U.S. patent application number 17/128296 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-17 for stepped staple cartridge with asymmetrical staples.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ethicon LLC. Invention is credited to Gregory J. Bakos, Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV.
Application Number | 20210177413 17/128296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005419571 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210177413 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shelton, IV; Frederick E. ;
et al. |
June 17, 2021 |
STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH ASYMMETRICAL STAPLES
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a staple cartridge that defines a
stepped deck. The surgical instrument further includes a staple
comprised of seamless unitary structure. The staple is configured
to be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple
includes a base and staple legs. A staple drive surface is
integrally formed in the base, and a sled is configured to directly
contact the staple drive surface to directly drive the staple.
Inventors: |
Shelton, IV; Frederick E.;
(Hillsboro, OH) ; Harris; Jason L.; (Lebanon,
OH) ; Bakos; Gregory J.; (Mason, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ethicon LLC |
Guaynabo |
PR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005419571 |
Appl. No.: |
17/128296 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16743262 |
Jan 15, 2020 |
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17128296 |
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15386188 |
Dec 21, 2016 |
10537324 |
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16743262 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/0644 20130101;
A61B 2017/07221 20130101; A61B 2017/07257 20130101; A61B 2017/07242
20130101; A61B 2017/0725 20130101; A61B 2017/2947 20130101; A61B
2017/00477 20130101; A61B 2017/07278 20130101; A61B 17/072
20130101; A61B 17/07207 20130101; A61B 2017/00526 20130101; A61B
2017/00017 20130101; A61B 2017/00964 20130101; A61B 2017/07271
20130101; A61B 2090/038 20160201; A61B 2017/00398 20130101; A61B
2017/0023 20130101; A61B 2017/07264 20130101; A61B 2017/2927
20130101; A61B 34/30 20160201; A61B 17/064 20130101; A61B 17/0682
20130101; A61B 2017/2933 20130101; A61B 2017/07285 20130101; A61B
2017/07235 20130101; A61B 2017/07228 20130101; A61B 2017/0046
20130101; A61B 2017/00473 20130101; A61B 2017/00862 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/072 20060101
A61B017/072; A61B 34/30 20060101 A61B034/30; A61B 17/064 20060101
A61B017/064; A61B 17/068 20060101 A61B017/068 |
Claims
1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling
instrument including an anvil, wherein the staple cartridge
comprises: a cartridge body, comprising: a proximal portion; a
distal portion; an elongate slot extending between the proximal
portion and the distal portion; a bottom surface; and a cartridge
deck on an opposite side of the cartridge body from the bottom
surface, the cartridge deck comprising: a first deck surface; and a
second deck surface laterally offset from the first deck surface in
a direction away from the elongate slot, wherein the first deck
surface is stepped up from the second deck surface relative to the
bottom surface; a plurality of staple cavities, comprising: a first
row of staple cavities defined in the first deck surface; and a
second row of staple cavities defined in the second deck surface,
wherein the first row of staple cavities is closer to the elongate
slot than the second row of staple cavities; a plurality of staples
housed in the cartridge body, the plurality of staples comprising:
first staples deployable from the first row of staple cavities; and
second staples deployable from the second row of staple cavities,
wherein each of the plurality of staples comprises: a base
comprising an inclined drive surface; a first leg extending from
the base; and a second leg extending from the base, wherein the
base, the first leg and the second leg define a seamless unitary
piece, wherein the first legs of the first staples and the first
legs of the second staples comprise different unformed heights; and
a sled, comprising: a first ramp configured to directly engage the
inclined drive surface of the first staples to deploy the first
staples from the first row of staple cavities, wherein the first
ramp is configured to cooperate with the anvil to form the first
staples to a first formed height; and a second ramp configured to
directly engage the inclined drive surface of the second staples to
deploy the second staples from the second row of staple cavities,
wherein the second ramp is configured to cooperate with the anvil
to form the second staples to a second formed height greater than
the first formed height.
2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the inclined
drive surface is positioned intermediate the first leg and the
second leg.
3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first leg
and the second leg define a leg plane, wherein the inclined drive
surface defines a drive plane, and wherein the drive plane is
offset from the leg plane.
4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the base is
asymmetrical.
5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first ramp
and the second ramp comprise different heights.
6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first ramp
comprises a first peak surface, wherein the second ramp comprises a
second peak surface, and wherein the first peak surface is higher
than the second peak surface.
7. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling
instrument including an anvil, wherein the staple cartridge
comprises: a cartridge body, comprising: a proximal portion; a
distal portion; an elongate slot extending between the proximal
portion and the distal portion; and a cartridge deck, comprising: a
first deck surface defining a first deck height; and a second deck
surface defining a second deck height, wherein the second deck
height is shorter than the first deck height; a plurality of staple
cavities, comprising: a first row of staple cavities defined in the
first deck surface; and a second row of staple cavities defined in
the second deck surface, wherein the first row of staple cavities
is closer to the elongate slot than the second row of staple
cavities; a plurality of staples housed in the cartridge body, the
plurality of staples comprising: first staples deployable from the
first row of staple cavities, wherein each of the first staples
comprise an unformed height; and second staples deployable from the
second row of staple cavities, wherein the each of the second
staples comprise the unformed height, and wherein each of the
plurality of staples comprises: a base comprising a sloping drive
surface; a first leg extending from the base; and a second leg
extending from the base, wherein the first leg and the second leg
define a first plane, wherein the drive surface extends along a
portion of the base in a direction parallel to the first plane,
wherein the sloping drive surface is laterally offset from the
first plane; and a sled, comprising: a first ramp configured to
directly engage the sloping drive surface of the first staples to
deploy the first staples from the first row of staple cavities,
wherein the first ramp is configured to cooperate with the anvil to
form the first staples to a first formed height; and a second ramp
configured to directly engage the sloping drive surface of the
second staples to deploy the second staples from the second row of
staple cavities, wherein the second ramp is configured to cooperate
with the anvil to form the second staples to a second formed height
greater than the first formed height.
8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the sloping
drive surface is positioned intermediate the first leg and the
second leg.
9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first leg
and the second leg define a leg plane, wherein the sloping drive
surface defines a drive plane, and wherein the drive plane is
offset from the leg plane.
10. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the base is
asymmetrical.
11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first
ramp and the second ramp comprise different heights.
12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first
ramp comprises a first peak surface, wherein the second ramp
comprises a second peak surface, and wherein the first peak surface
is higher than the second peak surface.
13. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the base, the
first leg, and the second leg define a unitary piece.
14. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: an anvil,
comprising: a first row of pockets; and a second row of pockets; a
staple cartridge, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple
cartridge is movable relative to the other between an open
configuration and a closed configuration to capture tissue, and
wherein the staple cartridge comprises: a cartridge body,
comprising: a proximal portion; a distal portion; an elongate slot
extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and
a cartridge deck, the cartridge deck comprising: a first deck
surface; and a second deck surface positioned further away from the
elongate slot than the first deck surface; a plurality of staple
cavities, comprising: a first row of staple cavities defined in the
first deck surface, wherein a first gap is defined between the
first row of pockets and the first row of staple cavities in the
closed configuration; and a second row of staple cavities defined
in the second deck surface, wherein the first row of staple
cavities is closer to the elongate slot than the second row of
staple cavities, wherein a second gap is defined between the second
row of pockets and the second row of staple cavities in the closed
configuration, and wherein the second gap is greater than the first
gap; and a plurality of staples housed in the cartridge body, the
plurality of staples comprising: first staples deployable from the
first row of staple cavities, wherein the first staples comprise a
first unformed height; and second staples deployable from the
second row of staple cavities, wherein the second staples comprise
a second unformed height greater than the first unformed height,
and wherein each of the plurality of staples comprises: a leg; and
an integral drive surface; and a sled, comprising: a first ramp
configured to directly engage the integral drive surface of the
first staples to deploy the first staples from the first row of
staple cavities, wherein the first ramp is configured to form the
first staples against the first row of pockets to a first formed
height; and a second ramp configured to directly engage the
integral drive surface of the second staples to deploy the second
staples from the second row of staple cavities, wherein the second
ramp is configured to form the second staples against the second
row of staple pockets to a second formed height different than the
first formed height.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the second formed
height is greater than the first formed height.
16. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the integral drive
surface is positioned intermediate the first leg and the second
leg.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the first leg and
the second leg define a leg plane, wherein the integral drive
surface defines a drive plane, and wherein the drive plane is
offset from the leg plane.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the base is
asymmetrical.
19. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the first ramp and
the second ramp comprise different heights.
20. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the first ramp
comprises a first peak surface, wherein the second ramp comprises a
second peak surface, and wherein the first peak surface is higher
than the second peak surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application claiming
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 16/743,262, entitled STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH STAPLES,
filed Jan. 15, 2020, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2020/0222045, which is a continuation application claiming priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/386,188, entitled STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH ASYMMETRICAL
STAPLES, filed Dec. 21, 2016, which issued on Jan. 21, 2020 as U.S.
Pat. No. 10,537,324, the entire disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to surgical instruments and,
in various arrangements, to surgical stapling and cutting
instruments and staple cartridges for use therewith that are
designed to staple and cut tissue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Various features of the embodiments described herein are set
forth with particularity in the appended claims. The various
embodiments, however, both as to organization and methods of
operation, together with advantages thereof, may be understood in
accordance with the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings as follows:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a staple for use with a
surgical stapling instrument in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the staple of FIG. 1;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a top view of the staple of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the staple of FIG. 1
taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge assembly
in accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the staple cartridge assembly of
FIG. 5 without a bottom pan;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an end effector
including a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil in accordance
with at least one embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a sled of the end
effector of FIG. 7;
[0012] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of staples with different
unformed heights in accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of staples with different
formed heights in accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 11 is an elevational view of staples with different
formed heights in accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge assembly
including tissue retention features in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 13 is a top view of the staple cartridge assembly of
FIG. 12;
[0017] FIG. 14 is a top view of a staple cartridge assembly
including tissue retention features in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 15 is a top view of a staple cartridge assembly
including gap setting members in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an end effector
including a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil in accordance
with at least one embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an end
effector including a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil in
accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge assembly
including gap setting pins in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge assembly
including gap setting features in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge assembly
including a staple cartridge and a staple retainer held against a
cartridge deck of the staple cartridge by a hairpin retainer;
[0024] FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the staple cartridge assembly
of FIG. 20;
[0025] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge
assembly of FIG. 20 where the hairpin retainer is fully inserted
into an elongate slot of the staple cartridge;
[0026] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge
assembly of FIG. 20 where the hairpin retainer is partially
inserted into the elongate slot of the staple cartridge;
[0027] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge assembly
including stepped deck surfaces in accordance with at least one
embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 25 is a plan view of the staple cartridge assembly of
FIG. 24 without a bottom pan;
[0029] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a quadruple staple driver
of the staple cartridge assembly of FIG. 25;
[0030] FIG. 27 is a partial perspective view of the staple
cartridge assembly of FIG. 24;
[0031] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the lines
28-28, of FIG. 27;
[0032] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a quadruple staple driver
including deformable retention features in accordance with at least
one embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 30 is a partial perspective view of a staple cartridge
assembly including deformable retention features in accordance with
at least one embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the lines
31-31, of FIG. 30;
[0035] FIG. 32 is a plan view of a staple cavity of the staple
cartridge assembly of FIG. 30;
[0036] FIG. 33 is a partial perspective view of an anvil of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument in accordance with at
least one embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 34 is a partial perspective view of an anvil of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument in accordance with at
least one embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 35 is a partial perspective view of a firing assembly
and a firing bar of a surgical stapling and cutting instrument in
accordance with the at least one embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 36 is a partial perspective view of the firing bar of
FIG. 35;
[0040] FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of a firing bar of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument in accordance with at
least one embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a firing bar of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument in accordance with at
least one embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of an end effector of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument in a closed
configuration;
[0043] FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the end effector of
FIG. 39 in an open configuration;
[0044] FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of an end effector of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument in a closed
configuration;
[0045] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view of the end effector of
FIG. 41 in an open configuration;
[0046] FIG. 43 is an elevational view of a disposable loading unit
in accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 44 is an elevational view of a disposable loading unit
in accordance with at least one embodiment;
[0048] FIG. 45 is an elevational view of a disposable loading unit
in accordance with at least one embodiment; and
[0049] FIG. 46 is an exploded view of an intermediate shaft
assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0051] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,185,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL
ASSEMBLIES THEREOF, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,639,035; [0052] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/386,230, entitled ARTICULATABLE
SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168649; [0053] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/386,221, entitled LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END
EFFECTORS, now U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/835,247; [0054] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/386,209, entitled SURGICAL END EFFECTORS
AND FIRING MEMBERS THEREOF, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,588,632; [0055]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,198, entitled LOCKOUT
ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL
ASSEMBLIES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,610,224; and [0056] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/386,240, entitled SURGICAL END EFFECTORS
AND ADAPTABLE FIRING MEMBERS THEREFOR, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168651.
[0057] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0058] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,939,
entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE
CAVITIES THEREIN, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,835,246; [0059] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,941, entitled SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES
WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS
WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES AND ARTICULATION AND FIRING
SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,736,629; [0060] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,943, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,667,811; [0061] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,950,
entitled SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION
FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,588,630; [0062] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,945, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND
ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN, now U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168632; [0063] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,946, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168633; [0064] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,951, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH JAW OPENING
FEATURES FOR INCREASING A JAW OPENING DISTANCE, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,568,626; [0065] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,953,
entitled METHODS OF STAPLING TISSUE, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,675,026;
[0066] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,954, entitled FIRING
MEMBERS WITH NON-PARALLEL JAW ENGAGEMENT FEATURES FOR SURGICAL END
EFFECTORS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,624,635; [0067] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,955, entitled SURGICAL END EFFECTORS
WITH EXPANDABLE TISSUE STOP ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,813,638; [0068] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,948,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS,
now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168584; [0069]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,956, entitled SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,588,631; [0070] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,958,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR
PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION UNLESS AN UNSPENT STAPLE
CARTRIDGE IS PRESENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,639,034; and [0071] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/385,947, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGES
AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,568,625.
[0072] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0073] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,896,
entitled METHOD FOR RESETTING A FUSE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
SHAFT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168597;
[0074] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,898, entitled STAPLE
FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENT TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
STAPLES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,537,325; [0075] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,899, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
COMPRISING IMPROVED JAW CONTROL, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,758,229;
[0076] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,901, entitled STAPLE
CARTRIDGE AND STAPLE CARTRIDGE CHANNEL COMPRISING WINDOWS DEFINED
THEREIN, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,667,809; [0077] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,902, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER, now U.S. Patent Application No.
2018/0168603; [0078] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,904,
entitled STAPLE FIRING MEMBER COMPRISING A MISSING CARTRIDGE AND/OR
SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2018/0168605; [0079] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,905, entitled FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,695,055; [0080] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,907, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN END
EFFECTOR LOCKOUT AND A FIRING ASSEMBLY LOCKOUT, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2018/01268608; [0081] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,908, entitled FIRING ASSEMBLY
COMPRISING A FUSE, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2018/0168609; and [0082] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,909, entitled FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MULTIPLE
FAILED-STATE FUSE, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2018/0168610.
[0083] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0084] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,920,
entitled STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,499,914; [0085] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,913,
entitled ANVIL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2018/0168614; [0086] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,914, entitled METHOD OF DEFORMING
STAPLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH THE SAME
SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168615; [0087] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,893, entitled BILATERALLY ASYMMETRIC STAPLE FORMING
POCKET PAIRS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,682,138; [0088] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,929, entitled CLOSURE MEMBERS WITH CAM
SURFACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARATE AND
DISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,667,810;
[0089] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,911, entitled
SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATABLE CLOSING AND FIRING
SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,448,950, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,448,950; [0090] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,927,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE
CARTRIDGES, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2018/0168625; [0091] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,917,
entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING STAPLES WITH DIFFERENT
CLAMPING BREADTHS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2018/0168617; [0092] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,900,
entitled STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING PRIMARY
SIDEWALLS AND POCKET SIDEWALLS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168601; [0093] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,931, entitled NO-CARTRIDGE AND SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT
ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168627; [0094] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,915, entitled FIRING MEMBER PIN ANGLE, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,779,823; [0095] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,897,
entitled STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING ZONED
FORMING SURFACE GROOVES, now U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2018/0168598; [0096] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,922, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FAILURE
RESPONSE MODES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,426,471; [0097] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,924, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH
PRIMARY AND SAFETY PROCESSORS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,758,230; [0098]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,912, entitled SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS WITH JAWS THAT ARE PIVOTABLE ABOUT A FIXED AXIS AND
INCLUDE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,568,624; [0099] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,910, entitled ANVIL HAVING A KNIFE SLOT WIDTH, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,485,543; [0100] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,903,
entitled CLOSURE MEMBER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,617,414; and [0101] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,906, entitled FIRING MEMBER PIN CONFIGURATIONS, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,856,868.
