staple holding location and an unsupported portion contacted by the caming surface of the slider as the slider is moved longitudinally within the second jaw, wherein the caming surface is angled relative to the longitudinal axis to contact the staples; and

wherein each staple holding location extends from the opening at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the top surface; and

wherein the angle is greater than 30 degrees with respect to the top surface.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)