Granted Patent B2

US 10,932,774 · App. 16/019,013 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Inventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH)

Assignee: Ethicon LLC

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

Abstract

Claims (59)

1. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:

a frame;

a proximal portion;

a distal end portion;

a first jaw, comprising:

a cartridge;

a plurality of fastener cavities defined in said cartridge;

a slot configured to receive a cutting member;

a row of first fasteners removably stored in said cartridge, wherein said row of first fasteners extends between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said slot, and wherein each said first fastener comprises a first unformed height;

a row of second fasteners removably stored in said cartridge, wherein said row of second fasteners extends between said proximal portion and said distal end portion alongside said row of first fasteners, and wherein each said second fastener comprises a second unformed height;

a row of first fastener drivers, wherein each said first fastener driver comprises a first cradle, wherein each said first cradle is configured to support one of said first fasteners; and

a row of second fastener drivers, wherein each said second fastener driver comprises a second cradle, wherein each said second cradle is configured to support one of said second fasteners;

a second jaw extending from said frame, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform said first fasteners and said second fasteneres, wherein said cartridge is movable toward said anvil to place said end effector in a closed configuration, and wherein said anvil comprises:

a longitudinal row of first fastener forming pockets, wherein each said first fastener forming pocket comprises a first pocket base, wherein said row of first fasteners is aligned with said longitudinal row of first fastener forming pockets when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein each said first cradle is a first distance from a corresponding said first pocket base when said end effector is in said closed configuration; and

a longitudinal row of second fastener forming pockets, wherein each said second fastener forming pocket comprises a second pocket base, wherein said row of second fasteners is aligned with said longitudinal row of second fastener forming pockets when said end effector is in said closed configuration, wherein each said second cradle is a second distance from a corresponding said second pocket base when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance; and

a firing member movable toward said distal end portion to lift said first fastener drivers and said second fastener drivers toward said anvil during a firing stroke, wherein said first cradles of said first fastener drivers and said first pocket bases of said first fastener forming pockets cooperate to deform said first fasteners to a first fired height, wherein said second cradles of said second fastener drivers and said second pocket bases of said second fastener forming pockets cooperate to deform said second fasteners to a second fired height, and wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height.

2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.

3. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein each said second fastener comprises a base, a first leg, and a second leg which extends non-parallely to said first leg.

4. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.

5. An end effector configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector comprises:

an anvil, comprising:

a first longitudinal row of first staple forming pockets, wherein each said first staple forming pocket comprises a first pocket base; and

a second longitudinal row of second staple forming pockets, wherein each said second staple forming pocket comprises a second pocket base;

a staple cartridge jaw comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a longitudinal slot;

a first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned alongside said longitudinal slot, and wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is aligned with said first longitudinal row of first staple forming pockets when said end effector is in said closed configuration;

first staples positioned in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said first staple comprises a first unformed height;

first staple drivers, wherein each said first staple driver comprises a first cradle, wherein each said first cradle is configured to support one of said first staples, and wherein each said first cradle is a first distance from a corresponding said first pocket base when said end effector is in said closed configuration;

a second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned alongside said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, and wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is aligned with said second longitudinal row of second staple forming pockets when said end effector is in said closed configuration;

second staples positioned in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said second staple comprises a second unformed height, and wherein said first unformed height is the same as said second unformed height; and

second staple drivers, wherein each said second staple driver comprises a second cradle, wherein each said second cradle is configured to support one of said second staples, wherein each said second cradle is a second distance from a corresponding said second pocket base when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance; and

a firing member configured to lift said first staple drivers and said second staple drivers toward said anvil during a staple firing stroke, wherein said first cradles of said first staple drivers and said first pocket bases of said first staple forming pockets cooperate to deform said first staples to a first formed height, wherein said second cradles of said second staple drivers and said second pocket bases of said second staple forming pockets cooperate to deform said second staples to a second formed height, and wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height.

6. The end effector of claim 5 , wherein said anvil is planar.

7. An end effector, comprising:

an anvil comprising staple forming pockets, wherein each said staple forming pocket comprises a pocket base;

a staple cartridge jaw, wherein said staple cartridge jaw comprises:

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a longitudinal slot;

a first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned alongside said longitudinal slot;

a first staple positioned in one of said staple cavities from said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first staple comprises a first unformed height;

a first staple driver comprising a first cradle, wherein said first cradle is configured to support said first staple, and wherein said first cradle is positioned a first distance from a corresponding said pocket base;

a second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned alongside said first longitudinal row of staple cavities;

a second staple positioned in one of said staple cavities from said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second staple comprises a second unformed height, and wherein said first unformed height is the same as said second unformed height; and

a second staple driver, wherein said second staple driver comprises a second cradle, wherein said second cradle is configured to support said second staple, wherein said second cradle is positioned a second distance from a corresponding said pocket base, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance; and

a firing member configured to lift said first staple driver and said second staple driver toward said anvil during a staple firing stroke, wherein said first staple is deformed to a first formed height, wherein said second staple is deformed to a second formed height, and wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height.

8. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein said anvil is planar.

9. An end effector, comprising:

an anvil comprising first staple forming pockets and second staple forming pockets, wherein each said first staple forming pocket comprises a first pocket base, and wherein each said second staple forming pocket comprises a second pocket base;

a staple cartridge jaw;

a staple cartridge, comprising:

a longitudinal slot;

a first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned alongside said longitudinal slot;

first staples positioned in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said first staple comprises a first unformed height;

first staple drivers, wherein each said first staple driver comprises a first cradle, wherein each said first cradle is configured to support at least a portion of one of said first staples, and wherein a first distance is defined between each said first cradle and a corresponding said first pocket base when said end effector is in a closed configuration;

a second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned alongside said first longitudinal row of staple cavities;

second staples positioned in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said second staple comprises a second unformed height, and wherein said first unformed height is the same as said second unformed height; and

second staple drivers, wherein each said second staple driver comprises a second cradle, wherein each said second cradle is configured to support at least a portion of one of said second staples, wherein a second distance is defined between each said second cradle and a corresponding said second pocket base when said end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance; and

a firing member configured to lift said first staple drivers and said second staple drivers toward said anvil during a staple firing stroke, wherein said first cradles of said first staple drivers and said first pocket bases of said first staple forming pockets cooperate to deform said first staples to a first formed height, wherein said second cradles of said second staple drivers and said second pocket bases of said second staple forming pockets cooperate to deform said second staples to a second formed height, and wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height.

10. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein said anvil is planar.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (5)

Cited By (57)

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