[0102] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0103] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,192,
entitled STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH TISSUE RETENTION AND GAP
SETTING FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,657,810; [0104] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/386,206, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH
DEFORMABLE DRIVER RETENTION FEATURES, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168586; [0105] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/386,226, entitled DURABILITY FEATURES FOR END EFFECTORS AND
FIRING ASSEMBLIES OF SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2018/0168648; [0106] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/386,222, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
INSTRUMENTS HAVING END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE OPENING FEATURES,
now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168647; and
[0107] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,236, entitled
CONNECTION PORTIONS FOR DISPOSABLE LOADING UNITS FOR SURGICAL
STAPLING INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2018/0168650.
[0108] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0109] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,887,
entitled METHOD FOR ATTACHING A SHAFT ASSEMBLY TO A SURGICAL
INSTRUMENT AND, ALTERNATIVELY, TO A SURGICAL ROBOT, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,835,245; [0110] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,889,
entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MANUALLY-OPERABLE RETRACTION
SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A MOTORIZED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM, now
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168590; [0111] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/385,890, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLY
COMPRISING SEPARATELY ACTUATABLE AND RETRACTABLE SYSTEMS, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,675,025; [0112] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,891, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLUTCH CONFIGURED
TO ADAPT THE OUTPUT OF A ROTARY FIRING MEMBER TO TWO DIFFERENT
SYSTEMS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168592;
[0113] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,892, entitled
SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRING MEMBER ROTATABLE INTO AN
ARTICULATION STATE TO ARTICULATE AN END EFFECTOR OF THE SURGICAL
SYSTEM, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168593;
[0114] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,894, entitled SHAFT
ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,492,785; and
[0115] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,895, entitled SHAFT
ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ARTICULATION LOCKOUTS, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,542,982.
[0116] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0117] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,916,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168575; [0118] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,918, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2018/0168618; [0119] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,919, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
SYSTEMS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168619;
[0120] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,921 entitled
SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH MOVABLE CAMMING MEMBER CONFIGURED TO
DISENGAGE FIRING MEMBER LOCKOUT FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,687,809; [0121] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,923,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168623; [0122] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,925, entitled JAW ACTUATED LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR
PREVENTING ADVANCEMENT OF A FIRING MEMBER IN A SURGICAL END
EFFECTOR UNLESS AN UNFIRED CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED IN THE END
EFFECTOR, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,517,595; [0123] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/385,926, entitled AXIALLY MOVABLE CLOSURE
SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MOTIONS TO JAWS OF
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2018/0168577; [0124] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,928,
entitled PROTECTIVE COVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR A JOINT INTERFACE
BETWEEN A MOVABLE JAW AND ACTUATOR SHAFT OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT,
now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0168578; [0125]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,930, entitled SURGICAL END
EFFECTOR WITH TWO SEPARATE COOPERATING OPENING FEATURES FOR OPENING
AND CLOSING END EFFECTOR JAWS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168579; [0126] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,932 entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH
ASYMMETRIC SHAFT ARRANGEMENT, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2018/0168628; [0127] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/385,933, entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH
INDEPENDENT PIVOTABLE LINKAGE DISTAL OF AN ARTICULATION LOCK, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,603,036; [0128] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/385,934, entitled ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN
END EFFECTOR IN AN ARTICULATED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF
A JAW CLOSURE SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,582,928; [0129] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/385,935, entitled LATERALLY
ACTUATABLE ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END
EFFECTOR OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT IN AN ARTICULATED CONFIGURATION,
now U.S. Pat. No. 10,524,789; and [0130] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 15/385,936, entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
WITH ARTICULATION STROKE AMPLIFICATION FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,517,596.
[0131] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Jun. 24, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0132] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,775,
entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED
STAPLES, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0367695;
[0133] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,807, entitled
STAPLING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES, now
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0367695; [0134] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/191,834, entitled STAMPED STAPLES
AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES USING THE SAME, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,542,979;
[0135] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,788, entitled STAPLE
CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OVERDRIVEN STAPLES, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,675,024; and [0136] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,818,
entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OFFSET LONGITUDINAL STAPLE
ROWS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0367697.
[0137] Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S.
patent applications that were filed on Jun. 24, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0138] U.S. Design patent application Ser. No.
29/569,218, entitled SURGICAL FASTENER, now U.S. Design Pat. No.
D826,405; [0139] U.S. Design patent application Ser. No.
29/569,227, entitled SURGICAL FASTENER, now U.S. Design Pat. No.
D822,206; [0140] U.S. Design patent application Ser. No.
29/569,259, entitled SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE, now U.S. Design
Pat. No. D847,989; and [0141] U.S. Design patent application Ser.
No. 29/569,264, entitled SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE, now U.S.
Design Pat. No. D850,617.
[0142] Applicant of the present application owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Apr. 1, 2016 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0143] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,325,
entitled METHOD FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM, now U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0281171; [0144] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,321, entitled MODULAR SURGICAL STAPLING
SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,271,851; [0145]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,326, entitled SURGICAL
STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY INCLUDING A RE-ORIENTABLE
DISPLAY FIELD, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,433,849; [0146] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,263, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITH RECONFIGURABLE GRIP PORTION, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,307,159; [0147] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,262,
entitled ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUALLY
ACTUATABLE BAILOUT SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,357,246; [0148]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,277, entitled SURGICAL
CUTTING AND STAPLING END EFFECTOR WITH ANVIL CONCENTRIC DRIVE
MEMBER, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,531,874; [0149] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,296, entitled INTERCHANGEABLE SURGICAL
TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR THAT IS SELECTIVELY
ROTATABLE ABOUT A SHAFT AXIS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,413,293; [0150]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,258, entitled SURGICAL
STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,342,543; [0151] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,278,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE
CUTTING OF TISSUE, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,792,234; [0152] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,284, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM
COMPRISING A CONTOURABLE SHAFT, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2017/0281186; [0153] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/089,295, entitled STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A TISSUE
COMPRESSION LOCKOUT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,856,867; [0154] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/089,300, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
SYSTEM COMPRISING AN UNCLAMPING LOCKOUT, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,456,140; [0155] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,196,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT,
now U.S. Pat. No. 10,568,632; [0156] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/089,203, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW
ATTACHMENT LOCKOUT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,542,991; [0157] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/089,210, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
SYSTEM COMPRISING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,478,190; [0158] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,324,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SHIFTING MECHANISM, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,786,935; [0159] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/089,335, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING
MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,485,542; [0160] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,339, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2017/0281173; [0161] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,253,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO APPLY ANNULAR ROWS
OF STAPLES HAVING DIFFERENT HEIGHTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,413,297;
[0162] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,304, entitled
SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A GROOVED FORMING POCKET, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,285,705; [0163] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/089,331, entitled ANVIL MODIFICATION MEMBERS FOR SURGICAL
STAPLERS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,376,263; [0164] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,336, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH
ATRAUMATIC FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,709,446; [0165] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/089,312, entitled CIRCULAR STAPLING
SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INCISABLE TISSUE SUPPORT, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2017/0281189; [0166] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/089,309, entitled CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM
COMPRISING ROTARY FIRING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,675,021; and
[0167] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,349, entitled
CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING LOAD CONTROL, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,682,136.
[0168] Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S.
patent applications identified below which were filed on Dec. 31,
2015 which are each herein incorporated by reference in their
respective entireties: [0169] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/984,488, entitled MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR BATTERY PACK
FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,292,704; [0170] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/984,525,
entitled MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN
POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,368,865; and
[0171] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/984,552, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARABLE MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL
CIRCUITS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,265,068.
[0172] Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S.
patent applications identified below which were filed on Feb. 9,
2016 which are each herein incorporated by reference in their
respective entireties: [0173] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/019,220, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ARTICULATING AND
AXIALLY TRANSLATABLE END EFFECTOR, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,245,029;
[0174] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,228, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE LINK ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS,
now U.S. Pat. No. 10,433,837; [0175] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/019,196, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM
WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY CONSTRAINT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,413,291;
[0176] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,206, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH AN END EFFECTOR THAT IS HIGHLY
ARTICULATABLE RELATIVE TO AN ELONGATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,653,413; [0177] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,215,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH NON-SYMMETRICAL ARTICULATION
ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2017/0224332; [0178] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,227,
entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SINGLE
ARTICULATION LINK ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2017/0224334; [0179] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/019,235, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH TENSIONING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR CABLE DRIVEN ARTICULATION SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,245,030; [0180] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,230,
entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-AXIS FIRING
BEAM ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,588,625; and [0181] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/019,245, entitled SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,470,764.
[0182] Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S.
patent applications identified below which were filed on Feb. 12,
2016 which are each herein incorporated by reference in their
respective entireties: [0183] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/043,254, entitled MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN
FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,258,331; [0184] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/043,259,
entitled MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN
POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,448,948; [0185]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/043,275, entitled MECHANISMS
FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2017/0231627; and [0186] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/043,289, entitled MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN
FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2017/0231628.
[0187] Applicant of the present application owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Jun. 18, 2015 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0188] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,925,
entitled SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING
ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,182,818; [0189] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/742,941, entitled SURGICAL END EFFECTORS
WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,052,102; [0190] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,914,
entitled MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,405,863; [0191] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/742,900, entitled ARTICULATABLE
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMPOSITE FIRING BEAM STRUCTURES WITH
CENTER FIRING SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ARTICULATION SUPPORT, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,335,149; [0192] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/742,885, entitled DUAL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS
FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,368,861; and [0193] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,876,
entitled PUSH/PULL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEMS FOR ARTICULATABLE
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,178,992.
[0194] Applicant of the present application owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Mar. 6, 2015 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0195] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,746,
entitled POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,808,246;
[0196] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,795, entitled
MULTIPLE LEVEL THRESHOLDS TO MODIFY OPERATION OF POWERED SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,441,279; [0197] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/640,832, entitled ADAPTIVE TISSUE
COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES TO ADJUST CLOSURE RATES FOR MULTIPLE TISSUE
TYPES, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,687,806; [0198] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/640,935, entitled OVERLAID MULTI SENSOR RADIO FREQUENCY
(RF) ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO MEASURE TISSUE COMPRESSION, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,548,504; [0199] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,831,
entitled MONITORING SPEED CONTROL AND PRECISION INCREMENTING OF
MOTOR FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,895,148; [0200] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,859,
entitled TIME DEPENDENT EVALUATION OF SENSOR DATA TO DETERMINE
STABILITY, CREEP, AND VISCOELASTIC ELEMENTS OF MEASURES, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,052,044; [0201] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/640,817, entitled INTERACTIVE FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR POWERED
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,924,961; [0202] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/640,844, entitled CONTROL TECHNIQUES
AND SUB-PROCESSOR CONTAINED WITHIN MODULAR SHAFT WITH SELECT
CONTROL PROCESSING FROM HANDLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,045,776;
[0203] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,837, entitled SMART
SENSORS WITH LOCAL SIGNAL PROCESSING, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,993,248;
[0204] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,765, entitled SYSTEM
FOR DETECTING THE MIS-INSERTION OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE INTO A
SURGICAL STAPLER, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,086,382; [0205] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/640,799, entitled SIGNAL AND POWER
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM POSITIONED ON A ROTATABLE SHAFT, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,901,342; and [0206] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/640,780, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LOCKABLE
BATTERY HOUSING, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,245,033.
[0207] Applicant of the present application owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Feb. 27, 2015, and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0208] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,576,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSPECTION
STATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,045,779; [0209] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/633,546, entitled SURGICAL APPARATUS
CONFIGURED TO ASSESS WHETHER A PERFORMANCE PARAMETER OF THE
SURGICAL APPARATUS IS WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE BAND, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,180,463; [0210] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/633,560, entitled SURGICAL CHARGING SYSTEM THAT CHARGES AND/OR
CONDITIONS ONE OR MORE BATTERIES, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2016/0249910; [0211] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/633,566, entitled CHARGING SYSTEM THAT ENABLES EMERGENCY
RESOLUTIONS FOR CHARGING A BATTERY, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,182,816;
[0212] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,555, entitled SYSTEM
FOR MONITORING WHETHER A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED,
now U.S. Pat. No. 10,321,907; [0213] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/633,542, entitled REINFORCED BATTERY FOR A SURGICAL
INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,931,118; [0214] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/633,548, entitled POWER ADAPTER FOR A
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,245,028; [0215] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/633,526, entitled ADAPTABLE SURGICAL
INSTRUMENT HANDLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,993,258; [0216] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/633,541, entitled MODULAR STAPLING
ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,226,250; and [0217] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/633,562, entitled SURGICAL APPARATUS
CONFIGURED TO TRACK AN END-OF-LIFE PARAMETER, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,159,483.
[0218] Applicant of the present application owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Dec. 18, 2014 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0219] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,478,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATABLE
END EFFECTOR AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING STROKE OF A FIRING
MEMBER, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,374; [0220] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/574,483, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY
COMPRISING LOCKABLE SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,385; [0221]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,139, entitled DRIVE
ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,844,375; [0222] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,148,
entitled LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH
ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTORS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,085,748;
[0223] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,130, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AN ANVIL THAT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE ABOUT
A DISCRETE NON-MOVABLE AXIS RELATIVE TO A STAPLE CARTRIDGE, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,245,027; [0224] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/575,143, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE
ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,004,501; [0225] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/575,117, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH
ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT
ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,309; [0226] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/575,154, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH
ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAM SUPPORT
ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,968,355; [0227] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/574,493, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,987,000; and [0228] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/574,500, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A
LOCKABLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,117,649.
[0229] Applicant of the present application owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Mar. 1, 2013 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0230] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,295,
entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE
PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,700,309;
[0231] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,323, entitled ROTARY
POWERED ARTICULATION JOINTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,782,169; [0232] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,338,
entitled THUMBWHEEL SWITCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS,
now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0249557; [0233]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,499, entitled
ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT,
now U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,003; [0234] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/782,460, entitled MULTIPLE PROCESSOR MOTOR CONTROL FOR
MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,554,794; [0235]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,358, entitled JOYSTICK
SWITCH ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,326,767; [0236] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,481,
entitled SENSOR STRAIGHTENED END EFFECTOR DURING REMOVAL THROUGH
TROCAR, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,438; [0237] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/782,518, entitled CONTROL METHODS FOR SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2014/0246475; [0238] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/782,375, entitled ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF FREEDOM, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,398,911; and [0239] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,536,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SOFT STOP, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,307,986.
[0240] Applicant of the present application also owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Mar. 14, 2013 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0241] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,097,
entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING
DRIVE, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,687,230; [0242] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/803,193, entitled CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A DRIVE
MEMBER OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,332,987;
[0243] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,053, entitled
INTERCHANGEABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL
INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,883,860; [0244] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/803,086, entitled ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL
INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2014/0263541; [0245] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/803,210, entitled SENSOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR
ABSOLUTE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,808,244; [0246] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,148,
entitled MULTI-FUNCTION MOTOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,470,762; [0247] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/803,066, entitled DRIVE SYSTEM LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,134,287; [0248] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/803,117, entitled ARTICULATION
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S.
Pat. No. 9,351,726; [0249] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/803,130, entitled DRIVE TRAIN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,727; and [0250] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/803,159, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM
FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,888,919.
[0251] Applicant of the present application also owns the following
patent application that was filed on Mar. 7, 2014 and is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety: [0252] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/200,111, entitled CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,629,629.
[0253] Applicant of the present application also owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Mar. 26, 2014 and are each
herein incorporated by reference in their respective entireties:
[0254] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,106, entitled POWER
MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272582; [0255] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/226,099, entitled STERILIZATION
VERIFICATION CIRCUIT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,826,977; [0256] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/226,094, entitled VERIFICATION OF
NUMBER OF BATTERY EXCHANGES/PROCEDURE COUNT, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2015/0272580; [0257] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/226,117, entitled POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH
SLEEP OPTIONS OF SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND WAKE UP CONTROL, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,013,049; [0258] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/226,075, entitled MODULAR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH
DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,743,929; [0259]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,093, entitled FEEDBACK
ALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now
U.S. Pat. No. 10,028,761; [0260] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/226,116, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT UTILIZING SENSOR
ADAPTATION, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2015/0272571; [0261] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,071,
entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A SAFETY
PROCESSOR, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,690,362; [0262] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/226,097, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
COMPRISING INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,820,738; [0263]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,126, entitled INTERFACE
SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,004,497; [0264] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,133,
entitled MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM, now U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2015/0272557; [0265] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/226,081, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
CONTROLLING A SEGMENTED CIRCUIT, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2015/0277471; [0266] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/226,076, entitled POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SEGMENTED CIRCUIT
AND VARIABLE VOLTAGE PROTECTION, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,733,663;
[0267] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,111, entitled
SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,750,499;
and [0268] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,125, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,201,364.
