Staple forming features for surgical stapling instrument
An end effector for a surgical instrument comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw and is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples. The anvil has staple forming pockets. Each staple forming pocket comprises first and second staple forming surface regions configured to receive respective first and second staple legs. The first and second staple forming surface regions each have a respective length that is greater than half of the length of the staple forming pocket. The staple forming surface regions may include convex surfaces that drive staple legs laterally. The pocket minimizes re-entry of staple leg tips into tissue.
1. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and
(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the anvil comprises:
(i) a tissue contacting surface, and
(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises:
(A) a first staple forming surface region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall,
wherein the first staple forming surface region is laterally defined on a first side by the first, second and third sidewall portions and on a second side by the fourth sidewall portion,
wherein the first sidewall of the first staple forming surface region has a shorter length than the second sidewall,
wherein the first side of the first staple forming surface region is positioned opposite of the second side of the first staple forming surface region, and
(B) a second staple forming surface region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall,
wherein the second staple forming surface region is laterally defined on a first side by the first, second and third sidewall portions and on a second side by the fourth sidewall portion,
wherein the first sidewall of the second staple forming surface region has a shorter length than the second sidewall,
wherein the first side of the second staple forming surface region is positioned opposite of the second side of the second staple forming surface region, and
(C) a dividing structure located between the first staple forming surface region and the second staple forming surface region,
wherein the third sidewall of the first staple forming surface region and third sidewall of the second staple forming surface region abut one another to thereby define the dividing structure; and
wherein the first sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a first length, wherein the second sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a second length, wherein the third sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a third length, wherein the fourth sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region has a fourth length, wherein the first length is less than the second length, wherein the third length is less than the fourth length.
2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the first staple forming surface region is defined within a first channel, wherein the second staple forming surface region is defined within a second channel.
3. The end effector of claim 2 , wherein the dividing structure separates the first channel from the second channel.
4. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the dividing structure is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket.
5. The end effector of claim 4 , wherein the first sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the second sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.
6. The end effector of claim 5 , wherein the third sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a third angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the fourth sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region defines a fourth angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket, wherein the third angle is greater than the fourth angle.
7. The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the first angle is equal to the third angle.
8. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the second angle is equal to the fourth angle.
9. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the first channel terminates at a region along the length of the staple forming pocket that is common with the region along the length of the staple forming pocket where the third sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region transitions to the fourth sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region, wherein the second channel terminates at a region along the length of the staple forming pocket that is common with the region along the length of the staple forming pocket where the first sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region transitions to the second sidewall portion of each of the first and second staple forming surface region.
10. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and
(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises:
(i) a tissue contacting surface, and
(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises:
(A) a first staple forming surface region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first staple forming surface region includes a first convex surface configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, and
(B) a second staple forming surface region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second staple forming surface region includes a second convex surface configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second staple forming surface region defines a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall;
wherein the first sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions are separated by the second sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions by a first transition portion and extend parallel to one another and parallel to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the third sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions are separated by the second sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions by a second transition portion and extend parallel to one another and obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the fourth sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions extend along a side facing the first, second and third sidewall portions of each of the first and second staple forming surface regions and extend obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis but at a different angle than the third sidewalls.
11. An end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
(a) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge; and
(b) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples driven from a staple cartridge received in the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises:
(i) a tissue contacting surface, and
(ii) a staple forming pocket adjacent to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the staple forming pocket defines a length along a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis extends along the length of the staple forming pocket through a laterally central region of the staple forming pocket, wherein the staple forming pocket comprises:
(A) a first region configured to receive a first staple leg, wherein the first region includes a first surface region configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis,
(B) a second region configured to receive a second staple leg, wherein the second region includes a second surface region configured to drive a staple leg laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein parts of the first and second regions extend along a common range of the length of the staple forming pocket such that portions of the first and second regions are positioned lateral to each other, and
(C) a dividing wall located between the first staple forming surface region and the second staple forming surface region,
wherein the dividing wall is defined by a first sidewall portion, and a second sidewall portion,
wherein the first sidewall portion further defines an inner side of the first staple forming surface region,
wherein the second sidewall portion defines an inner side of the second staple forming surface region, and
wherein the first and second sidewall portions are parallel with each other and are oblique with the longitudinal axis of the staple forming pocket;
wherein the first sidewall portion includes a third sidewall portion extending obliquely therefrom to further define the inner side of the first staple forming surface region;
wherein the second sidewall portion includes a fourth sidewall portion extending obliquely therefrom to further define the inner side of the second staple forming surface region;
wherein the fourth sidewalls of each of the first and second staple forming regions are laterally opposite of the first sidewall, second sidewall, and third sidewall of the respective staple forming regions to define the staple forming pocket;
wherein the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls are defined by substantially straight surfaces; and
wherein a first transition member connects the first sidewall to the second sidewall and a second transition member connects the second sidewall to the third sidewall.