Granted Patent B2

US 10,070,863 · App. 14/645,528 · Granted Sep 11, 2018

Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swayze (West Chester, OH); Joseph C. Hueil (Loveland, OH); Jerome R. Morgan (Cincinnati, OH); Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH)

Assignee: Ethicon LLC

A61B17/072A61B17/068A61B17/0682A61B17/07207A61B17/105A61B17/1155A61B17/32053A61B2017/07235A61B2017/07242A61B2017/07264A61B2017/07278A61B2017/320052

Abstract

Claims (83)

1. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

an elongated shaft assembly; and

an end effector comprising an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector is operably coupled to said elongated shaft assembly, said end effector comprising:

an anvil; and

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body, wherein said cartridge body and said anvil are in a confronting relationship when said end effector is in said closed configuration;

a plurality of first staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon application of a firing motion thereto that is transmitted by said elongated shaft assembly, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of said anvil when said end effector is in said closed configuration; and

a plurality of second staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being laterally positioned with respect to said first staple drivers, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from another portion of said anvil that corresponds to said second staple support cradle when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein said second staple forming distance differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance.

2. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

a rotary motion generator;

an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit motion from said rotary motion generator; and

an end effector operably coupled to said elongated shaft assembly, said end effector comprising:

an anvil;

a firing bar that is selectively actuatable upon receipt of a firing motion from said rotary motion generator; and

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a longitudinally extending slot therein for operably receiving said firing bar therein;

a first plurality of inside staple drivers axially aligned in a first row of said inside staple drivers in a portion of said cartridge body adjacent a first side of said longitudinally extending slot and a second plurality of inside staple drivers axially aligned in a second row of said inside staple drivers in another portion of said cartridge body adjacent a second side of said longitudinally extending slot, said inside staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body for movement toward said anvil, each said inside staple driver defining a first staple support cradle for supporting a first staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of said anvil;

a first plurality of outside staple drivers axially aligned in a first row of said outside staple drivers adjacent to said first row of said inside staple drivers and a second plurality of outside staple drivers axially aligned in a second row of said outside staple drivers and adjacent to said second row of said inside staple drivers, each of said outside staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body for movement toward said anvil, each of said outside staple drivers defining a second staple support cradle for supporting a second staple thereon that, when unformed, is substantially similar in size to said first staple supported on said first staple support cradle, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from another corresponding portion of said anvil, said second staple forming distance differing in magnitude from said first staple forming distance; and

a wedge sled which is movable by said firing bar for actuating contact with said first and second pluralities of said inside staple drivers and said first and second pluralities of said outside staple drivers such that, as said firing bar moves within said longitudinally extending slot in said cartridge body in a first longitudinal direction, said wedge sled drives each of said inside and outside staple drivers toward said anvil to bring the staples supported thereon into forming contact with said anvil.

3. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator; and

an end effector comprising an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector is operably coupled to said elongated shaft assembly, said end effector comprising:

an anvil comprising a staple forming surface thereon;

a firing bar that is selectively actuated by said actuator; and

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a longitudinally extending slot therein for receiving said firing bar therein;

a plurality of inside staple cradles axially aligned in a row of said inside staple cradles on a first side of said longitudinally extending slot, each of said inside staple cradles movably supported within said cartridge body for movement toward said anvil when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein each said inside staple cradle supports a first staple thereon;

a plurality of outside staple cradles aligned in a row of said outside staple cradles on said first side of said longitudinally extending slot and adjacent to said row of said inside staple cradles, each of said outside staple cradles movably supported within said cartridge body for movement toward said anvil when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein each said outside staple cradle supports a second staple thereon; and

a wedge sled movable by said firing bar, said wedge sled comprising:

an inside sled cam comprising a first maximum sled cam height measured from a bottom-most drive surface of said inside sled cam to an upper-most portion of said inside sled cam, said inside sled cam oriented for sequential lifting of said inside staple cradles when said firing bar is axially advanced through said longitudinally extending slot in a first longitudinal direction such that said inside staple cradles are driven toward said anvil a first distance equal to said first maximum sled cam height; and

an outside sled cam comprising a second maximum sled cam height measured from a bottom-most drive surface of said outside sled cam to an upper-most portion of said outside sled cam, said outside sled cam oriented for sequential lifting of said outside staple cradles when said firing bar is advanced through said longitudinally extending slot in said first longitudinal direction such that said outside staple cradles are driven toward said anvil a second distance equal to said second maximum sled cam height which is different than said first maximum sled cam height.

