Staple cartridges for forming staples having differing formed staple heights
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied without the need to use different sizes of staples.
1. A stapling assembly, comprising:
a staple cartridge, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck configured to support the tissue of a patient, wherein said deck comprises a first longitudinal step and a second longitudinal step, wherein said first longitudinal step is defined by a first step height, and wherein said second longitudinal step is defined by a second step height which is different than said first step height;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal step;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal step;
a plurality of first staples removably stored in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of second staples removably stored in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a first longitudinal row of staple drivers aligned with said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple drivers support said first staples at a first unfired height; and
a second longitudinal row of staple drivers aligned with said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple drivers support said second staples at a second unfired height which is different than said first unfired height; and
an anvil configured to deform said first staples to a first deformed height and said second staples to a second deformed height which is different than said first deformed height,
wherein a distal compressive pressure is applied to the tissue between said anvil and said distal end of said staple cartridge, wherein a proximal compressive pressure is applied to the tissue between said anvil and said proximal end of said staple cartridge, and wherein said proximal compressive pressure is different than said distal compressive pressure, and
wherein a first compressive pressure is applied to the tissue between said anvil and said first longitudinal step, wherein a second compressive pressure is applied to the tissue between said anvil and said second longitudinal step, and wherein said second compressive pressure is different than said first compressive pressure.
2. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first staples and said second staples comprise the same unformed height.
3. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said anvil comprises:
a blade receiving slot; and
a lateral slot extending lateral from said blade receiving slot.
4. The stapling assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a firing member movable from said proximal end toward said distal end in response to a firing motion, wherein said firing member comprises:
a blade; and
a lateral member extending lateral from said blade, wherein said lateral member is configured to engage a sidewall of said lateral slot during said firing motion.
5. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said anvil comprises a planar tissue compression surface.
6. A stapling assembly, comprising:
a staple cartridge, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck configured to support the tissue of a patient, wherein said deck comprises a first longitudinal step and a second longitudinal step, wherein said first longitudinal step is defined by a first step height, and wherein said second longitudinal step is defined by a second step height which is different than said first step height;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal step;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal step;
a plurality of first staples removably stored in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of second staples removably stored in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a first longitudinal row of staple cradles aligned with said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cradles support said first staples at a first unfired height; and
a second longitudinal row of staple cradles aligned with said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cradles support said second staples at a second unfired height which is different than said first unfired height; and
an anvil, wherein said first staples are formed against said anvil to a first deformed height and said second staples are formed against said anvil to a second deformed height which is different than said first deformed height,
wherein the tissue is compressed between said anvil and said deck when said stapling assembly is in a clamped configuration, wherein said tissue compression varies between tissue compressed by said first longitudinal step and tissue compressed by said second longitudinal step, and wherein said tissue compression varies longitudinally within the tissue along said first longitudinal step and said second longitudinal step.
7. The stapling assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first staples and said second staples comprise the same unformed height.
8. The stapling assembly of claim 6 , wherein said anvil comprises:
a blade receiving slot; and
a lateral slot extending lateral from said blade receiving slot.
9. The stapling assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a firing member movable from said proximal end toward said distal end in response to a firing motion, wherein said firing member comprises:
a blade; and
a lateral member extending lateral from said blade, wherein said lateral member is configured to engage a sidewall of said lateral slot during said firing motion.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 6 , wherein said anvil comprises a planar tissue compression surface.
11. A stapling assembly, comprising:
a staple cartridge, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck configured to support the tissue of a patient, wherein said deck comprises a first longitudinal step and a second longitudinal step, wherein said first longitudinal step is defined by a first step height, and wherein said second longitudinal step is defined by a second step height which is different than said first step height;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal step;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal step;
a plurality of first staples removably stored in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first staples are defined by a first unformed height;
a plurality of second staples removably stored in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second staples are defined by a second unformed height, and wherein said first unformed height is the same as said second unformed height;
a first longitudinal row of staple cradles aligned with said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cradles support said first staples at a first unfired height; and
a second longitudinal row of staple cradles aligned with said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cradles support said second staples at a second unfired height which is different than said first unfired height; and
an anvil, wherein said first staples and said second staples are deformed against said anvil,
wherein the tissue is compressed between said anvil and said deck when said stapling assembly is in a clamped configuration, wherein said tissue compression varies between tissue compressed by said first longitudinal step and tissue compressed by said second longitudinal step, and wherein said tissue compression varies longitudinally within the tissue along said first longitudinal step and said second longitudinal step.
12. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , wherein said first staples are deformed against said anvil to a first deformed height, wherein said second staples are deformed against said anvil to a second deformed height, and wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height.
13. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , wherein said anvil comprises:
a blade receiving slot; and
a lateral slot extending lateral from said blade receiving slot.
14. The stapling assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a firing member movable from said proximal end toward said distal end in response to a firing motion, wherein said firing member comprises:
a blade; and
a lateral member extending lateral from said blade, wherein said lateral member is configured to engage a sidewall of said lateral slot during said firing motion.
15. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , wherein said anvil comprises a planar tissue compression surface.
16. A stapling assembly, comprising:
a staple cartridge, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck configured to support the tissue of a patient, wherein said deck comprises a first longitudinal step and a second longitudinal step, wherein said first longitudinal step is defined by a first step height, and wherein said second longitudinal step is defined by a second step height which is different than said first step height;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal step;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal step;
a plurality of first staples removably stored in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first staples are defined by a first unformed height;
a plurality of second staples removably stored in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second staples are defined by a second unformed height, and wherein said first unformed height is the same as said second unformed height;
a sled movable toward said distal end during a firing stroke;
a longitudinal row of first staple cradles aligned with said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first staple cradles are lifted to a first height by said sled during said firing stroke; and
a longitudinal row of second staple cradles aligned with said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second staple cradles are lifted to a second height by said sled during said firing stroke, and wherein said first height is different than said second height; and
an anvil, wherein said first staples and said second staples are deformed against said anvil,
wherein the tissue is compressed between said anvil and said deck when said stapling assembly is in a clamped configuration, wherein said tissue compression varies between tissue compressed by said first longitudinal step and tissue compressed by said second longitudinal step, and wherein said tissue compression varies longitudinally within the tissue along said first longitudinal step and said second longitudinal step.
17. The stapling assembly of claim 16 , wherein said first staples are deformed against said anvil to a first deformed height, wherein said second staples are deformed against said anvil to a second deformed height, and wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height.
18. The stapling assembly of claim 16 , wherein said anvil comprises:
a blade receiving slot; and
a lateral slot extending lateral from said blade receiving slot.
19. The stapling assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a firing member movable from said proximal end toward said distal end in response to a firing motion, wherein said firing member comprises:
a blade; and
a lateral member extending lateral from said blade, wherein said lateral member is configured to engage a sidewall of said lateral slot during said firing motion.
20. The stapling assembly of claim 16 , wherein said anvil comprises a planar tissue compression surface.