[0269] Applicant of the present application also owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Sep. 5, 2014 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0270] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,103,
entitled CIRCUITRY AND SENSORS FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,111,679; [0271] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/479,119, entitled ADJUNCT WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY
TISSUE COMPRESSION, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,724,094; [0272] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/478,908, entitled MONITORING DEVICE
DEGRADATION BASED ON COMPONENT EVALUATION, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,737,301; [0273] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/478,895,
entitled MULTIPLE SENSORS WITH ONE SENSOR AFFECTING A SECOND
SENSOR'S OUTPUT OR INTERPRETATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,757,128;
[0274] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,110, entitled
POLARITY OF HALL MAGNET TO DETECT MISLOADED CARTRIDGE, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,016,199; [0275] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/479,098, entitled SMART CARTRIDGE WAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA
RETENTION, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,135,242; [0276] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/479,115, entitled MULTIPLE MOTOR CONTROL
FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,788,836; and [0277]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,108, entitled LOCAL DISPLAY
OF TISSUE PARAMETER STABILIZATION, now U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2016/0066913.
[0278] Applicant of the present application also owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Apr. 9, 2014 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0279] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,590,
entitled MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE
SHAFTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,826,976; [0280] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/248,581, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A
CLOSING DRIVE AND A FIRING DRIVE OPERATED FROM THE SAME ROTATABLE
OUTPUT, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,649,110; [0281] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/248,595, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT INCLUDING
SWITCHES FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT,
now U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,368; [0282] U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/248,588, entitled POWERED LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,405,857; [0283] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/248,591, entitled TRANSMISSION ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL
INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,149,680; [0284] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/248,584, entitled MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR ALIGNING ROTARY
DRIVE SHAFTS WITH SURGICAL END EFFECTOR SHAFTS, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,801,626; [0285] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,587,
entitled POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,867,612;
[0286] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,586, entitled DRIVE
SYSTEM DECOUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,136,887; and [0287] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/248,607, entitled MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH
STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,814,460.
[0288] Applicant of the present application also owns the following
patent applications that were filed on Apr. 16, 2013 and which are
each herein incorporated by reference in their respective
entireties: [0289] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/812,365, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS
PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR; [0290] U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/812,376, entitled LINEAR CUTTER WITH POWER;
[0291] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,382,
entitled LINEAR CUTTER WITH MOTOR AND PISTOL GRIP; [0292] U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,385, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE WITH MULTIPLE ACTUATION MOTORS AND MOTOR
CONTROL; and [0293] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/812,372, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS
PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR.
[0294] Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a
thorough understanding of the overall structure, function,
manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the
specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Well-known operations, components, and elements have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described
in the specification. The reader will understand that the
embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting
examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific
structural and functional details disclosed herein may be
representative and illustrative. Variations and changes thereto may
be made without departing from the scope of the claims.
[0295] The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as
"comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such
as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as
"includes" and "including") and "contain" (and any form of contain,
such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs.
As a result, a surgical system, device, or apparatus that
"comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one or more elements
possesses those one or more elements, but is not limited to
possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, an element of
a system, device, or apparatus that "comprises," "has," "includes"
or "contains" one or more features possesses those one or more
features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more
features.
[0296] The terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with
reference to a clinician manipulating the handle portion of the
surgical instrument. The term "proximal" refers to the portion
closest to the clinician and the term "distal" refers to the
portion located away from the clinician. It will be further
appreciated that, for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such
as "vertical", "horizontal", "up", and "down" may be used herein
with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are
used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not
intended to be limiting and/or absolute.
[0297] Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for
performing laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures.
However, the reader will readily appreciate that the various
methods and devices disclosed herein can be used in numerous
surgical procedures and applications including, for example, in
connection with open surgical procedures. As the present Detailed
Description proceeds, the reader will further appreciate that the
various instruments disclosed herein can be inserted into a body in
any way, such as through a natural orifice, through an incision or
puncture hole formed in tissue, etc. The working portions or end
effector portions of the instruments can be inserted directly into
a patient's body or can be inserted through an access device that
has a working channel through which the end effector and elongate
shaft of a surgical instrument can be advanced.
[0298] A surgical stapling system can comprise a shaft and an end
effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a
first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises a staple
cartridge. The staple cartridge is insertable into and removable
from the first jaw; however, other embodiments are envisioned in
which a staple cartridge is not removable from, or at least readily
replaceable from, the first jaw. The second jaw comprises an anvil
configured to deform staples ejected from the staple cartridge. The
second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw about a closure
axis; however, other embodiments are envisioned in which the first
jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The surgical stapling
system further comprises an articulation joint configured to permit
the end effector to be rotated, or articulated, relative to the
shaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axis
extending through the articulation joint. Other embodiments are
envisioned which do not include an articulation joint.
[0299] The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body. The
cartridge body includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck
extending between the proximal end and the distal end. In use, the
staple cartridge is positioned on a first side of the tissue to be
stapled and the anvil is positioned on a second side of the tissue.
The anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge to compress and
clamp the tissue against the deck. Thereafter, staples removably
stored in the cartridge body can be deployed into the tissue. The
cartridge body includes staple cavities defined therein wherein
staples are removably stored in the staple cavities. The staple
cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows. Three rows of
staple cavities are positioned on a first side of a longitudinal
slot and three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a second
side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staple
cavities and staples may be possible.
[0300] The staples are supported by staple drivers in the cartridge
body. The drivers are movable between a first, or unfired position,
and a second, or fired, position to eject the staples from the
staple cavities. The drivers are retained in the cartridge body by
a retainer which extends around the bottom of the cartridge body
and includes resilient members configured to grip the cartridge
body and hold the retainer to the cartridge body. The drivers are
movable between their unfired positions and their fired positions
by a sled. The sled is movable between a proximal position adjacent
the proximal end and a distal position adjacent the distal end. The
sled comprises a plurality of ramped surfaces configured to slide
under the drivers and lift the drivers, and the staples supported
thereon, toward the anvil.
[0301] Further to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing
member. The firing member is configured to contact the sled and
push the sled toward the distal end. The longitudinal slot defined
in the cartridge body is configured to receive the firing member.
The anvil also includes a slot configured to receive the firing
member. The firing member further comprises a first cam which
engages the first jaw and a second cam which engages the second
jaw. As the firing member is advanced distally, the first cam and
the second cam can control the distance, or tissue gap, between the
deck of the staple cartridge and the anvil. The firing member also
comprises a knife configured to incise the tissue captured
intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil. It is desirable
for the knife to be positioned at least partially proximal to the
ramped surfaces such that the staples are ejected ahead of the
knife.
[0302] Various staples disclosed herein comprise a flat-formed
staple which can be cut and/or stamped from a sheet of material,
for example. The sheet of material can be metallic and can comprise
stainless steel and/or titanium, for example. In at least one
instance, outlines can be traced, etched, and/or cut into the sheet
of material which are machined and/or laser cut to form the staples
into a manufactured shape.
[0303] The staples comprise a pair of staple legs and a staple base
portion, or crown, from which the staple legs extend. Each staple
leg comprises a staple tip, or piercing portion, which is
configured to pierce the tissue and contact a corresponding forming
pocket of the anvil of the surgical stapling instrument. The staple
legs are configured to change shape to achieve a formed
configuration to fasten the tissue. The staple base portion defines
a first plane and the staple legs define a second plane which is
laterally offset from but at least substantially parallel to the
first plane. Embodiments are envisioned where the first and second
planes are not parallel.
[0304] The flat-formed staple 100 depicted in FIGS. 1-4 comprises a
proximal staple leg 110, a distal staple leg 120, and a staple base
portion 130. The staple 100 further comprises vertical transition
portions, or bends, 118, 128 and lateral transition portions, or
bends, 116, 126. The vertical transition portions 118, 128 bend, or
extend, the legs 110, 120 vertically, or upward, from the staple
base portion 130. The lateral transition portions 116, 126 extend
the staple legs 110, 120 laterally outward, or at least
substantially perpendicularly with respect to the staple base
portion 130. The staple legs 110, 120 define a first plane and the
staple base portion 130 defines a second plane. Together, the
vertical transition portions 118, 128 and the lateral transition
portions 116, 126 permit the staple legs 110, 120 to be laterally
offset and parallel with respect to the staple base portion 130.
Stated another way, the first plane is offset from and at least
substantially parallel to the second plane. In FIGS. 1-4, the first
plane is offset in the negative Y direction. Other staples may be
used in conjunction with a plurality of staples 100 where the other
staples comprise a first plane which is offset in the positive Y
direction. The use of both types of staples permits staple rows to
be nested, or interwoven, where staple legs of neighboring rows may
be at least substantially aligned and/or share a common
longitudinal axis. In various instances, the staple rows can be
nested to provide denser staple rows.
[0305] The proximal staple leg 110 and the distal staple leg 120
comprise staple tips 112, 122 and corners 114, 124, respectively.
The tips 112, 122 are configured to pierce tissue and contact a
forming pocket of an anvil of a surgical stapling instrument. The
tips 112, 122 contact the anvil when the staple 100 receives a
driving force to eject the staple 100 from a corresponding staple
cavity in the staple cartridge. The tips 112, 122 and/or legs 110,
120 of the staple 100 will then begin forming from an unfired
configuration to a fired configuration. The proximal staple leg 120
further comprises a leading engagement foot 117 comprising a
chamfered surface, or edge, 119. As the sled contacts the staple
100 upon the sled's distal translation, a feature of the sled can
engage the leading engagement foot 117 to aid in preventing
longitudinal staple roll, or rotation, for example. The engagement
foot 117 can comprise a push point that is configured to be pushed
on to load the staple 100 into a staple cartridge.
[0306] Since the staple 100 is a flat-formed staple, the staple
legs 110, 120, tips 112, 122, and/or other portions of the staple
100 can be further developed, or worked, after being stamped from a
flat, or at least substantially flat, stock. Further developing the
staple 100 can provide specific properties creating and/or altering
preferential bending planes, toughness, and/or elasticity, for
example. Traditional wire-formed staples comprise desirable
properties advantageous for surgical fastening and can be
implemented with the staple 100. Methods for constructing the
corners 114, 124 and/or tips 112, 122, for example, may include any
suitable process including cold working, for example. A specific
process may include coining by working the corners 114, 124 into a
rounded, angled, oblique, and/or parabolic profile, for example.
The staple tips 112, 122 can also be worked using similar methods
to provide an adequate tip configured to pierce tissue and form
against a corresponding forming pocket of the anvil.
[0307] The staple base portion 130 comprises an inclined drive
surface 132, a final drive surface 131, and a distal wall 133. In
various instances, the staple 100 is supported in a staple
cartridge by a pan where the final drive surface 131 is configured
to rest on the pan. In various other instances where a staple
cartridge is pan-less, the final drive surface does not rest on a
pan; rather, the final drive surface comprises an initial position
residing above a bottom surface of the pan-less staple cartridge.
This would allow a bottom surface of the sled and the bottom
surface of the pan-less staple cartridge to be at least
substantially flush as the sled translates through the cartridge.
The drive surface 132 of each staple base portion 130 is configured
to receive the driving force F.sub.s from the sled of the surgical
stapling instrument. When the sled translates distally through the
staple cartridge, the sled contacts the drive surface 132 to lift
the staple 100 out of the cartridge and, in addition, contact the
final drive surface 131 to form the staple 100 into its fired
configuration.
[0308] The distal wall 133 acts as a distal-most wall of the staple
base portion 130 and is positioned proximal of the distal staple
leg 120 resulting in a lack of any portion of the staple base
portion 130 underneath the distal staple leg 120. Having a greater
amount of mass in the base portion 130 of the staple 100 increases
the ability of the staple 100 to resist rotational motion caused by
the moment M.sub.S applied by the sled. Increasing the moment of
inertia of the staple base portion 130 increases the ability to
resist rotational motion. As a result, a greater torque, or larger
moment, would be required to cause longitudinal staple roll.
[0309] The staple base portion 130 further comprises a top surface,
or compression surface, 136 comprising a proximal surface 139, an
intermediate surface 138, and a distal surface 137. The proximal
surface 139 is angled, or slanted, upward toward the proximal leg
110. The distal surface 137 is angled, or slanted, upward toward
the distal leg 120. The intermediate surface 138 is at least
substantially parallel to the final drive surface 131. This
valley-like configuration limits the stress concentration of tissue
captured near the transition portions 118, 128, 116, 126 where the
legs 110, 120 extend from the staple base portion 130. In various
instances, these surfaces 137, 138, 139 can be curved to create a
concave surface. In traditional staples, when formed, the
connections where the legs meet the staple base produce locations
responsible for highly localized tissue stress. This is especially
true in the event that such a traditional staple buckles, or is
crushed, or flattened, rather than formed into a true "B"
configuration.
[0310] In various instances, the dynamics of the staple 100 are
predictable when ejected from a staple cartridge. As the staple 100
is ejected from its corresponding staple cavity, a driving force
F.sub.S from the sled generates a moment M.sub.s. One preventive
measure for preventing staple roll includes increasing the moment
of inertia of the staple 100, discussed above, which is configured
to prevent, as illustrated in FIG. 2, longitudinal roll, or
rotation of the staple. In the event that the staple 100 rolls
longitudinally in the distal direction, or, in other words, rotates
counterclockwise about the Y axis, outer, longitudinal staple leg
surfaces 115, 125 of the staple 100 will contact the guide
surfaces, or sidewalls, of the staple cartridge. This contact
produces corresponding reaction forces F.sub.C1 and F.sub.C2. More
particularly, as the staple 100 is driven out of the staple cavity
and rotated about the Y axis, the wall 115 of the proximal staple
leg 110 contacts a proximal sidewall of the staple cartridge
producing a reaction force F.sub.C2 which acts upon the staple leg
110 below the center of mass. The wall 125 of the distal staple leg
120 contacts a distal sidewall of the staple cartridge producing a
reaction force F.sub.C1 which acts upon the staple leg 120 above
the center of mass. Both reaction forces, F.sub.C1 and F.sub.C2,
contribute to a reactional moment M.sub.RC to counteract, or
balance, the applied moment M.sub.S acting on the staple 100. The
reaction forces discussed herein may be distributed loads acting
upon a surface area of each of the staple legs 110, 120. In certain
instances, the reaction force F.sub.C2 can be about 0.
[0311] The moment of inertia of the staple 100 is also configured
to prevent, as illustrated in FIG. 4, lateral roll, or rotation of
the staple 100. The staple base portion 130 comprises a notch 134
defined in the top surface 136 on a side of the staple base portion
130 closest to the legs 110, 120. The notch 134 contributes to the
predictability of the dynamics of the staple 100 before formation
and upon formation when ejected from the staple cartridge. For
example, referring primarily to FIG. 4, the notch 134 is configured
to induce rotation of the staple 100 toward a particular cavity
sidewall. In the event that the staple 100 rolls laterally, or, in
other words, rotates in the direction of the applied moment
M.sub.S, outer, lateral staple leg walls 111, 121 of the staple 100
will contact the guide surfaces, or sidewalls, of the staple
cartridge producing corresponding reaction forces F.sub.C1 and
F.sub.C2. For example, as the staple 100 is driven out of the
staple cavity and rotated in the direction of the applied moment
M.sub.S, the walls 111, 121 of the staple legs 110, 120 contact a
corresponding sidewall of the staple cartridge producing a reaction
force F.sub.C1 which act upon the staple legs 110, 120 above the
center of mass. An outer lateral wall 135 of the staple base
portion 130 contacts another corresponding sidewall of the staple
cartridge producing a reaction force F.sub.C2 which acts upon the
staple base portion 130 below the center of mass. Reaction forces
F.sub.C1 and F.sub.C2 produce a reactional moment M.sub.RC to
counteract, or balance, the applied moment M.sub.S acting on the
staple 100 from the sled. The reaction forces discussed herein may
be distributed loads acting upon a surface area of each of the
staple legs 110, 120 and the staple base portion 130. In various
instances, the staple 100 is encouraged to roll laterally in the
direction of the applied moment M.sub.S to control which walls of
the staple cavity are going to be contacted for staple guidance as
the staple 100 is ejected from the staple's 100 corresponding
staple cavity.
[0312] A staple cartridge assembly 240 is illustrated in FIGS. 5-6.
The staple cartridge assembly 240 comprises a cartridge body 242.
The cartridge body 242 is positionable in and removable from a jaw
of a surgical stapling instrument. As a result, the staple
cartridge 240 is replaceable; however, other instances are
envisioned in which the staple cartridge 240 is not replaceable.
The cartridge body 242 comprises a proximal end 246, a distal end
247, and a deck 245 extending between the proximal end 246 and the
distal end 247. The deck 245 is configured to support the tissue of
a patient when the tissue is compressed against the deck 245.
[0313] The cartridge body 242 further comprises a plurality of
staple cavities 244 defined therein. The staple cavities 244 are
arranged in six longitudinal rows extending between the proximal
end 246 and the distal end 247; however, any suitable arrangement
of staple cavities 244 can be utilized. A staple, such as staple
100 (FIG. 1), for example, can be removably stored in each staple
cavity 244. As discussed in greater detail below, the staples are
ejected from the staple cavities 244 by a firing member when the
firing member is moved from the proximal end 246 of the cartridge
body 242 toward the distal end 247.
[0314] Further to the above, the staples are moved from an unfired
position to a fired position by the firing member. The firing
member lifts the staples toward an anvil, such as anvil 250 (FIG.