4. A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an end effector comprising an anvil, wherein the end effector further comprises an open configuration and a closed configuration, said staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body supported within the stapling device for selective confronting relationship with the anvil thereof when the end effector is in said closed configuration, said cartridge body configured to axially receive the actuator therein;

at least one first staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body for engagement by the actuator such that, as the actuator is axially advanced through said cartridge body, each said first staple driver is driven in a direction toward the anvil when the end effector is in said closed configuration, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, wherein said first staple support cradle is located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of the anvil when the end effector is in said closed configuration; and

at least one second staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body for engagement by the actuator such that, as the actuator is axially advanced through said cartridge body, each said second staple driver is driven in a direction toward the anvil when the end effector is in said closed configuration, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting another staple thereon, wherein said second staple support cradle is located a second staple forming distance from another portion of the anvil, and wherein said second staple forming distance differs from said first staple forming distance.

5. A surgical stapling device, comprising:

a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion and a closing motion; and

an implement portion responsive to the firing and closing motions from said handle portion, said implement portion comprising:

an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a staple cartridge support;

an anvil;

a firing device including a cutting edge longitudinally movable relative to said staple cartridge support, wherein said firing device comprises an upper portion engageable with said anvil and a lower portion engageable with said staple cartridge support during movement of said firing device;

a cartridge body supported by said staple cartridge support, said cartridge body comprising a non-planar deck surface configured to confront a staple forming portion of said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration;

a plurality of first staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being sequentially movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon sequential interaction with the firing device, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of the staple forming portion of said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration; and

a plurality of second staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being laterally positioned with respect to said first staple drivers, each said second staple driver being sequentially movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon sequential interaction with said firing device, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting another staple thereon, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from another corresponding portion of the staple forming portion of said anvil that corresponds to said second staple support cradle when said implement portion is in said closed configuration, and wherein said second staple forming distance differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance.

6. A surgical stapling device, comprising:

a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion and a closing motion; and

an implement portion responsive to the firing and closing motions from the handle portion, the implement portion comprising:

an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a staple cartridge support portion;

an anvil;

a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally movable relative to said staple cartridge support portion and said anvil, said firing device comprising an upper portion for engaging said anvil and a lower portion for engaging said staple cartridge support portion during distal movement of said firing device;

a cartridge body comprising a longitudinally extending slot therein for receiving said firing device therein, said cartridge body comprising a non-planar deck surface configured to confront a staple forming portion of said anvil comprising staple forming pockets therein when said implement portion is in said closed configuration;

a first plurality of inside staple drivers axially aligned in a first row of said inside staple drivers in a portion of said cartridge body adjacent a first side of said longitudinally extending slot and a second plurality of inside staple drivers axially aligned in a second row of inside staple drivers in another portion of said cartridge body adjacent a second side of said longitudinally extending slot, each said inside staple driver defining a first staple support cradle for supporting a staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration;

a first plurality of outside staple drivers axially aligned in a first row of said outside staple drivers adjacent to said first row of said inside staple drivers and a second plurality of outside staple drivers axially aligned in a second row of outside staple drivers and adjacent to said second row of inside staple drivers, each of said outside staple drivers defining a second staple support cradle for supporting another staple thereon, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from another corresponding portion of said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration, said second staple forming distance differing in magnitude from said first staple forming distance, wherein each of said inside staple drivers and said outside staple drivers are movably supported within said cartridge body for concurrent movement toward said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration; and

a wedge sled moveable relative to said cartridge body by said firing device and actuating contact with said inside staple drivers and said outside staple drivers such that, as said firing device moves within said longitudinally extending slot in said cartridge body in an axial direction, said wedge sled drives each of said inside staple drivers and said outside staple drivers toward said anvil to bring the staples supported thereon into forming contact with said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration.

