This disclosure is directed to surgical stapling devices and, more particularly, to surgical stapling devices that have a tool assembly with tissue gap control and controlled staple formation.
Surgical stapling devices for ejecting staples to join tissue or tissue segments in a fast and efficient manner in a variety of surgical procedures, e.g., anastomoses procedures, are well known. Typically, a surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having first and second jaws that support a cartridge assembly and an anvil, respectively. The cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge that supports a plurality of staples. The first and second jaws are mounted together to allow movement of the tool assembly between open and clamped positions. In the clamped position, the staple cartridge of the cartridge assembly and the anvil are supported in juxtaposed alignment and include tissue contact surfaces that define a predetermined tissue gap. The tissue gap and the size of the staples within the staple cartridge are dimensioned to receive and suture tissue having a thickness within a predetermined range to properly effect hemostasis. If the tissue positioned between the jaws is outside the predetermined range, i.e., either too thick or too thin, the stapling device may not provide effective hemostasis. In addition, if the tissue thickness is misidentified by the clinician or if the tissue thickness falls near the outer edges of the range for a given staple size, the likelihood of ineffective hemostasis is increased.
Accordingly, a continuing need exists in the suturing arts for a surgical stapling device that can provide effective hemostasis for a greater range of tissue thicknesses.
One aspect of the disclosure is directed to an anvil for a surgical stapling device that includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and having a tissue engaging surface. The tissue engaging surface defines a central knife slot and a series of staple forming pockets positioned on each side of the central knife slot. Each of the staple forming pockets includes first and second concavities. The first and second concavities are positioned to receive first and second legs, respectively, of a staple including a back span. The first and second concavities are configured to form the legs of a respective staple into a B-shape with the legs laterally offset from the back span.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a tool assembly including a cartridge assembly and an anvil. The cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge and a channel member. The channel member has a bottom wall and side walls defining a cavity. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body that defines a longitudinal axis, pushers, staples, and an actuation sled. The cartridge body defines a central knife slot and a series of staple receiving pockets on each side of the central knife slot. Each of the staples includes a back span and first and second legs secured to the back span. Each of the staples is received within one of the series of staple receiving slots. The first and second legs of each of the staples and the back span of the respective staples are aligned in a common plane. The anvil includes a body that defines a longitudinal axis and has a tissue engaging surface. The tissue engaging surface defines a central knife slot and a series of staple forming pockets positioned on each side of the central knife slot. Each of the staple forming pockets includes first and second concavities. The first and second concavities are positioned to receive the first and second legs, respectively, of a respective one of the staples and are configured to form the legs into a B-shape with the first and second legs of the staples laterally offset from the back span.
In aspects of the disclosure, each of the first and second concavities includes tapered side walls and a linear channel, and the tapered side walls are configured to direct the legs of the staple into the linear channel.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the linear channel of each of the first concavities defines an angle Ω1 with the longitudinal axis of the body of the anvil, and the linear channel of each of the second concavities defines an angle Ω2 with the longitudinal axis of the body of the anvil.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the angles Ω1 and Ω2 are from about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees.
In aspects of the disclosure, each of the first and second concavities is tear-drop shaped.
In some aspects of the disclosure, each of the first and second concavities has a wall that is angled downwardly in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the body of the anvil.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, each of the first and second concavities is linear.
In aspects of the disclosure, the cartridge assembly includes a biasing member that is positioned on the bottom wall of the channel member between the cartridge body and the channel member, and the biasing member deformable to allow for vertical movement of the cartridge body within the cavity.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the cartridge body includes tabs and the channel member defines windows that receive the tabs, and the tabs are movable vertically within the windows to allow the cartridge body to move vertically in relation to the channel member.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the biasing member is selected from the group consisting of compression springs and leaf springs.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an adapter assembly, and a tool assembly. The adapter assembly has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion is coupled to the handle assembly the tool assembly is supported on the distal portion of the adapter assembly. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil. The cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge and a channel member. The channel member has a bottom wall and side walls that define a cavity. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis, pushers, staples, and an actuation sled. The cartridge body defines a central knife slot and a series of staple receiving pockets on each side of the central knife slot. Each of the staples includes a back span and first and second legs that are secured to the back span. Each of the staples is received within one of the series of staple receiving slots. The first and second legs of each of the staples and the back span of the respective staple are aligned in a common plane within the cartridge body. The anvil includes a body that defines a longitudinal axis and has a tissue engaging surface. The tissue engaging surface defines a central knife slot and a series of staple forming pockets that are positioned on each side of the central knife slot. Each of the staple forming pockets includes first and second concavities that are positioned to receive the first and second legs, respectively, of a respective one of the staples and are configured to form the legs into a B-shape with the first and second legs of the staples laterally offset from the back span.
Other aspects of the disclosure will be appreciated from the following description.
Various aspects of the disclosed stapling device are described herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
The disclosed surgical stapling device will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
In this description, the term “proximal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is closer to a clinician, while the term “distal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is farther from the clinician. In addition, the term “endoscopic” is used generally used to refer to endoscopic, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, and/or any other procedure conducted through a small diameter incision or cannula. Further, the term “clinician” is used generally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, and support personnel. Moreover, directional terms such as front, rear, upper, lower, top, bottom, and similar terms are used to assist in understanding the description and are not intended to limit the disclosure.