7), for example, to deform the staples between an unfired,
undeformed configuration and a fired, deformed configuration. The
cartridge body 242 further comprises a elongate slot 243 defined
therein. The elongate slot 243 is configured to receive the staple
firing member and/or a tissue cutting member therein when the
staples are ejected from the staple cavities 244.
[0315] As illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, the cartridge body 2010
comprises steps 245' and 245'' which extend upwardly from the deck
245. More specifically, the steps 245' extend upwardly from the
deck 245 and the steps 245'' extend upwardly from the steps 245'.
As a result, three discrete deck surfaces 245a, 245b, 245c are
defined in the deck 245, wherein the deck surface 245a may apply a
larger compressive pressure to the tissue than the deck surface
245b, and wherein the deck surface 245b may apply a larger
compressive pressure to the tissue than the deck surface 245c. As
illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, the deck surface 245c is shorter than the
deck surfaces 245a and 245b. In addition, the deck surface 245b is
shorter than the deck surface 245a. Said another way, the deck
surfaces 245a, 245b, 245c comprise first, second, and third
heights, respectively, relative to a plane define by a bottom
surface 248 (FIG. 7) of the staple cartridge 240, wherein the first
height is greater than the second height, and wherein the second
height is greater than the third height. Furthermore, the deck
surfaces 245a, 245b, 245c are laterally offset from one another
relative to the elongate slot 243. The deck surface 245a is
positioned closer to the elongate slot 243 than the deck surface
245b. In addition, the deck surface 245b is positioned closer to
the elongate slot 243 than the deck surface 245c. That said, any
suitable arrangement of the deck surfaces 245a, 245b, 245c can be
utilized.
[0316] Further to the above, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, the
staple cavities 244 comprise an inner row of staple cavities 244a
defined in the deck surface 245a, an intermediate row of staple
cavities 244b defined in the deck surface 245b, and an outer row of
staple cavities 244c defined in the deck surface 245c. As a result,
the inner row of staple cavities 244a is positioned closer to the
elongate slot 243 than the intermediate row of staple cavities
244b, and the intermediate row of staple cavities 244b is
positioned closer to the elongate slot 243 than the outer row of
staple cavities 244c.
[0317] The staple cavities 244c are similar to the staple cavities
244a, 244b in many respects. For instance, the staple cavities,
244a, 244b, 244c each comprise a central slot 249 having a proximal
end and a distal end, a proximal staple leg guide 249' extending
laterally from the proximal end of the central slot 249, and a
distal staple leg guide 249'' extending laterally from the distal
end of the central slot 249. That said, the staple cavities 244b
and the staple cavities 244c are oriented in different directions.
More particularly, the staple leg guides 249', 249'' of the staple
cavities 244b extend toward the staple cavities 244a, while the
staple leg guides 249', 249'' of the staple cavities 100c extend
away from the staple cavities 100a; however, any suitable
arrangement can be utilized.
[0318] The various instances of the staple cartridge assemblies
disclosed herein can have any suitable number of staples and/or any
suitable size of staples. In certain instances, all of the staples
stored in the staple cartridge assembly 240 (FIG. 5) have the same,
or at least substantially the same, size. Referring to FIG. 1, each
staple 100 comprises an unformed, or unfired, overall height H1
defined between the bottom of the base 130 and the tips of the
staple legs 112, 122. Similarly, each staple 100 comprises a tissue
capture area defined between the top of the base 130 and the tips
of the staple legs 112, 122 which have the same height H2 when the
staple 100 is in its unformed height.
[0319] In contrast to the above, a first group of staples stored in
the staple cartridge 240 can have a first unformed height H1 and a
second group of staples can have a second unformed height H2 which
is different than the first unformed height H1. Also in contrast to
the above, a first group of staples stored in the staple cartridge
240 can have a first tissue capture height H1 and a second group of
staples can have a second tissue capture height H2 which is
different than the first tissue capture height H2.
[0320] Referring to FIGS. 7-11, the staples 100 comprise a first
row of staples 100a removably stored in the inner row of staple
cavities 244a, a second row of staples 100b removably stored in the
intermediate row of staple cavities 244b, and a third row of
staples 100c removably stored in the outer row of staple cavities
244c. The rows of staples 100a, 100b, 100c comprise different
unformed heights; however, in other arrangements, the rows of
staples 100a, 100b, 100c may comprise the same unformed height H1.
Also, the rows of staples 100a, 100b, 100c comprise different
tissue capturing heights; however, in other arrangements, the rows
of staples 100a, 100b, 100c may comprise the same tissue capturing
height H2.
[0321] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the staples 100c comprise an
unformed height 103 which is greater than an unformed height 102 of
the staple 100b. Also, the unformed height 102 of the staples 100b
is greater than an unformed height 101 of the staples 100a. In
addition, the staples 100c comprise a tissue capturing height 106
which is greater than a tissue capturing height 105 of the staple
100b in an unformed configuration. Also, the tissue capturing
height 105 of the staples 100b is greater than a tissue capturing
height 104 of the staples 100a in the unformed configuration. As a
result, the staples 100c comprise a tissue capturing area which is
greater than a tissue capturing area of the staple 100b in an
unformed configuration. In addition, the tissue capturing area of
the staples 100b is greater than the tissue capturing area of the
staples 100a in the unformed configuration.
[0322] The staples 100 are driven between unfired positions and
fired positions by a firing member, such as sled 290 (FIG. 8), for
example. The sled 290 comprises ramps or wedges 291a, 291b, 291c
which are configured to directly engage the staples 100a, 100b,
100c, respectively, and lift the staples 100a, 100b, 100c toward an
anvil, such as anvil 250, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The sled 290 utilizes a wedge for each longitudinal row of staples
100a, 100b, 100c; however, the sled 290 may have any suitable
number of wedges. Each of the wedges 291a, 291b, 291c comprises an
angled drive surface which slides under the staples 100a, 100b,
100c as the sled 290 is advanced from the proximal end 246 of the
staple cartridge 240 toward the distal end 247 of the staple
cartridge 240. The base 130 of each staple 100a, 100b, 100c
comprises an angled drive surface 132 which is directly contacted
by the drive surface of the wedges 291a, 291b, 291c. Stated another
way, each staple 100a, 100b, 100c comprises its own
integrally-formed driver having a drive surface 132. The staples
100a, 100b, 100c are comprised of metal and, as a result, the
integrally-formed driver is also comprised of metal. That said, the
staples disclosed herein can be comprised of any suitable
material.
[0323] Further to the above, the drive surfaces of the wedges 291a,
291b, 291c comprise apex portions defining peak drive surfaces
292a, 292b, 292c. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the wedges 291a, 291b,
291c comprise different heights. The wedge 291c is shorter than the
wedge 291b, and the wedge 291b is shorter than the wedge 291a. The
wedge 291a comprises a first height 294 defined between a bottom
surface 293 of the sled 290 and the peak drive surface 292a.
Likewise, the wedge 291b comprises a second height 295 defined
between the bottom surface 293 of the sled 290 and the peak drive
surface 292b. Also, the wedge 291c comprises a third height 296
defined between the bottom surface 293 of the sled 290 and the peak
drive surface 292c. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the heights 294, 295,
296 are different. The first height 294 is shorter than the second
height 295, and the second height 295 is shorter than the third
height 296. In other instances, however, the heights 294, 295, 296
can be the same, or at least substantially the same, size.
[0324] Referring to FIG. 7, an end effector 220 is depicted in a
closed configuration. A forming gap is defined between the
cartridge deck 245 and the anvil 250. A first gap height (A) is
defined between the deck surface 245a and anvil pockets 254a which
are configured to deform the staples 100a. A second gap height (B)
is defined between the deck surface 245b and anvil pockets 254b
which are configured to deform the staples 100b. A third gap height
(C) is defined between the deck surface 245c and anvil pockets 254c
which are configured to deform the staples 100c. The gap height (A)
is shorter than the gap height (B), and the gap height (B) is
shorter than the gap height (C). This arrangement improves fluid
flow through tissue captured by the end effector 220 in a direction
away from the elongate slot 243 by creating a pressure gradient
where more pressure is applied to the tissue closer to the cut-line
or the elongate slot 243. In other instances, however, the forming
gap may comprise a constant, or at least substantially constant,
height between the cartridge deck 245 and the anvil 250.
[0325] Referring to FIGS. 7-11, the sled 290 and the anvil 250
cooperate to form the staples 100a, 100b, 100c to different formed
heights 107, 108, 109, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the
staples 100a, 100b, 100c can be proportionally formed by the sled
290 and the anvil 250. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the staples 100a,
100b, 100c comprise different unformed heights, and are fully or
completely formed to a standard "B" shaped formation. The
difference in unformed height between the staples 100a, 100b, 100c
causes the staples 100a, 100b, 100c to comprise different tissue
capturing areas in the formed configuration even though the staples
100a, 100b, 100c are proportionally formed.
[0326] As illustrated in FIG. 10, a formed staple 100a comprises a
smaller tissue capturing area than a formed staple 100b, and a
formed staple 100b comprises a smaller tissue capturing area than a
formed staple 100c. In such instances, the formed staple 100a
exerts more pressure on tissue captured by the formed staple 100a
than the pressure exerted by the formed staple 100b on tissue
captured by the formed staple 100b. In addition, the pressure
exerted by the formed staple 100b on the tissue captured by the
formed staple 100b is greater than the pressure exerted by the
staple 100c on tissue captured by the formed staple 100c.
[0327] In certain instances, a first group of staples, a second
group of staples, and/or a third group of staples may comprise the
same unformed height but are deformed to different deformed heights
by utilizing a sled that comprises wedges with different heights
such as, for example, the sled 290. The sled 290 may cause the
first group of staples to be fully formed, the second group of
staples to be partially formed, and the third group of staples to
be partially formed to a lesser degree than the second group of
staples. This is the result of the wedges 291a, 291b, 291c of the
sled 290 having different heights 294, 295, 296, respectively. In
such instances, the first group of staples can apply a larger
pressure to the tissue than the second group of staples and,
similarly, the second group of staples can apply a larger pressure
to the tissue than the third group of staples.
[0328] Referring to FIG. 11, the staples 100d, 100e, 100f comprise
the same unformed height. Yet the staples 100d, 100e, 100f can be
formed to different formed heights by causing the staples 100d,
100e, 100f to formed to different degrees. For example, the staples
100d are more tightly formed than the staples 100e, and the staples
100e are more tightly formed than the staples 100f. In result, the
formed staples 100d comprise a smaller tissue capturing area than
the formed staples 100e, and the formed staples 100e comprise a
smaller tissue capturing area than a formed staple 100f. In such
instances, the formed staple 100d exerts more pressure on tissue
captured by the formed staple 100d than the pressure exerted by the
formed staple 100e on tissue captured by the formed staple 100e. In
addition, the pressure exerted by the formed staple 100e on the
tissue captured by the formed staple 100e is greater than the
pressure exerted by the staple 100f on tissue captured by the
formed staple 100f.
[0329] In various instances, the height of the base 130 (FIG. 1)
can be varied such that a first group of staples, a second group of
staples, and/or a third group of staples may comprise different
base heights. For example, the row of staples 100a may comprise a
first base height greater than a corresponding base height of the
row of staples 100b, and the row of staples 100b may comprise a
base height greater than a corresponding base height of the row of
staples 100c.
[0330] Various other suitable staples, staple cartridge, and end
effectors for use with the present disclosure can be found in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/836,036, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE
ASSEMBLY WITHOUT A BOTTOM COVER, and filed Aug. 26, 2015, now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,213,203, which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
[0331] Referring now to FIGS. 12-17, various staple cartridges 340
(FIG. 12), 340' (FIG. 14), 340'' (FIG. 15) are depicted. The staple
cartridges 340, 340', 340'' are similar in many respects to the
staple cartridge 240. For example, the staple cartridges 340, 340',
340'' comprise a cartridge body 342, staple cavities 344, a
cartridge deck 345, a proximal portion 346, a distal portion 347,
and an elongate slot 343 extending longitudinally from the proximal
portion 346 to the distal portion 347. The cartridge deck 345
includes steps 345', 345'' that define stepped deck surfaces 345a,
345b, 345c, which comprise rows of staple cavities 344a, 344b,
344c, respectively.
[0332] Referring to FIGS. 12-14, the staple cartridges 340, 340'
are provided with stepped deck surfaces that are equipped tissue
retention features or cleats 348. The stepped deck surfaces provide
several advantages such as facilitating fluid outflow during a
tissue stapling procedure; however, the stepped nature of the deck
surfaces reduces traction against the tissue gripped between a
staple cartridge and an anvil. To resist tissue slippage, stepped
deck surfaces of staple cartridges 340 (FIG. 12), 340' (FIG. 14)
are equipped with tissue retention features or cleats 348 that are
strategically placed in various arrangements that improve traction
against the tissue without significantly interfering with or
reducing the functionality of the stepped deck surfaces.
[0333] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the cartridge deck 345 includes
pyramid-shaped cleats 348. The pyramid-shaped cleats 348 may
include square and/or triangular bases and sloping sides that may
extend generally away from cartridge deck 345. As illustrated in
FIG. 12, the cleats 348 generally comprise a base 351 defined in
the cartridge deck 345, and a peak 341 narrower than the base 351.
In certain instances, the cartridge deck 345 may include
pillar-shaped cleats which may include square and/or rectangle
bases and substantially perpendicular sides extending generally
away from the deck surfaces 345a, 345b, 345c. In certain instances,
the cartridge deck 345 may include cone-shaped cleats and/or
dome-shaped cleats 1042. Cleats with other suitable shapes and
sizes can also be utilized.
[0334] The cleats 348 can be made, or at least partially made, from
the same material or materials as the cartridge deck 345.
Alternatively, the cleats 348 may comprise a different material
composition than the cartridge deck 345. In various instances, the
cleats 348 can be made from a plastic or a ceramic material. In
certain instances, the cleats 348 may comprise one or more
biocompatible elastomeric polymers. In certain instances, the
cleats are made, or at least partially made, from a medical grade
plastic material such as, for example, a glass filled
poly-carbonate material. In certain instances, the cleats 348 are
made, or at least partially made, from one or more resilient
materials. In certain instances, the cleats 348 are more flexible
than the cartridge deck 345 to ensure an atraumatic interaction
with the tissue.
[0335] Cleats 348 can be spatially arranged onto the cartridge deck
345 in a predetermined pattern or array. For example, cleats 348
can be spatially arranged onto the cartridge deck 345 in multiple
rows which may extend longitudinally along a length of the
cartridge deck 345, which can be in parallel with one another.
[0336] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the cleats 348 are spatially
arranged in a cleat pattern 350 configured to define a perimeter
around the staple cavities 344. The cleats 348 of the cleat pattern
350 are positioned outside the area of the cartridge deck 345
occupied by the staple cavities 344. The cleats 348 on one side of
a plane defined by the elongate slot 343 are mirror images of
corresponding cleats 348 on an opposite side of the plane. More of
the cleats 348 of the cleat pattern 350 are positioned on the
external deck surfaces 345c than the internal deck surfaces 345b,
345a. This creates a barrier against tissue slippage while
minimizing interference with the fluid outflow functionality of the
stepped cartridge deck 345. In the same vein, the cleats 348 that
are positioned on the deck surfaces 345c are limited to external
area of the deck surfaces 345c, as illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0337] Further to the above, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the cleat
pattern 350 is more tightly formed at the distal portion 347 and/or
the proximal portion 346 than an intermediate portion 349 that
includes the staple cavities 344. The distance between adjacent
cleats 348 of the intermediate portion 349 is greater than the
distance between adjacent cleats 348 of the distal portion 347.
Likewise, the distance between adjacent cleats 348 of the
intermediate portion 349 is greater than the distance between
adjacent cleats 348 of the proximal portion 346. Furthermore, the
cleats 348 in the deck surfaces 345a, 345b, are positioned proximal
and/or distal to the rows of staple cavities 344a, 344b. This
arrangement of the cleat pattern 350 is designed to improve tissue
traction without significantly interfering with or reducing the
functionality of the stepped deck surfaces, as described above.
[0338] Referring to FIG. 14, a cleat pattern 360 is utilized with
the staple cartridge 340'. The cleats 348 of the cleat pattern 360
are limited to the proximal portion 346 and distal portion 347 of
the staple cartridge 340 that are void of the staple cavities 344.
In other words, the cleats 348 of the cleat pattern 360 are
positioned outside the intermediate portion 349 that includes the
staple cavities 344. The cleats 348 of the cleat pattern 360 are
distributed on the cartridge deck 345 in areas that are void of the
staple cavities 344 which are proximal and distal to the
intermediate portion 349.
[0339] Referring again to FIG. 14, the cleats 348 of the cleat
pattern 360 are arranged in rows 348a, 348b, 348c which extend or
protrude from deck surfaces 345a, 345b, 345c, respectively. The
rows 348a, 348b, 348c are aligned with the rows of the staple
cavities 344a, 344b, 344c, respectively, to provide appropriate
traction against tissue slippage that is caused by the stepped
nature of the stepped cartridge deck 345. The cleats of the cleat
rows 348a, 348b, 348c are spatially arranged on the deck surfaces
345a, 345b, 345c, respectively, at positions that are proximal and
distal to the rows of staple cavities 344a, 344b, 344c,
respectively. The number, size, and/or shape of the cleats in each
of the cleat rows 348a, 348b, 348c can be adjusted to provide an
appropriate amount of traction against the tissue slippage at each
of the deck surfaces 345a, 345b, 345c, for example.