7. A surgical stapling device, comprising:

a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion and a closing motion; and

an implement portion responsive to the firing and closing motions from said handle portion, said implement portion comprising:

an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a staple cartridge support portion;

an elongate channel coupled to said handle portion and configured to support a staple cartridge therein;

an anvil;

a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally movable relative to said staple cartridge support portion and said anvil, said firing device comprising an upper portion engageable with said anvil and a lower portion engaging said staple cartridge support portion during distal movement of said firing device;

a cartridge body comprising a longitudinally extending slot therein for receiving said firing device therein and a non-planar deck surface configured to confront a staple forming portion of said anvil comprising staple forming pockets therein when said implement portion is in said closed configuration;

a plurality of inside staple drivers axially aligned in a row of inside staple drivers on a first side of said longitudinally extending slot, wherein each said inside staple driver supports at least one staple thereon;

a plurality of outside staple drivers aligned in a row of outside staple drivers on said first side of said longitudinally extending slot and adjacent to said row of said inside staple drivers, each of said inside staple drivers and said outside staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body for sequential movement toward said anvil when said implement portion is in said closed configuration, and wherein each said outside staple driver supports at least one staple thereon; and

a wedge sled supported within said cartridge body for contact with said firing device, said wedge sled comprising:

an inside sled cam comprising a first maximum sled cam height measured from a bottom-most drive surface of said inside sled cam to an upper-most portion of said inside sled cam, said inside sled cam oriented for sequential sliding actuating contact with said inside staple drivers in said row of said inside staple drivers when said firing device is axially advanced through said longitudinally extending slot such that said inside staple drivers are driven toward said anvil a first distance equal to said first maximum sled cam height; and

an outside sled cam comprising a second maximum sled cam height measured from a bottom-most drive surface of said outside cam to an upper-most portion of said outside sled cam, said outside sled cam oriented for sequential sliding actuating contact with said outside staple drivers in said row of said outside staple drivers when said firing device is advanced through said longitudinally extending slot such that said outside staple drivers are driven toward said anvil a second distance equal to said second maximum sled cam height.

8. A surgical stapling device, comprising:

a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion and a closing motion; and

an implement portion responsive to the firing and closing motions from the handle portion, said implement portion comprising:

a staple cartridge support portion;

an anvil;

a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally movable relative to said staple cartridge support portion and said anvil, said firing device further comprising an upper member engageable to said anvil and a lower portion longitudinally engaging said staple cartridge support portion;

a cartridge body supportable within the stapling device for selective confronting relationship with the said anvil, wherein said cartridge body is configured to receive said cutting edge, and wherein said cartridge body comprises a non-planar deck surface configured to confront a staple forming portion of said anvil;

a plurality of first staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body for sequential contact by said firing device such that, as said firing device is advanced through said cartridge body, said first staple drivers are sequentially driven toward said anvil, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of said anvil when said cartridge body and said anvil are approximated;

a plurality of second staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body for sequential contact by said firing device such that as said firing device is advanced through said cartridge body, said second staple drivers are sequentially driven toward said anvil, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from a portion of said anvil that corresponds to said second staple support cradle, and wherein said second staple forming distance differs from said first staple forming distance;

a plurality of third staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body for sequential contact by said firing device such that, as said firing device is advanced through said cartridge body, said third staple drivers are sequentially driven toward said anvil, each said third staple driver defining a third staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, said third staple support cradle located a third staple forming distance from a portion of said anvil that corresponds to said third staple support cradle, and wherein said first staple forming distance differs from at least one of said second staple forming distance and said third staple forming distance;

a first staple disposed in at least one of said first staple support cradles;

a second staple disposed in at least one of said second staple support cradles; and

a third staple disposed in at least one of said third staple support cradles.

Assignments (6)

Continuity (5)

Cited By (63)

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