The disclosed surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an anvil, and a cartridge assembly that includes a cartridge channel, a staple cartridge supported within the cartridge channel, and a biasing member. The cartridge channel has a pair of spaced sidewalls and a bottom wall. The biasing member is supported within the cartridge channel between the cartridge channel and the staple cartridge and allows the staple cartridge to move or float within the cartridge channel to accommodate tissues of different thicknesses. The disclosed surgical stapling device also includes an anvil that has a staple forming surface to control formation of staples ejected from the staple cartridge. In aspects of the disclosure, the staple forming surface of the anvil includes forming pockets that are configured to deform legs of the staples into a substantially B-shaped configuration with the legs positioned to one side of a back span of the staples.
The adapter assembly 14 includes a proximal portion 14a and a distal portion 14b. The proximal portion 14a is coupled to the handle assembly 12 and the distal portion 14b supports the tool assembly 16. In aspects of the disclosure, the tool assembly 16 forms part of a reload assembly 21 that is removably supported on the distal portion 14b of the adapter assembly 14 and can be replaced after the stapling device 10 is fired to facilitate reuse of the stapling device 10. It is also envisioned that the tool assembly 16 can be fixedly coupled to the distal portion 14b of the adapter assembly 14. The tool assembly 16 of the stapling device 10 includes a cartridge assembly 30 and an anvil 32. The cartridge assembly 30 and the anvil 32 are coupled together such that the tool assembly 16 can pivot between an open position (
The staple guard 50 is secured to a bottom side of the cartridge body 42 to retain the staples 44, pushers 46, and the actuation sled 48 within the cartridge body 42. In aspects of the disclosure, the staple guard 50 includes flexible tabs 58 that define openings 60 that receive protrusions 62 formed on an outer surface of the cartridge body 42 to secure the staple guard 50 to the cartridge body 42. In aspects of the disclosure, the staple guard 50 also includes hooked fingers 64 that engage a proximal portion of the cartridge body 42 to secure the staple guard 50 to the cartridge body 42. U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,139 discloses exemplary aspects of the construction and operation of a staple cartridge of a surgical stapling device.
The cartridge body 42 of the staple cartridge 40 includes tabs 66 and the channel member defines slots 68 that receive the tabs 66. The slots 68 are dimensioned to allow the cartridge body 42 of the staple cartridge 40 to move vertically within the slots 68 but prevent longitudinal movement of the staple cartridge 40 within the cavity 34a of the channel member 34. In aspects of the disclosure, the slots 68 are enclosed by bars 68a to define windows that prevent the tabs 66 from moving vertically from within the slots 68. In aspects of the disclosure, the tabs 66 can have convex side walls 66a that allow the cartridge body 40 to rock back and forth within the cavity 34a of the channel member 34.
The cartridge assembly 30 includes a biasing member or members 70 that is/are positioned between the staple guard 50 and the bottom wall 38 of the channel member 34. The biasing member(s) urges the staple cartridge 40 upwardly within the cavity 34a of the channel member 34 towards the anvil 32. In aspects of the disclosure, the biasing member 70 can be in the form of compression springs 70a and 70b, e.g., polymer compression springs (
When tissue is positioned between the anvil 32 and the cartridge assembly 30 and the tool assembly 16 is moved from the open position to the clamped position, the pressure of the tissue on the cartridge body 42 of the staple cartridge 40 compresses the biasing member 70, 70′ to move the staple cartridge 40 vertically (or towards the bottom wall 38 of the channel member 34) within the cavity 34a of the channel member 34. The amount of movement of the staple cartridge 40 within the cavity 34a of the channel member 34 will depend on the thickness of the tissue. More specifically, the staple cartridge 40 will move downwardly within the cavity 34a of the channel member 34 a greater distance as the tissue thickness increases. As the staple cartridge 40 moves within the channel member 34, the tabs 66 move within the slots 68 defined in the side walls 36 of the channel member 34. As described above, the tabs 66 and the windows 68 allow the entire staple cartridge 40 to move vertically within the cavity 34a defined by the channel member 34 but prevent axial movement of the staple cartridge 0 within the cavity 34a. As the entire staple cartridge 40 moves within the channel member 34, the relative position of the pushers 46 change in relation to the anvil 32 which affects staple formation. More specifically, when thick tissue is clamped, the staple cartridge 40 is compressed to a maximum tissue gap to properly form staples. When thinner tissue is clamped, the staple cartridge 40 (including the pushers 46) is closer to the anvil 32 which allows the legs of the staples to curl as described in further detail below.
Each of the staple forming pockets 84 includes a pair of tear-drop shape concavities 86a and 86b (
It is noted that the staples can have the same unformed size in each of the rows of staples. Alternately, the staples can have different unformed sizes in each of the rows of staples. For example, the staples on the inner row of staples can be smaller than the staples in the outer rows of staples. In addition, the face of the tissue engaging surface 52 (
Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary aspects of the disclosure. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary aspects of the disclosure may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure based on the above-described aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/933,461, filed Jul. 20, 2020, the disclosure which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16933461 | Jul 2020 | US |
Child | 18125401 | US |