[0340] In various instances, the cleats of the deck surfaces 345a,
345b, 345c include different cleat heights. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 16, the cleats of the cleat row 348a may
comprise a first cleat height H1 smaller than a second cleat height
H2 of corresponding cleats of the cleat row 348b, which is smaller
than a third cleat height H3 of corresponding cleats of the cleat
row 348c. That said, cleats with other cleat height arrangements
can be utilized.
[0341] Referring again to FIG. 16, the cleat heights of the cleat
rows 348a, 348b, 348c can be selected to compensate for the
difference in height between the deck surfaces 345a, 345b, 345c. As
a result, the peaks 341 of the cleat rows 348a, 348b, 348c can
define a plane extending in parallel, or substantially in parallel,
with the deck surfaces 345a, 345b, 345c. In other words, the
combined height of the deck surfaces 345a, 345b, 345c and
corresponding cleats from the cleat rows 348a, 348b, 348c,
respectively, may amount to the same, or substantially the same,
height, for example. In certain instances, external cleats may
comprise greater heights than internal cleats to provide a greater
traction at peripheral portions of the cartridge deck 345. As
illustrated in FIG. 16, the tissue traction provided by cleats of
the cleat row 348c at the external deck surface 345c is greater
than the tissue traction provided by cleats of the cleat row 348b
at the intermediate deck surface 345b, which is greater than the
tissue traction provided by cleats of the cleat row 348a at the
internal deck surface 345a. As a result, the cleat pattern 350
creates a tissue-traction gradient where tissue closer to the
elongate slot 343 experiences a greater traction than tissue
further away from the elongate slot 343.
[0342] Referring again to FIG. 16, an end effector 220' includes a
staple cartridge 340' and an anvil 250. The end effector 220' is
similar in many respects to the end effector 220 (FIG. 7). The end
effector 220' is depicted in a closed configuration. A forming gap
is defined between the cartridge deck 345 and the anvil 250. The
cleat rows 348a, 348b, 348c protrude from the deck surfaces 345a,
345b, 345c, respectively, toward the forming gap between the
cartridge deck 345 and the anvil 250. The cleat rows 348a, 348b,
348c are configured to provide appropriate traction for tissue
captured between the anvil 250 and the cartridge deck 340 to resist
slippage of the captured tissue. In various instances, the peaks
341 of corresponding cleats of the cleat rows 348a, 348b, 348c are
the same or, at least substantially the same, distance from a datum
in the anvil 250. In various instances, one or more of the cleats
348 can function as gap setting members configured to set a minimum
forming gap between a cartridge deck of a staple cartridge and
anvil in a closed configuration.
[0343] FIGS. 15 and 17 illustrate a staple cartridge 340'' which is
similar in many respects to other staple cartridges described
herein such as, for example, the staple cartridge 340. The staple
cartridge 340'' comprises gap setting members 370 configured to set
a minimum forming gap between the staple cartridge 340'' and an
anvil 250. In a fully closed configuration, the anvil 250 is
configured to rest against the gap setting members 370. A
predetermined minimum gap is set between the anvil 250 and the
cartridge deck 340'' by the transverse gap setting members 370 in
the fully closed configuration.
[0344] The number, height, size, arrangement, and/or shape of the
gap setting members 370 can be selected to set a suitable minimum
gap between the anvil 250 and the cartridge deck 340. As
illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 17, the gap setting members 370
comprise a proximal gap setting member 370a extending transversely
in a proximal portion 346 of the staple cartridge 340'', an
intermediate gap setting member 370b extending transversely in an
intermediate portion 349 of the staple cartridge 340'', and a
distal gap setting member 370c extending transversely in a distal
portion 347 of the staple cartridge 340''. As illustrated in FIG.
17, the gap setting members 370a, 370b, 370c comprise different
heights. In other instances, however, the gap setting members 370a,
370b, 370c may comprise the same, or substantially the same,
height.
[0345] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the distal gap setting member
370c is greater in height than the intermediate gap setting member
370b, which is greater in height than the proximal gap setting
member 370a. As a result, a minimum forming gap 372 that comprises
a size gradient is formed between the cartridge deck 340 and the
anvil 250 in the fully closed configuration. The minimum forming
gap 372 comprises a first volume at the proximal portion 346 of the
staple cartridge 340'', a second volume at the intermediate portion
349 of the staple cartridge 340'', and a third volume at the distal
portion 347 of the staple cartridge 340'', wherein the first volume
is greater than the second volume, and wherein the second volume is
greater than the third volume. In certain instances, however, the
distal gap setting member 370c can be smaller in height than the
intermediate gap setting member 370b, which can be smaller in
height than the proximal gap setting member 370a. In such
instances, the first volume can be smaller than the second volume,
and the second volume can be smaller than the first volume.
[0346] The gap setting members 370a, 370b, 370c are spaced apart.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, the gap setting member 370a is
positioned proximal to the staple cavities 344 and the gap setting
member 370c is positioned distal to the staple cavities 344 while
the gap setting member 370b is positioned between adjacent staple
cavities 344. Each of the gap setting members 370a, 370b, 370c
extends across the elongate slot 343 in a direction perpendicular,
or substantially perpendicular, to a longitudinal axis extending
along the elongate slot 343. In other instances, one or more of the
gap setting members 370a, 370b, 370c may not extend across the
elongate slot 343. In various instances, the staple cartridge 340''
may comprise more or less than three gap setting members, for
example.
[0347] Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 19, staple cartridges 440 and
440' are depicted. The staple cartridges 440 and 440' are similar
in many respects to other staple cartridge disclosed herein such
as, for example, the staple cartridge 240. For example, the staple
cartridges 440 and 440' comprise a cartridge body 442, a cartridge
deck 445, staple cavities 444, a proximal portion 346, a distal
portion 347, and an elongate slot 343 extending longitudinally from
the proximal portion 346 to the distal portion 347. The cartridge
deck 445 includes steps 445', 445'' that define stepped deck
surfaces 445a, 445b, 445c. The staple cavities 444 are arranged in
rows 444a, 444b, 44c which are defined in deck surfaces 445a, 445b,
445c, respectively.
[0348] Referring to FIG. 18, the staple cartridge 440 comprises gap
setting pins 470 configured to set a minimum forming gap between
the staple cartridge 440 and an anvil 250. In a fully closed
configuration, the anvil 250 is configured to rest against the gap
setting pins 470. A predetermined minimum gap is set between the
anvil 250 and the cartridge deck 445 by the gap setting pins 470 in
the fully closed configuration.
[0349] The gap setting pins 470 are positioned at a distal portion
347 of the staple cartridge 440. Said another way, the gap setting
pins 470 are positioned distal to the staple cavities 444. As
illustrated in FIG. 18, the gap setting pins 470 comprise a
cylindrical, or at least substantially cylindrical, shape, and are
positioned on opposite sides of a plane defined by the elongate
slot 343. The gap setting pins 470 are equidistant from the
elongate slot 343 to balance the anvil 250 in the closed
configuration and resist any tilting that may occur in the anvil
250 as the anvil 250 is pressed against tissue captured between the
anvil 250 and the staple cartridge 440. The number, height, size,
arrangement, and/or shape of the gap setting pins 470 can be
selected to set a suitable minimum gap between the anvil 250 and
the cartridge deck 445.
[0350] The gap setting members 370 and or the gap setting pins 470
can be made from a plastic or a ceramic material. In certain
instances, the gap setting members 370 and or the gap setting pins
470 may comprise one or more biocompatible elastomeric polymers. In
certain instances, the gap setting members 370 and or the gap
setting pins 470 are made, or at least partially made, from a
medical grade plastic material. In certain instances, the gap
setting members 370 and or the gap setting pins 470 are made, or at
least partially made, from one or more resilient materials. In
certain instances, the gap setting members 370 and or the gap
setting pins 470 are more flexible than the cartridge deck 345 to
ensure an atraumatic interaction with the tissue.
[0351] Referring to FIG. 19, the staple cartridge 440' comprises a
shell 402 configured to receive a cartridge body 442. Retention
features 403 and 405 secure the cartridge body 442 to the shell
402. To assemble the cartridge body 442 with the shell 402, the
cartridge body 442 is inserted into the shell 402 until the
retention features 403 and 405 snap into engagement with
corresponding openings 404 and 406 in the shell 402. Furthermore,
the shell 402 includes elevated portions 480 that extend above the
cartridge deck 445 to set a minimum gap between the cartridge deck
445 and an anvil 250 in a fully closed configuration. The elevated
portions 480 comprise distal flanges 480a and intermediate flanges
480b that protrude through corresponding openings 481a, 481b in the
cartridge deck 445. The distal flanges 480a and intermediate
flanges 480b are bent away from the elongate slot 343. The elevated
portions 480 further include proximal flanges 482 that are bent
toward the elongated slot 343. Other elevated portions suitable for
maintaining a minimum gap between the cartridge deck 445 and the
anvil 250 in a fully closed configuration can be utilized.
[0352] Referring now to FIGS. 20-21, a staple retainer 502 is
affixed to a cartridge deck 545 of a staple cartridge 540. The
staple retainer 502 extends between a proximal end 546 and a distal
end 547 of the staple cartridge 540. The staple retainer 502 may be
configured to mimic the surface of the cartridge deck 545. The
staple cartridge 540 comprises an elongate slot 543 centered among
rows of staple cavities 544. The elongate slot 543 may be
configured to receive a cutting member. The staple retainer 502 may
be labeled with various information to assist the surgeon in
selecting the appropriate cartridge for use with the surgical
instrument. Such information can also include descriptions
regarding the orientation of the staple cartridge 540 or
instructions for attachment or removal of the staple retainer
502.
[0353] It is desirable to secure the staple retainer 502 to the
staple cartridge 540 to ensure that the staples of the staple
cartridge 540 remain within their respective staple cavities 544.
The staple retainer 502 may be secured to the staple cartridge 540
through various means including a biasing member in the form of a
spring latch 501. The spring latch 501 includes two eject arms 506
and a hairpin retainer 507. The hairpin retainer 507 can be
configured to pass through an aperture 508 on the proximal end 546
of the staple retainer 502 that is aligned with the elongate slot
543 of the staple cartridge 540. Thus, the hairpin retainer 507
passes into the elongate slot 543 when the staple retainer 502 is
attached to the staple cartridge 540. The two eject arms 506 of the
spring latch 501 may engage with a pair of wire cleats 505,
configured to secure and retain the eject arms 506. As illustrated,
the spring latch 501 may be located on the proximal end 546 of the
staple retainer 502. However, a spring latch 501 can be located on
the distal end 547 of the staple retainer 502. Other suitable
positions for the spring latch 501 are contemplated by the present
disclosure.
[0354] Additional attachment features, including side wings or
flanges 510, are utilized to strengthen the retention connection of
the staple retainer 502 to the staple cartridge 540. Such flanges
510 may contact corresponding indentations on the cartridge body
542 of the staple cartridge 540. Flanges 510 may engage with the
cartridge body 542 in various ways, including but not limited to
snap-fit or pressure-fit connections, for example.
[0355] The staple retainer 502 further comprises a handle portion
520 for facilitating removal of the staple retainer 502 from the
staple cartridge 540. The handle portion 520 extends past the end
of the staple cartridge 540 to facilitate grasping the handle
portion 520. As a lifting motion is applied to the handle 520, the
upward forces can overcome the retention forces holding the spring
latch 501 in place. Such upward forces are also capable of
overcoming any additional retention forces from the side wings or
flanges 510.
[0356] Referring now to FIGS. 22-23, the elongate slot 543 of the
staple cartridge 540 comprises inner sidewalls 550 with channel
detents 551 to facilitate the retention of the hairpin retainer 507
of the spring latch 501. The hairpin retainer 507 has
outward-extending curves that fit within the channel detents 551 on
the inner sidewalls 550 of the elongate slot 543. As illustrated in
FIG. 22, when holding the staple retainer 502 in place, the hairpin
retainer 507 is configured to enter the elongate slot 543 to a
degree where the staple retainer 502 lies flush against the
cartridge deck 545 of the staple cartridge 540. In this position, a
portion of the hairpin retainer 507 extends beyond the channel
detents 551 of the sidewalls 550, while the eject arms 506 rest in
the wire cleats 505 of the staple retainer 502.
[0357] As illustrated in FIG. 23, when the surgeon begins to lift
up on the handle 520 of the staple retainer 502, the staple
retainer 502 presses up against the eject arms 506 of the spring
latch 501. When the eject arms 506 are subjected to such an upward
ejection force, they begin to buckle inwardly, disengaging the
hairpin retainer 507 from its connection with the channel detents
551 of the elongate slot 543. The spring latch 501 may remain
attached to the staple retainer 502 throughout attachment and
detachment because of the retention of the eject arms 506 within
the wire cleats 505. This ensures that the spring latch 501 is
removed with the staple retainer 502.
[0358] Referring now to FIGS. 24-28, a staple cartridge 640 is
similar in many respects to other staple cartridges disclosed
herein such as, for example, the staple cartridges 240, 440. For
example, the staple cartridge 640 comprises a cartridge body 642, a
cartridge deck 645, staple cavities 644, staples 600, a proximal
portion 346, a distal portion 347, and an elongate slot 343
extending longitudinally from the proximal portion 346 to the
distal portion 347. The cartridge deck 645 includes steps 645',
645'' that define stepped deck surfaces 645a, 645b, 645c. The
staple cavities 444 are arranged in rows 444a, 444b, 44c which are
defined in the stepped deck surfaces 445a, 445b, 445c,
respectively.
[0359] As illustrated in FIG. 24, the staple cartridge 640 further
comprises a plurality of staple drivers 602, 603, 604 which can
each be configured to support one or more staples 600 (FIG. 27)
within the staple cavities 444 when the staples 600 and the staple
drivers 602, 603, 604 are in their predetermined starting
positions. Each of the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 comprises
cradles, or troughs, 607, for example, which are configured to
support the staples 600. A staple-firing sled can be moved from a
proximal portion 346 to a distal portion 347 of the staple
cartridge 640 in order to sequentially lift the staple drivers 602,
603, 604 and the staples 100 from their predetermined starting
positions toward an anvil 250 positioned opposite the staple
cartridge 640.
[0360] As illustrated in FIG. 25, the staple drivers 602, 603, 604
are arranged in different regions of the cartridge body 642. A
proximal region 646 includes the staple drivers 602 which comprise
each two pushers 602a, 602b supporting two staples 600 in the inner
and intermediate cavity rows 644a, 644b. In addition, an
intermediate region 649 includes the staple drivers 603 which
comprise each three pushers 603a, 603b, 603c supporting three
staples 600 in the inner, intermediate, and outer cavity rows 644a,
644b, 644c. Furthermore, a distal region 647 includes the staple
drivers 604 which comprise each four pushers 604a, 604b, 604c
supporting four staples 600 in the inner, intermediate, and outer
cavity rows 644a, 644b, 644c.
[0361] Like the staple cartridge 440, the staple cartridge 640
comprises an outer shell that defines a bottom surface of the
staple cartridge 640. During assembly, staple drivers 602, 603, 604
are inserted into predetermined starting positions within the
cartridge body 642. Then, the cartridge body 642 is assembled with
the outer shell of the staple cartridge 640. To minimize shifting
of the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 from their predetermined
starting positions, which occur during and/or after the assembly
process, the present disclosure provides various retention features
that are configured to maintain the assembled staple drivers 602,
603, 604 at their predetermined starting positions. This is
especially useful in staple cartridges such as the staple cartridge
640 where multiple staples from different deck surfaces are
configured to be simultaneously driven by the same staple driver.
Minor shifting motion of such staple drivers from their
predetermined starting positions may compromise the alignment of
the staples with the staple driver which can compromise the
successful deployment of the staples.
[0362] FIG. 25 illustrates the staple cartridge 640 with the outer
shell being removed exposing the staple drivers 602, 603, 604. The
cartridge body 642 comprises deformable or crushable retention
features 610 that maintain the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 in
their predetermined starting positions, as illustrated in FIG. 25.
The deformable retention features 610 project or protrude from the
staple drivers 602, 603, 604 and/or in the cartridge body 642
providing a friction fit between the staple drivers 602, 603, 604
and the cartridge body 642. In addition, the deformable retention
features 610 extend along a predefined direction of motion of the
staple drivers 602, 603, 604 within the staple cavities 644. In
various instances, the deformable retention features 610 can be in
the form of ribs or columns extending in a direction transverse to
a plane defined by the cartridge deck 645. A deformable retention
feature 610 may comprise a dome-shaped or triangular
cross-sectional area. Other suitable shapes and sizes of the
deformable retention features 610 can be utilized.
