Granted Patent B2

US 12,667,357 · App. 18/941,672 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Inventors: Timothy M. Hopkins (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA); Atal C. Patel (Mission Viejo, CA); Donald L. Gadberry (Capistrano Beach, CA); Matthew M. Becerra (Lake Forest, CA)

Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation

A61B17/105A61B17/0644A61B17/07207A61B2017/0641A61B2017/07271A61B2017/07278

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . A surgical stapler comprising:

a stapler cartridge assembly extending from a proximal end to a distal end;

an end effector at the distal end of the stapler cartridge assembly, the end effector defining a longitudinal axis, the end effector comprising:

a lower jaw having an upper surface, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of staple channels arranged longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the end effector and configured to receive staples, each staple channel having a channel opening at the upper surface through which a staple exits the lower jaw;

an upper jaw having an anvil surface, the upper jaw connected to the lower jaw such that the upper jaw is movable relative to the lower jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

wherein a center point and midline are defined in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the end effector with the jaws in a closed configuration;

wherein an inner staple line and an outer staple line are defined on each side of the midline by a plurality of the channel openings aligned in an inner row and an adjacent outer row on the upper surface;

wherein the staple channels are curved about the center point in the cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to provide a curved pathway for guiding curved staples located therein;

a plurality of inner pushers disposed in the lower jaw that are configured to contact and eject staples from the inner row, the inner pushers having an inner curvature configured for movement within the staple channels of the inner staple line; and

a plurality of outer pushers disposed in the lower jaw that are configured to contact and eject staples from the outer row, the outer pushers having an outer curvature configured for movement within the staple channels of the outer staple line.

2 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further comprises a central channel formed in the upper jaw and the lower jaw along the midline and along the length of the end effector; the central channel being configured to receive a slider longitudinally movable inside the central channel and configured to sequentially contact the plurality of inner pushers and the plurality of outer pushers.

3 . The surgical stapler of claim 2 , wherein the slider comprises an I-beam profile having a top portion slidable within the central channel in the upper jaw and a bottom portion slidable within the central channel in the lower jaw, the top portion and the bottom portion interconnected by a middle portion, and the bottom portion having a leading surface configured to sequentially contact the plurality of inner pushers and the plurality of outer pushers.

4 . The surgical stapler of claim 3 , wherein each inner pusher comprises a bottom surface having a slider contacting surface configured to contact the leading surface of the slider.

5 . The surgical stapler of claim 4 , wherein the slider contacting surface is shaped to conform to the leading surface.

6 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein each outer pusher has an inner surface comprising a projection extending inwardly therefrom.

7 . The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the projection is positioned between adjacent inner pushers to maintain a longitudinal position of the adjacent inner pushers relative to the longitudinal axis of the end effector.

8 . The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein each staple of the plurality of staples comprises a first leg and a second leg interconnected by a base, and wherein the first leg and the second leg extend upwardly from the base and each have a curvature corresponding to the staple channel in which each staple is received.

9 . A surgical stapler comprising:

a stapler cartridge assembly extending from a proximal end to a distal end;

an end effector at the distal end of the stapler cartridge assembly, the end effector defining a longitudinal axis, the end effector comprising:

a lower jaw having an upper surface, the lower jaw comprising:

a central channel extending longitudinally;

a first inner row of staple channels on a first side of the central channel;

a first outer row of staple channels on the first side of the central channel;

a second inner row of staple channels on a second side of the central channel opposite the first side; and

a second outer row of staple channels on the second side;

an upper jaw having an anvil surface, the upper jaw connected to the lower jaw such that the upper jaw is movable relative to the lower jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a plurality of inner pushers disposed in the first inner row and the second inner row; and

a plurality of outer pushers disposed in the first outer row and the second outer row;

wherein in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the end effector, the staple channels of the first inner row, the first outer row, the second inner row, and the second outer row are curved to provide a curved pathway for staples.

10 . The surgical stapler of claim 9 , wherein the first inner row of staple channels and the second inner row of staple channels have a first curvature.

11 . The surgical stapler of claim 10 , wherein the inner pushers are curved to conform to the first curvature.

12 . The surgical stapler of claim 9 , wherein the first outer row of staple channels and the second outer row of staple channels have a second curvature.

13 . The surgical stapler of claim 12 , wherein the outer pushers are curved to conform to the second curvature.

14 . The surgical stapler of claim 9 , wherein each inner pusher includes a top surface and a bottom surface interconnected by an outer surface and an inner surface and two end surfaces, wherein the top surface of the inner pusher is configured to contact a staple, and wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the inner pusher are curved.

15 . The surgical stapler of claim 9 , wherein each outer pusher includes a top surface and a bottom surface interconnected by an outer surface and an inner surface and two end surfaces, wherein the top surface of the outer pusher is configured to contact a staple, and wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the inner pusher are curved.

16 . The surgical stapler of claim 9 , wherein the lower jaw has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the lower jaw comprises a frame comprising:

a spine extending along the lower surface;

a plurality of inner ribs extending from the upper surface; and

a plurality of outer ribs extending from the spine.

17 . The surgical stapler of claim 16 , wherein each inner pusher has an outer surface comprising a channel configured to receive a portion of one of the plurality of outer ribs.

18 . The surgical stapler of claim 16 , wherein each inner pusher has a proximal end surface and a distal end surface, and wherein a portion of the distal end surface abuts one of the plurality of inner ribs.

19 . The surgical stapler of claim 18 , wherein each outer pusher has an inner surface comprising a projection extending inwardly therefrom, and wherein a second portion of the distal end surface of the inner pusher abuts the projection.

20 . The surgical stapler of claim 16 , wherein each outer pusher has a proximal end surface and a distal end surface, and wherein a portion of the distal end surface abuts one of the plurality of outer ribs.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)