[0363] The deformable retention features 610 may comprise the same
material composition as the cartridge body 642 and/or the staple
drivers 602, 603, 604. Alternatively, the deformable retention
features 610 may comprise a different material composition than the
cartridge body 642 and/or the staple drivers 602, 603, 604. The
deformable retention features 610 are sized and positioned such
that they are partially deformed to create the friction fit needed
to maintain the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 in their predetermined
starting positions. When the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 are in
their predetermined starting positions, an interference 611 between
the deformable retention features 610 and corresponding staple
drivers 602, 603, 604 is about 0.001'' to about 0.002''. That said,
any suitable interference between the deformable retention features
610 and corresponding staple drivers 602, 603, 604 can be
implemented. A suitable interference is one that maintains the
staple drivers 602, 603, 604 in their predetermined starting
positions but can be overcome by a staple deployment force or a
firing force transmitted by a sled as the sled is advanced to
motivate the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 to deploy the staples
600.
[0364] The deformable retention features 610 are slightly
plastically deformed between the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 and
the cartridge body 642. Elastic recovery of deformable retention
features 610 around the edges of the staple drivers 602, 603, 604
maintain the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 at the predetermined
starting position. In certain instances, the plastic deformation of
the deformable retention features 610 is selected from a range of
about 1% to about 40%. In certain instances, the plastic
deformation of the deformable retention features 610 is selected
from a range of about 5% to about 35%. In certain instances, the
plastic deformation of the deformable retention features 610 is
selected from a range of about 10% to about 30%.
[0365] In certain instances, a suitable interference can be
selected from a range of about 0.0015'' to about 0.003'', for
example. In certain instances, a suitable interference can be
selected from a range of about 0.0013'' to about 0.0017'', for
example. In certain instances, a suitable interference can be
selected from a range of about 0.0014'' to about 0.0016'', for
example. In certain instances, the deformable retention features
610 are molded on the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 and/or in the
cartridge body 642. In certain instances, the deformable retention
features 610 are attached to the staple drivers 602, 603, 604
and/or the cartridge body 642, for example. Any suitable
manufacturing techniques can be utilized to prepare staple drivers
602, 603, 604 and/or cartridge bodies 642 that include the
deformable retention features 610.
[0366] Referring to FIG. 24, the external pushers 602c, 603c, 604c,
604d that support staples 600 in the outer row of staple cavities
644c comprise clearance tracks, recesses, or slots 605 that are
configured to receive the deformable retention features 610. To
assemble the staple cartridge 640, the outer pan or shell is
removed, and the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 are inserted into
their predetermined starting positions. The clearance slots 605 are
slid against the deformable retention features 610 extending or
protruding from side walls 608 of the staple cavities 644c. This
causes deformation of the deformable retention features 610 as the
staple drivers 604 are moved toward their predetermined starting
positions. When a pusher such as, for example, the pusher 604c is
at its predetermined starting position, the elastic recovery of
deformed portions 610a, 610b of the deformable retention features
610 that are below a bottom surface 612 of the clearance slots 605
and above a top surface 612 of the clearance slots ensures that the
staple drivers 602, 603, 604 remain at their predetermined starting
positions in the absence of a firing force. The portions 610a, 610b
partially wrap around the surfaces 606 and 612 of the staple
drivers 602, 603, 604 at their predetermined starting positions
resisting exposure of the staple drivers 602, 603, 604 to shifting
motions that may occur during and/or after assembly of the staple
cartridge 640.
[0367] In addition to the retention benefits, the clearance slots
605 cooperate with corresponding deformable retention features 610
to define a track that facilitates guiding the staple drivers 602,
603, 604 within the cartridge body 642 to their predetermined
starting positions. In certain instances, however, the staple
drivers 602, 603, 604 may lack the clearance slots 605. In such
instances, the deformable retention features 610 can provide an
interference 611 against other portions of the staple drivers 602,
603, 604.
[0368] Further to the above, the clearance slots 605 need not be
limited to external pushers 602b, 603c, 604c, 604d. Other pushers
such as, for example, pushers 602a, 603a, 603b, 604a, 604b may
comprise clearance slots 605 which can be pressed against
corresponding deformable retention features 610 in the cartridge
body 642, for example.
[0369] As illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 26, the clearance slots 605
extend along the entire height of the pushers 602c, 603c, 604c,
604d terminating at top surfaces 612 and bottom surfaces 606. In
other instances, a clearance slot 605 can extend along a portion of
the height of a pusher, for example. Furthermore, as illustrated in
FIGS. 27, 28, the deformable retention features 610 extend along
the entire height of corresponding staple cavities 644.
Alternatively, a deformable retention feature 610 may extend along
a portion of the height of a staple cavity 644. In various
instances, the clearance slots 605 and corresponding deformable
retention features 610 comprise complimenting shapes to facilitate
a mating engagement therebetween.
[0370] In various instances, a cartridge body may include a
retention feature sized such that a friction fit is defined between
the retention feature and a corresponding clearance slot of a
staple driver without visible deformation of the retention feature.
The retention feature may gradually increase in size from an
initial portion at point of first engagement between the retention
feature and the clearance slot to an end portion at a point of last
engagement between the retention feature and the clearance slot.
The end portion comprises a larger cross-sectional area than the
initial portion to provide an appropriate friction fit to maintain
the staple driver at a predetermined starting position. The size
gradient allows the clearance slot 605 to easily slide against a
relatively narrow initial portion of the retention feature. A
greater friction is realized between the clearance slot and the
retention feature as the size of the retention feature increases on
the way toward the predetermined starting position at the end
portion.
[0371] In various instances, the staple drivers comprise the
deformable retention features while the cartridge body comprises
the corresponding clearance slots. As illustrated in FIG. 29, a
staple driver such as, for example, the staple driver 604'
comprises deformable retention features 610 disposed on side walls
of the pushers 604c, 604d in place of the clearance slots. A
cartridge body may include corresponding clearance slots configured
to receive the deformable retention features 610 of the staple
driver 604'.
[0372] Referring now to FIGS. 30-32, a staple cartridge 740 is
similar in many respects to other staple cartridges disclosed
herein such as, for example, the staple cartridges 240, 440, 640.
For example, the staple cartridge 640 comprises a cartridge body
742, a cartridge deck 745, staple cavities 744, a proximal portion
346, a distal portion 347, and an elongate slot 343 extending
longitudinally from the proximal portion 346 to the distal portion
347. The cartridge deck 745 includes steps 745', 745'' that define
stepped deck surfaces 745a, 745b, 745c. The staple cavities 744 are
arranged in rows 744a, 744b, 744c which are defined in the stepped
deck surfaces 745a, 745b, 745c, respectively.
[0373] Like the staple cartridge 240, the staple cartridge 740
comprises staples 100 (FIG. 30) that are removably stored in staple
cavities 744. The staples 100 of the staple cartridge 740 are
ejected from the staple cavities 744 by a firing member or sled 709
(FIG. 31) when the sled 709 is moved from the proximal portion 746
of the cartridge body 642 toward the distal portion 747. The sled
709 directly engages a base portion 130 of the staples 100 to
sequentially lift the staples 100 from their predetermined starting
positions in the staple cavities 744 toward an anvil 250 positioned
opposite the staple cartridge 740.
[0374] As illustrated in FIG. 30, the cartridge body 742 comprises
deformable or crushable retention features 710, which are similar
in many respects to the deformable retention features 610. The
deformable retention features 710 are configured to maintain the
staples 100 in their predetermined starting positions in the
absence of a firing force. The deformable retention features 710
project or protrude from the staples 100 and/or the cartridge body
742 providing a friction fit between the staples 100 and the
cartridge body 742. In addition, the deformable retention features
710 extend along a predefined direction of motion of the staples
within the staple cavities 744. In various instances, the
deformable retention features 710 can be in the form of ribs or
columns extending in a direction transverse to a plane defined by
the cartridge deck 745. A deformable retention feature 710 may
comprise a dome-shaped or triangular cross-sectional area. Other
suitable shapes and sizes of the deformable retention features 610
can be utilized. As illustrated in FIG. 31, the deformable
retention features 710 protrude from side walls 708 of the staple
cavities 744 providing a friction fit between the base portions 130
of the staples 100 and the cartridge body 742 at the predetermined
starting positions of the staples 100.
[0375] The deformable retention features 710 may comprise the same
material composition as the cartridge body 742 and/or base portions
130. Alternatively, the deformable retention features 710 may
comprise a different material composition than the cartridge body
742 and/or the base portions 130. The deformable retention features
710 are sized and positioned such that they are partially deformed
to create the friction fit needed to maintain the staples 100 in
their predetermined starting positions. When the staples 100 are at
their predetermined starting positions, an interference 711 is
defined between the deformable retention features 710 and
corresponding base portions 130, and is measured at about 0.001''
to about 0.002''. That said, any suitable interference between the
deformable retention features 710 and corresponding base portions
130 can be implemented. A suitable interference is one that
maintains the staples 100 in their predetermined starting positions
but can be overcome by a staple deployment force or a firing force
transmitted by the sled 709 (FIG. 31) as the sled 709 is advanced
against the base portions 130 to deploy the staples 100.
[0376] The deformable retention features 710 are slightly
plastically deformed between the base portions 130 of the staples
100 and the cartridge body 742 at the predetermined starting
positions. Elastic recovery of deformable retention features 710
around the edges of the base portions 130 maintains the staples 100
at the predetermined starting positions. In certain instances, the
plastic deformation of the deformable retention features 710 is
selected from a range of about 1% to about 40%. In certain
instances, the plastic deformation of the deformable retention
features 710 is selected from a range of about 5% to about 35%. In
certain instances, the plastic deformation of the deformable
retention features 710 is selected from a range of about 10% to
about 30%.
[0377] In certain instances, a suitable interference between the
deformable retention features 710 and corresponding base portions
130 can be selected from a range of about 0.0015'' to about
0.003'', for example. In certain instances, a suitable interference
between the deformable retention features 710 and corresponding
base portions 130 can be selected from a range of about 0.0013'' to
about 0.0017'', for example. In certain instances, a suitable
interference between the deformable retention features 710 and
corresponding base portions 130 can be selected from a range of
about 0.0014'' to about 0.0016'', for example.
[0378] In various instances, a surgical stapling and cutting
instrument can include a pair of cooperating elongate jaw members,
wherein each jaw member can be adapted to be inserted into a
patient and positioned relative to tissue that is to be stapled
and/or incised. One of the jaw members can support a staple
cartridge with at least two laterally spaced rows of staples
contained therein. Examples of suitable staple cartridges include
but are not limited to the staple cartridges 240 (FIG. 5), 340
(FIG. 12), 440 (FIG. 18), 640 (FIG. 24). In addition, the other jaw
member can support an anvil 850 (FIG. 33) with staple-forming
pockets 856 (FIG. 33) aligned with the rows of staples in the
staple cartridge.
[0379] Further to the above, the surgical stapling and cutting
instrument can further include a firing assembly 800 (FIG. 35)
which is slidable relative to the jaw members to sequentially eject
the staples from the staple cartridge. During a firing stroke, the
firing assembly 800 is configured to activate a plurality of staple
drivers carried by the cartridge and associated with the staples in
order to push the staples against the staple-forming pockets 856 of
the anvil 850 and form laterally spaced rows of deformed staples in
the tissue gripped between the jaw members.
[0380] A spent staple cartridge, which has been fired, can be
removed and replaced with an unspent or unfired staple cartridge to
allow the surgical stapling and cutting instrument to be reused. A
limitation to the repeated use of a surgical stapling and cutting
instrument arises from damage sustained by the anvil from
interfacing a firing assembly 800 during a firing stroke. Anvils
are typically manufactured from materials that can be easily
stamped to create staple forming pockets. The material properties
that allow anvils to be easily stamped reduce an anvil's resistance
to the forces transmitted by the firing assembly 800 during the
firing stroke.
[0381] The present disclosure provides an anvil 850 that is
designed to resist damage caused by repeated firing of a surgical
stapling and cutting instrument. As illustrated in FIG. 33, the
anvil 850 is assembled from a plurality of discrete pieces that are
designed to provide a localized reinforcement to portions of the
anvil 850 that interface with the firing assembly 800 during a
firing stroke. The reinforcement can be in the form of localized,
strengthening, hardening, coating, and/or laminating of specific
portions of the anvil 850, as described below in greater
detail.
[0382] Referring to FIG. 33, the anvil 850 includes a first forming
portion 854, a second forming portion 855, and a cover portion 851
interconnecting the first forming portion 854 and the second
forming portion 855. The anvil 850 includes an anvil channel 857.
The firing assembly 800 slidingly travels along the anvil channel
857 during a firing stroke. The anvil channel 857 includes an
elongate slot 866 extending between the first forming portion 854
and the second forming portion 855. The elongate slot 866 inwardly
opens along a longitudinal axis of the anvil 850.
[0383] Further to the above, the anvil channel 857 includes a first
recess 867 defined between the cover portion 851 and the first
forming portion 854. In addition, a second recess 868 of the anvil
channel 857 is defined between the cover portion 851 and the second
forming portion 855. The first recess 867 and the second recess 868
are sized to receive a first engagement portion 811 (FIG. 35) and a
second engagement portion 812 (FIG. 35), respectively, of an
engagement member 810 (FIG. 35) of the firing assembly 800.
[0384] Referring again to FIG. 33, a first reinforcement member 860
is attached to the first inner interface 858 of the first forming
portion 854, and the second reinforcement member 861 is attached to
a second inner interface 859 of the second forming portion 855. In
addition, staple-forming pockets 856 are stamped into a first outer
interface 858 of the first forming portion 854 and a second outer
interface 859 of the second forming portion 855. During a firing
stroke, the first engagement portion 811 and the second engagement
portion 812 slidingly engage the first reinforcement member 860 and
the second reinforcement member 861, respectively, as the firing
assembly 800 is advanced along the anvil channel 857. The
advancement of the firing assembly 800 causes the plurality of
staples to be deployed into the tissue and to be deformed against
the staple-forming pockets 856.
[0385] The reinforcement members 860, 861 protect the inner
interfaces 858, 859 from deformation that may be caused by the
engagement portions 811, 812 during a firing stroke. To do so, the
reinforcement members 860, 861 are more able to resist deformation
than the forming portions 854, 855. In certain instances, the
reinforcement members 860, 861 are harder than the forming portions
854, 855. In certain instances, the reinforcement members 860, 861
are made from a material composition that is different from the
material composition of the forming portions 854, 855. For example,
the reinforcement members 860, 861 from titanium while the forming
portions 854, 855 are made or at least partially made from
stainless steel. Other suitable material compositions for the
reinforcement members 860, 861 and the forming portions 854, 855
can be utilized.
[0386] Further to the above, the reinforcement members 860, 861 can
be in the form of flat plates that are welded or mechanically
bonded to the inner interfaces 858, 859, respectively. The flat
plates comprise a thickness selected from a range of about 0.003''
to about 0.007''. In certain instances, the flat plates comprise a
thickness selected from a range of about 0.00'' to about 0.006''.
In certain instances, the flat plates comprise a thickness of about
0.005'', for example.
[0387] Due to size limitations, the anvil 850 is assembled in a
manner that permits inclusion of the reinforcement members 860,
861. The anvil 850 is manufactured in separate portions 854, 855,
851 which are assembled after attachment of the reinforcement
members 860, 861 to the forming portions 854, 855, respectively. In
a first step of assembly, the first reinforcement member 860 is
attached to the first inner interface 858 of the first forming
portion 854, and the second reinforcement member 861 is attached to
the second inner interface 859 of the second forming portion 854.
In a second step of assembly, the cover portion 851 is attached to
the first forming portion 854 and the second forming portion 855 at
outer edges 852, 853, respectively.
[0388] Various attachment mechanisms can be utilized in assembly of
the anvil 850 including but not limited to various welding and/or
mechanical bonding techniques. In certain instances, laser welding
is utilized in assembly of the anvil 850. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 33, spot laser welding 863 is utilized in
attachment of the reinforcement members 860, 861 to the forming
portions 854, 855. Due to size limitations, the spot laser welding
863 is performed prior to attachment of the cover portion 851 to
the forming portions 854, 855, which can be achieved by continuous
laser welding, for example, along the edges 852, 853.
[0389] In various instances, the reinforcement members 860, 861
and/or the inner interfaces 858, 859 can be treated to increase
hardness and resistance to deformation. Various suitable treatments
can be utilized to increase hardness of the reinforcement members
860, 861 and/or the inner interfaces 858, 859. In certain
instances, the reinforcement members 860, 861 and/or the inner
interfaces 858, 859 can be plasma coated, for example.
[0390] Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, the cover portion 851 may
experience deflective forces during a firing stroke. In certain
instances, reinforcement members can be attached to an inner
interface 862 of the cover portion 851 to protect against such
deflective forces. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 34, an
anvil 850' can be equipped with a cover portion 851' designed to
resist the deflective forces that are experienced during the firing
stroke. The cover portion 851 comprises an atraumatic semi-circular
outer interface 869 that facilitates insertion into a treatment
site. In addition, the cover portion 851 comprises a flat, or at
least substantially flat, inner interface 862' which give the cover
portion 851 a generally dome-shaped cross-sectional area that
provides sufficient strength to resist the deflective forces that
are experienced during the firing stroke.
[0391] Referring to FIG. 35, the firing assembly 800 includes an
I-beam 802 extending distally from a laminated firing bar 804. The
I-beam 802 facilitates closure and firing of the surgical stapling
and cutting instrument during a firing stroke. In addition to any
attachment treatment such as brazing or an adhesive, the I-beam 802
and laminated firing bar 804 are formed of a female vertical
attachment aperture 806 distally formed in the laminated firing bar
804 that receives a corresponding male attachment member 807
proximally presented by the I-beam 802, allowing each portion to be
formed of a selected material and process suitable for their
disparate functions (e.g., strength, flexibility, friction).
[0392] The I-beam 802 may be advantageously formed of a material
having suitable material properties for forming a pair of top
engagement portions or pins 811, 812 and a bottom pin or foot 113,
as well as a sharp cutting edge 814. The laminated firing bar 804
is formed of a plurality of layers or plates comprising different
material compositions. As illustrated in FIG. 35, a laminated
firing bar 804 includes a first outer layer 820, a second outer
layer 822, and an intermediate layer 821 sandwiched between the
outer layers 820, 822. The intermediate layer 821 comprises a
thickness T2 that is greater than a thickness T1 of the first outer
layer 820, and greater than a thickness T3 of the second outer
layer 822. Furthermore, the thinner outer layers 820, 822 could be
stainless steel making them more flexible and less capable of
buckling resistance with the intermediate layer 821 being made of
titanium and therefore more buckle resistant. The layers 820, 821,
822 can be made from other suitable materials. This design is
particularly useful in resisting fatigue failure with repetitive
firing of the surgical stapling and cutting instrument.
[0393] In certain instances, the ratio of the thickness T2 of the
intermediate layer 821 to the thickness T1 of the first outer layer
820 is selected from a range of about 95% to about 5%. In certain
instances, the ratio of the thickness T2 of the intermediate layer
821 to the thickness T1 of the first outer layer 820 is selected
from a range of about 80% to about 30%. In certain instances, the
ratio of the thickness T2 of the intermediate layer 821 to the
thickness T1 of the first outer layer 820 is selected from a range
of about 60% to about 40%. Other values for the ratio of the
thickness T2 of the intermediate layer 821 to the thickness T1 of
the first outer layer 820 are contemplated by the present
disclosure.
[0394] Referring to FIGS. 36-38, various attachment mechanisms are
utilized to attach the intermediate layer 821 to the outer layers
820, 822. In certain instances, various welding techniques are
utilized in attachment of the layers 820, 821, 822. As illustrated
in FIG. 36, an aperture 824 can be created in a laminated firing
bar 804. The aperture 824 can be created through each of the layers
820, 821, 822 thus defining a through hole. The aperture 824 can be
filled with melted portions of at least one of the outer layers
821, 822 to bond the layers 820, 821, 822 of the laminated firing
bar 804. The aperture 824 is created by any suitable technique.
[0395] During assembly, the intermediate layer 821 is sandwiched
between the outer layers 820, 822. In addition, portions of one or
both of the outer layers 820, 822 are melted and permitted to flow
through the aperture 824 to bridge the aperture 824 creating a bond
between the layers 820, 821, 822 as the melted material is actively
cooled, or permitted to cool down, to a temperature below a melting
point. In certain instances, the outer layers 820, 822 are
comprised of stainless steel that is melted to bridge the aperture
824.
[0396] In other instances, a filler material 826 can be utilized to
bridge the aperture 824 and bond layers 820, 821, 822 of a
laminated firing bar 804'', as illustrated in FIG. 38. The filler
material 826 can be inserted into the aperture 824 either in a
melted form or in an unmelted form that is then melted within the
aperture 824. The filler material 826 is then actively cooled, or
allowed to cool down, to a temperature below the melting point of
the filler material 826 to bond the layers 820, 821, 822.
[0397] Referring to FIG. 37, an attachment member 827 can be
utilized to join layers or plates of a laminated firing bar 804'
comprised of different materials. For example, the laminated firing
bar 804' comprises a layer 820 made, or at least partially made,
from stainless steel and a layer 821 made, or at least partially
made, from titanium. Other suitable materials can be utilized. The
attachment member 827 comprises a first portion 827a greater in
size than the aperture 824, and a second portion 827b sized to be
received within the aperture 824, as illustrated in FIG. 37. The
attachment member 827 can be made, or at least partially made, from
the same material as the layer 820. The laminated firing bar 804'
is assembled by inserting the second portion 827b into the aperture
824 such that the first portion 827a abuts against the layer 821.
Heat can then be introduced to partially melt at least a portion of
the second portion 827b and/or a portion of the layer 820. Upon
cooling to a temperature below the melting point, the resulting
bond between the layer 820 and the attachment member 827 provides
an attachment between the layers 820, 821.
[0398] Referring now to FIGS. 39 and 40, an end effector 900 of a
surgical stapling and cutting instrument includes a shaft portion
901, an anvil 902 extending distally from the shaft portion 901,
and an elongate channel 911 movably coupled to the shaft portion
901. A staple cartridge 940 is removably attached to the elongate
channel 911. The staple cartridge 940 is similar in many respects
to other staple cartridges disclosed herein such as, for example,
the staple cartridge 240.
[0399] To operate the surgical stapling and cutting instrument, an
unfired staple cartridge 940 is loaded by insertion into the
elongate channel 911. The end effector 900 is then positioned
around tissue. A firing bar 906 is then moved, during a firing
stroke, to advance a firing assembly 904 distally to transition the
end effector 900 to a closed configuration to capture the tissue.
In addition the firing assembly 904 also causes staples from the
staple cartridge 940 to be deployed into the captured tissue. The
firing assembly 904 further includes a distal cutting edge 908
extending distally from a body 905, and configured to cut the
stapled tissue. In certain instances, however, the firing assembly
904 may not include a cutting edge 908. The firing bar 906 extends
proximally from the firing assembly 904 in a direction opposite the
cutting edge 908.
[0400] As illustrated in FIG. 39, the anvil 902 is fixedly attached
to the shaft portion 901. In certain instances, however, the anvil
902 can be movable relative to the shaft portion 901. In addition,
the elongate channel 911 is rotatable about a channel pivot 912 to
transition the staple cartridge 940 and the anvil 902 between an
open configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 40, and a closed
configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 39.
[0401] Further to the above, the firing assembly 904 further
includes an anvil camming member 907 and a channel camming member
909 which cooperate to transition the end effector 900 to a closed
configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 39, the anvil camming member
907 and the channel camming member 909 are configured to slidingly
engage the anvil 902 and the elongate channel 911, respectively, as
the firing assembly 904 is advanced distally during a firing
stroke. The firing assembly 904 may distally translate a sled that
facilitates the deployment of the staples into the captured
tissue.
[0402] Upon completion of the firing stroke, the firing bar 906 is
moved proximally to retract the firing assembly 904 to a neutral or
dwell position where the anvil camming member 907 and the channel
camming member 909 are no longer able to apply camming forces to
the anvil 902 and the elongate channel 911. In other words, at the
dwell position, the elongate channel 911 is free to open in order
to release the stapled tissue. The end effector 900 can also be
pulled away from the stapled tissue in order to free the stapled
tissue. Yet, the spacing between the anvil 902 and the staple
cartridge 940 at the dwell position may not be sufficiently wide to
facilitate an atraumatic release of the stapled tissue by pulling
the end effector 904 away from the stapled tissue. The present
disclosure provided various mechanisms for positively opening the
end effector 900 to increase the spacing between the anvil 902 and
the staple cartridge 940 to facilitate an atraumatic release of the
stapled tissue from the end effector 900.
[0403] Referring to FIGS. 39 and 40, the firing assembly 904
further comprises an engagement portion 910 which is sized and
positioned to engage a camming member 914 during retraction of the
firing assembly 904 by the firing bar 906. The engagement portion
910 is configured to motivate the camming member 914 to positively
open the elongate channel 911 as the firing assembly 904 is moved
proximally from the dwell position by the firing bar 906. Positive
opening of the elongate channel 911 entails applying an external
force to the elongate channel 911 that can gradually open the end
effector 900 to a fully open configuration defined by a maximum
spacing between the anvil 902 and a staple cartridge 940 attached
to the elongate channel 911.
[0404] The gradual opening of the elongate channel 911 facilitates
a gradual and/or controlled release of the stapled tissue from the
end effector 900 which can reduce the tissue trauma. Such gradual
opening of the elongate channel 911 is achieved by gradually
retracting the firing bar 906 to move the firing assembly 904
proximally so that the engagement portion 910 gradually motivates
the camming member 914 to gradually open the elongate channel
911.
[0405] As illustrated in FIGS. 39 and 40, the engagement portion
910 is configured to engage a first portion 916 of the camming
member 914 which causes rotation of the camming member 914 about a
pivot 915. The rotation of the camming member 914 causes a second
portion 917 of the camming member 914 to slidingly engage a sloped
surface 918 of an end portion 913 of the elongate channel 911. The
end portion 913 is positioned proximal to the channel pivot 912.
Once the engagement portion 910 is in contact with the first
portion 916 and the second portion 917 is in contact with the end
portion 913 of the elongate channel 911, any further retraction of
the firing assembly 904 by the firing bar 906 results in a positive
opening of the elongate channel 911.
[0406] Accordingly, the firing assembly 904 is movable proximally
from the dwell position to a first proximal position where the
engagement portion 910 contacts the first portion 916 of the
camming member 914. The firing assembly 904 is also movable
proximally from the first proximal position to a second proximal
position, further away from the dwell position than the first
proximal position. The movement of the firing assembly 904 toward
the second proximal position causes the camming member 914 to
rotate about the pivot 915 until the second portion 917 of the
camming member 914 is brought into contact with the end portion 18
of the elongate channel 911. The firing assembly 904 is also
movable proximally from the second proximal position to a third
proximal position, further away from the dwell position than the
second proximal position. The movement of the firing assembly 904
toward the second proximal position causes the camming member 914
to exert a camming force against the end portion 913 to positively
open the elongate channel 911 which gradually transitions the end
effector 900 to a fully open configuration, as illustrated in FIG.
40.
[0407] As illustrated in FIG. 39, a first angle is defined between
the second portion 917 and the end portion 913 in the closed
configuration. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 40, a second
angle is defined between the second portion 917 and the end portion
913 in the open configuration, wherein the second angle is greater
than the first angle. Furthermore, the end portion 913 is partially
wrapped around the channel pivot 912 which cooperates with the
second portion 917 to define a maximum open configuration, as
illustrated in FIG. 40.
[0408] In certain instances, the firing assembly 904 is movable
distally from the dwell position to a first distal position and a
second distal position further away from the dwell position than
the first distal position. The movement of the firing assembly 904
toward the first distal position causes the end effector 900 to be
transitioned to a closed configuration to capture tissue without
deploying the staples from the staple cartridge 940. In addition,
the movement of the firing assembly 904 from the first distal
position toward the second distal position causes the staples to be
deployed from the staple cartridge 940. A user of the surgical
stapling a cutting instrument can capture and release tissue
multiple times until an optimal tissue portion is captured by
advancing and retracting the firing assembly 904 between the first
distal position and the third proximal position.
[0409] In various instances, the engagement portion 910 is
manufactured as one seamless piece with the firing assembly 904. In
other instances, the engagement portion 910 can be coupled to the
firing assembly 904 post manufacturing. Various suitable techniques
can be employed to attach the engagement portion 910 to the firing
assembly 904 including but not limited to welding, adhesives, and
other mechanical, thermal, and/or chemical bonding techniques.
[0410] As illustrated in FIG. 39, the engagement portion 910 is
coupled to the channel camming member 909, and extends proximally
in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with the firing bar 906.
The engagement portion 910 comprises a blunt end-portion 903
oriented to engage the first portion 916 of the camming member 914
as the firing assembly 904 is retracted proximally.
[0411] Further to the above, the camming member 914 comprises a
triangular, or substantially triangular, cross-section. The first
portion 916 extends in a first direction and the second portion 917
extends in a second direction defining an obtuse angle with the
first direction. In a closed configuration of the end effector 900,
as illustrated in FIG. 39, the first portion 916 of the camming
member 914 protrudes through a horizontal plane defined by the
elongate channel 911, wherein the first portion 916 and the
engagement portion 910 are on the same side of the horizontal
plane. In a fully open configuration of the end effector 900, as
illustrated in FIG. 40, the engagement portion 910 rotates the
first portion 916 causing the second portion 917 to apply a camming
force against the end portion 913 of the elongate channel 911 to
positively open the elongate channel 911.
[0412] Referring now to FIGS. 41 and 42, an end effector 900' is
similar in many respects to the end effector 900. For example, the
end effector 900' includes a shaft portion 901, an anvil 902
extending distally from the shaft portion 901, and an elongate
channel 911' movably coupled to the shaft portion 901. The end
effector 900' comprises a mechanism for positively opening the
elongate channel 911' that similar in many respects to the positive
opening mechanism of the end effector 900. The end effector 900'
comprises a firing assembly 904' comprising an engagement portion
910' extending proximally in parallel, or at least substantially in
parallel, with the firing bar 906. The engagement portion 910'
comprises a sloped end-portion 903' sized and oriented to engage a
head piece 921 of a lever arm 920. The sloped end-portion 903' is
configured to slide under the head piece 921 to lift the head piece
921 toward a bottom surface 918' of the end portion 913' of the
elongate channel 911'.
[0413] In operation, the firing assembly 904' is retracted
proximally by the firing bar 906 from the dwell position to a first
proximal position where the sloped end-portion 903' establishes
first contact with the head piece 921 of the lever arm 920. An
additional proximal retraction of the firing assembly 904 to a
second proximal position, further away from the dwell position than
the first proximal position, causes the sloped end-portion 903' to
slide under the head piece lifting 921 the head piece 921 toward an
initial contact with a bottom surface 918' of the end portion 913'
of the elongate channel 911'. An additional proximal retraction of
the firing assembly 904 to a third proximal position, further away
from the dwell position than the second proximal position, causes
the sloped end-portion 903' to motivate the head piece 921 to exert
an opening force that rotates the end portion 913' about the
channel pivot 912. This causes the elongate channel 911' to open to
a maximum open configuration that corresponds the head piece 921
reaching, or at least substantially reaching, the peak of the
sloped end-portion 903'.
[0414] The above-described positive opening mechanism protects the
end effector 900' from excessive actuation forces that may be
applied to the firing bar 906. Once a maximum open configuration is
achieved, as illustrated in FIG. 42, an additional retraction of
the firing assembly 904' does not result in an additional lifting
of the head piece 921 once the head piece 921 reaches the peak of
the slope end portion 903'.
[0415] Further to the above, the sloped end-portion 903' permits a
gradual lifting of the head piece 921 as the sloped end-portion
903' slidingly moves with respect to head piece 921. This results
in a gradual opening of the elongate channel 911' minimizing the
tissue trauma to the stapled tissue captured between the staple
cartridge 940 and the anvil 902 as the stapled tissue is released
from the end effector 900'. The slope of the sloped end-portion
903' can be adjusted to optimize the rate of opening of the end
effector 900'. A greater slope of the sloped end-portion 903'
generally corresponds to a greater rate of opening of the end
effector 900'.
[0416] As illustrated in FIG. 41, the head piece 921 is positioned
below a horizontal plane defined by the elongate channel 911' at a
default or starting position. As the firing assembly 904' is
retracted, the engagement portion 910' lifts the head piece 921
into a sliding engagement with the bottom surface 918' of the end
portion 913' of the elongate channel 911'. The head piece 921 is
lifted in a direction perpendicular, or at least substantially
perpendicular, to a longitudinal axis 922, as illustrated in FIG.
42. In various instances, the lever arm 920 is spring biased to
return the head piece to the default or starting position when the
head piece 921 is released from the sloped end-portion 903'.
[0417] In various instances, a disposable loading unit (DLU) for a
surgical stapling instrument can include an anvil, a staple
cartridge, a staple cartridge channel for operably supporting the
staple cartridge, and a connector portion for removably attaching
the DLU to the surgical stapling instrument. A spent, or at least
partially spent, staple cartridge can be replaced with a new staple
cartridge facilitating use of the DLU in multiple firings. The
repeated firing of the surgical stapling instrument may subject the
DLU to excessive forces. The present disclosure provides DLU
connector portions that are designed to withstand such forces.
Examples of surgical stapling instruments suitable for use with the
DLUs of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2016/0249921 entitled SURGICAL
APPARATUS WITH CONDUCTOR STRAIN RELIEF, which issued on Oct. 2,
2018 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,085,749, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0418] Referring to FIGS. 43-45, DLUs 1010, 1030, 1050 comprise
connector portions 1021, 1041, 1061, respectively, for releasable
attachment to a surgical stapling instrument. The connector
portions 1021, 1041, 1061 are designed to withstand the forces
transmitted during multiple firings of a surgical stapling
instrument. The connector portions 1021, 1041, 1061 comprise hollow
bodies 1015, 1035, 1055, respectively, extending proximally from
the DLUs 1010, 1030, 1050, respectively, along a longitudinal axis
1016. The hollow bodies 1015, 1035, 1055 are configured to
accommodate actuation members that transmit actuation motions to
the end effectors of the DLUs 1010, 1030, 1050.
[0419] Referring to FIG. 43, the connector portion 1021 comprises
pins or connectors 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020 which protrude radially
from the hollow body 1015. The pins or connectors 1017, 1018, 1019,
1020 are configured to establish a bayonet connection with the
surgical stapling instrument. The connector 1017 and the connector
1018 extend from the hollow body 1015 in opposite directions.
Likewise, the connector 1019 and the connector 1020 extend from the
hollow body 1015 in opposite directions. The hollow body 1015
comprises a first body portion 1012 and a second body portion 1014
on opposite sides of a plane that transects the hollow body 1015
and encompasses the longitudinal axis 1016. The plane is further
defined by an articulation link 1013 that is slidably positioned
between the first body portion 1012 and a second body portion 1014
and is adapted to engage an articulation mechanism of the surgical
stapling instrument.
[0420] Further to the above, the connectors 1018, 1020 are spaced
apart by a first distance, and protrude from the first body portion
1012. In addition, the connectors 1017, 1019 are spaced apart by a
second distance, and protrude from the second body portion 1014.
The first distance is equal, or substantially equal, to the second
distance. As illustrated in FIG. 43, the connectors 1017, 1019 are
positioned distally relative to the connectors 1019, 1020. In
certain instances, the first distance is different than the second
distance. For example, the first distance can be greater than the
second distance. Alternatively, the first distance can be less than
the second distance.
[0421] Further to the above, the connectors 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020
protrude from the hollow body 1015 in directions that are
perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the
longitudinal axis 1016. As illustrated in FIG. 43, the connectors
1017, 1018 are aligned with each other defining a first axis 1022
intersecting the longitudinal axis 1016. In addition, the
connectors 1019, 1020 are aligned with each other defining a second
axis 1023 that also intersects the longitudinal axis 1016. A first
angle is defined between the longitudinal axis 1016 and the first
axis 1022, and a second angle is defined between the longitudinal
axis 1016 and the second axis 1023, wherein the first angle is
equal, or substantially equal, to the second angle. In certain
instances, the first angle and/or the second angle can be about
90.degree., for example.
[0422] Furthermore, the connectors 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020 are
symmetrical in shape and size. As illustrated in FIG. 43, the
connectors 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020 each comprises a rectangular
cross-section. However, connectors with other suitable shapes and
sizes can be employed.
[0423] Referring now to FIG. 44, the connector portion 1041
comprises pins or connectors 1037, 1038, 1039, 1040 which protrude
radially from the hollow body 1035. The connector 1037 and the
connector 1038 extend from the hollow body 1035 in opposite
directions. Likewise, the connector 1039 and the connector 1040
extend from the hollow body 1035 in opposite directions.
[0424] Further to the above, the connectors 1037, 1038, 1039, 1040
protrude from the hollow body 1035 in directions that are
perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the
longitudinal axis 1016. As illustrated in FIG. 44, the connectors
1037, 1038 are aligned with each other defining a first axis 1042
intersecting the longitudinal axis 1016. In addition, the
connectors 1039, 1040 are aligned with each other defining a second
axis 1043 that also intersects the longitudinal axis 1016. The
first axis 1042 and the longitudinal axis 1016 define a plane
intersected by the second axis 1043 at an angle of about
90.degree., for example. In certain instances, the angle is
selected from a range of about 0.degree. to about 90.degree., for
example.
[0425] As illustrated in FIG. 44, the connectors 1037, 1038 define
a first engagement portion 1032, and the connectors 1039, 1040
define a second engagement portion 1034. The engagement portions
1032, 1034 are spaced apart, wherein the first engagement portion
1032 is distal to the second engagement portion 1034. In addition,
the first engagement portion 1032 can be radially offset with
respect to the second engagement portion 1034. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 44, the first engagement portion 1032 is
oriented at a 90.degree. angle with respect to the second
engagement portion 1034 which provides a robust connection between
the DLU 1030 and the surgical stapling instrument. Other suitable
orientations of the first engagement portion 1032 with respect to
the second engagement portion 1034 can be implemented.
[0426] Furthermore, the connectors 1037, 1038, 1039, 1040 are
symmetrical in shape and size. As illustrated in FIG. 44, the
connectors 1037, 1038, 1039, 1040 each comprises a rectangular
cross-section. However, connectors with other suitable shapes and
sizes can be employed.
[0427] Referring to FIG. 45, the connector portion 1061 comprises
coupling flanges 1052 and 1054 disposed radially about an outer
wall 1053 of the hollow body 1055. The outer wall 1053 includes a
first portion 1056 and a second portion 1057 that is radially
offset from the first portion 1056. The coupling flange 1052
protrudes from the first portion 1056 while the coupling flange
1054 protrudes from the second portion 1057. The coupling flanges
1052, 1054 are spaced apart from each other and define distal end
portions that are different distances away from the end effector of
the DLU 1050. Alternatively, in certain instances, the coupling
flanges 1052, 1054 are combined into one seamless structure. In
certain instances, a distal end portion of the coupling flange 1052
is positioned distally with respect to a distal end portion of the
coupling flange 1054. In other instances, the distal end portion of
the coupling flange 1052 is positioned proximally with respect to
the distal end portion of the coupling flange 1054.
[0428] The coupling flanges 1052, 1054 are configured to establish
a bayonet connection with corresponding features of a surgical
stapling instrument. The coupling flanges 1052, 1054 cooperate with
the corresponding features to drive the DLU 1050 into a final
position where a proper connection is established between the DLU
1050 and the surgical stapling instrument.
[0429] In various instances, one or more of the connector portions
1010, 1030, 1050 can be manufactured by attaching a suitable ring
around a corresponding hollow body. The ring can be manipulated to
include the corresponding connectors. Then, the ring can be secured
around the hollow body. The ring can be heat staked in place,
overmolded, or fixed in place through other suitable means. In
various instances, the ring can be a metal ring to improve the
robustness of the connections portions 1010, 1030, 1050, for
example.
[0430] Referring now to FIG. 46, an intermediate shaft assembly
1100 is releasably attachable to a handle assembly and a DLU of a
surgical stapling instrument. Examples of handle assemblies and
DLUs that are suitable for use with the intermediate shaft assembly
1100 are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2016/0095585, titled HANDHELD ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL SYSTEM,
and filed Sep. 24, 2015, which issued on Mar. 31, 2020 as U.S. Pat.
No. 10,603,128, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety. FIG. 46 also depicts portions of proximal portions of
a suitable DLU 1110 that are attachable to corresponding distal
portions of the intermediate shaft assembly 1100 as described below
in greater detail.
[0431] The intermediate shaft assembly 1100 comprises a clutch
assembly 1104 configured to switch between an articulation output
and a firing output. The clutch assembly 1104 comprises a shifter
1105 movable between a first position, where a drive input yields
the articulation output, and a second position, where the drive
input yields the firing output. The drive input is applied to a
proximal portion 1106 of a firing rod 1107. When the intermediate
shaft assembly 1100 is coupled to a hand assembly, the proximal
portion 1106 of the firing rod 1107 is operably coupled to a drive
assembly of the handle assembly that includes a motor configured to
generate at least one rotational motion that is converted by the
drive assembly into at least one axial motion that provides the
drive input to the proximal portion 1106 of the firing rod.
[0432] Further to the above, a camming slot 1109 defined in an
outer housing 1111 of the intermediate shaft assembly 1100 is
configured to motivate the shifter 1105 to move between the first
position and the second position. The outer housing 1111 is moved
between a proximal position and a distal position to transition a
jaw assembly of the DLU 1110 between an open configuration and a
closed configuration. While the jaw assembly is in in the open
configuration, the shifter 1105 is at the first position, where an
articulation mechanism 1112 is engaged with the firing rod 1107
such that the drive input yields an articulation output. The
articulation mechanism 1112 includes an articulation rod 1114 and
an articulation engagement portion 1115 releasably coupled to a
corresponding articulation engagement portion 1116 of the DLU
1110.
[0433] While the shifter 1105 is in the first position, the
articulation rod 1114 is movable with the firing rod 1107 in
response to the drive input. The movement of the firing rod 1107 in
this stage is not sufficient to yield a firing output. However, the
movement of the firing rod 1107 is sufficient to yield an
articulation output by motivating the articulation engagement
portion 1115 to cause articulation engagement portion 1116 of the
DLU 1110 to be advanced distally, which causes articulation of the
DLU 1110 about a longitudinal axis 1103 of the intermediate shaft
assembly 1100.
[0434] Further to the above, as the outer housing is advanced
distally to transition the jaw assembly of the DLU 1110 to a closed
configuration, the shifter 1105 is transition to the second
position which causes rotation of a clutch 1117. The rotation of
the clutch 1117 disengages the firing rod 1107 from the
articulation mechanism 1112 such that the drive input yields the
firing output. The firing rod 1107 includes a distal portion 1108
releasably couplable to a firing mechanism 1120 of the DLU 1110. As
illustrated in FIG. 46, the firing mechanism 1120 comprises an
inner housing 1122 and a flexible drive beam 1119 having a proximal
engagement section 1121 that includes diametrically opposed
inwardly extending fingers that are configured to secure the distal
portion 1108 of the firing rod 1107 to the flexible drive beam
1119. While the shifter 1105 is in the second position, the
articulation mechanism 1112 is disengaged from the firing rod 1107,
and advancement of the firing rod 1107 causes the firing mechanism
1120 to deploy a plurality of staples from a staple cartridge of
the jaw assembly of the DLU 1110.
EXAMPLES
[0435] Example 1--A staple cartridge assembly for use with a
surgical stapling instrument including an anvil, wherein the staple
cartridge comprises a cartridge body, a plurality of staple
cavities, a plurality of staples housed in the cartridge body, and
a sled. The cartridge body comprises a proximal portion, a distal
portion, and an elongate slot extending between the proximal
portion and the distal portion, and a bottom surface. The cartridge
body further comprises a cartridge deck on an opposite side of the
cartridge body from the bottom surface. The cartridge deck
comprises a first deck surface, and a second deck surface laterally
offset from the first deck surface in a direction away from the
elongate slot, wherein the first deck surface is stepped up from
the second deck surface relative to the bottom surface. The
plurality of staple cavities comprise a first row of staple
cavities defined in the first deck surface, and a second row of
staple cavities defined in the second deck surface, wherein the
first row of staple cavities is closer to the elongate slot than
the second row of staple cavities. The plurality of staples
comprise first staples deployable from the first row of staple
cavities, and second staples deployable from the second row of
staple cavities. Each of the plurality of staples comprises a base
comprising an inclined drive surface, a first leg extending from
the base, and a second leg extending from the base, wherein the
base, the first leg and the second leg define a seamless unitary
piece, and wherein the first legs of the first staples and the
first legs of the second staples comprise different unformed
heights. The sled comprises a first ramp configured to directly
engage the inclined drive surface of the first staples to deploy
the first staples from the first row of staple cavities, wherein
the first ramp is configured to cooperate with the anvil to form
the first staples to a first formed height, and a second ramp
configured to directly engage the inclined drive surface of the
second staples to deploy the second staples from the second row of
staple cavities, wherein the second ramp is configured to cooperate
with the anvil to form the second staples to a second formed height
greater than the first formed height. Example 2--The staple
cartridge assembly of Example 1, wherein the inclined drive surface
is positioned intermediate the first leg and the second leg.
Example 3--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 1 or 2,
wherein the first leg and the second leg define a leg plane,
wherein the inclined drive surface defines a drive plane, and
wherein the drive plane is offset from the leg plane. Example
4--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 1, 2, or 3, wherein
the base is asymmetrical. Example 5--The staple cartridge assembly
of Examples 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the first ramp and the second
ramp comprise different heights. Example 6--The staple cartridge
assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the first ramp
comprises a first peak surface, wherein the second ramp comprises a
second peak surface, and wherein the first peak surface is higher
than the second peak surface. Example 7--A staple cartridge
assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an
anvil, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, a
plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples housed in the
cartridge body, and a sled. The cartridge body comprises a proximal
portion, a distal portion, and an elongate slot extending between
the proximal portion and the distal portion. The cartridge body
further comprises a cartridge deck. The cartridge deck comprises a
first deck surface defining a first deck height, and a second deck
surface defining a second deck height, wherein the second deck
height is shorter than the first deck height. The plurality of
staple cavities comprise a first row of staple cavities defined in
the first deck surface; and a second row of staple cavities defined
in the second deck surface, wherein the first row of staple
cavities is closer to the elongate slot than the second row of
staple cavities. The plurality of staples comprise first staples
deployable from the first row of staple cavities, wherein each of
the first staples comprise an unformed height, and second staples
deployable from the second row of staple cavities, wherein each of
the second staples comprise the unformed height. Each of the
plurality of staples comprises a base comprising a sloping drive
surface, a first leg extending from the base, and a second leg
extending from the base, wherein the first leg and the second leg
define a first plane, wherein the drive surface extends along a
portion of the base in a direction parallel to the first plane,
wherein the sloping drive surface is laterally offset from the
first plane. The sled comprises a first ramp configured to directly
engage the sloping drive surface of the first staples to deploy the
first staples from the first row of staple cavities, wherein the
first ramp is configured to cooperate with the anvil to form the
first staples to a first formed height, and a second ramp
configured to directly engage the sloping drive surface of the
second staples to deploy the second staples from the second row of
staple cavities, wherein the second ramp is configured to cooperate
with the anvil to form the second staples to a second formed height
greater than the first formed height. Example 8--The staple
cartridge assembly of Example 7, wherein the sloping drive surface
is positioned intermediate the first leg and the second leg.
Example 9--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 7 or 8,
wherein the first leg and the second leg define a leg plane,
wherein the sloping drive surface defines a drive plane, and
wherein the drive plane is offset from the leg plane. Example
10--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 7, 8, or 9, wherein
the base is asymmetrical. Example 11--The staple cartridge assembly
of Examples 7, 8, 9, or 10, wherein the first ramp and the second
ramp comprise different heights. Example 12--The staple cartridge
assembly of Examples 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein the first ramp
comprises a first peak surface, wherein the second ramp comprises a
second peak surface, and wherein the first peak surface is higher
than the second peak surface. Example 13--The staple cartridge
assembly of Examples 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, wherein the base, the
first leg, and the second leg define a unitary piece. Example 14--A
surgical stapling instrument comprising an anvil, a staple
cartridge, and a sled. The anvil comprises a first row of pockets,
and a second row of pockets, and at least one of the anvil and the
staple cartridge is movable relative to the other between an open
configuration and a closed configuration to capture tissue. The
staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge
body comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an
elongate slot extending between the proximal portion and the distal
portion. The cartridge body further comprises a cartridge deck,
wherein the cartridge deck comprises a first deck surface, and a
second deck surface positioned further away from the elongate slot
than the first deck surface. The plurality of staple cavities
comprise a first row of staple cavities defined in the first deck
surface, wherein a first gap is defined between the first row of
pockets and the first row of staple cavities in the closed
configuration, and a second row of staple cavities defined in the
second deck surface, wherein the first row of staple cavities is
closer to the elongate slot than the second row of staple cavities,
wherein a second gap is defined between the second row of pockets
and the second row of staple cavities in the closed configuration,
and wherein the second gap is greater than the first gap. The
plurality of staples comprise first staples deployable from the
first row of staple cavities, wherein the first staples comprise a
first unformed height, and second staples deployable from the
second row of staple cavities, wherein the second staples comprise
a second unformed height greater than the first unformed height.
Each of the plurality of staples comprises a leg, and an integral
drive surface. The sled comprises a first ramp configured to
directly engage the integral drive surface of the first staples to
deploy the first staples from the first row of staple cavities. The
first ramp is configured to form the first staples against the
first row of pockets to a first formed height. The sled further
comprises a second ramp configured to directly engage the integral
drive surface of the second staples to deploy the second staples
from the second row of staple cavities. The second ramp is
configured to form the second staples against the second row of
staple pockets to a second formed height different than the first
formed height. Example 15--The surgical instrument of Example 14,
wherein the second formed height is greater than the first formed
height. Example 16--The surgical instrument of Examples 14 or 15,
wherein the integral drive surface is positioned intermediate the
first leg and the second leg. Example 17--The surgical instrument
of Examples 14, 15, or 16, wherein the first leg and the second leg
define a leg plane, wherein the integral drive surface defines a
drive plane, and wherein the drive plane is offset from the leg
plane. Example 18--The surgical instrument of Examples 14, 15, 16,
or 17, wherein the base is asymmetrical. Example 19--The surgical
instrument of Examples 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18, wherein the first
ramp and the second ramp comprise different heights. Example
20--The surgical instrument of Examples 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19,
wherein the first ramp comprises a first peak surface, wherein the
second ramp comprises a second peak surface, and wherein the first
peak surface is higher than the second peak surface. Example 21--A
staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling
instrument including an anvil, wherein the staple cartridge
comprises a cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a proximal
portion, a distal portion, and an elongate slot extending between
the proximal portion and the distal portion. The cartridge body
also comprises a bottom surface, and a cartridge deck on an
opposite side of the cartridge body from the bottom surface. The
cartridge deck comprises a first deck surface, a second deck
surface laterally offset from the first deck surface in a direction
away from the elongate slot, wherein the first deck surface is
stepped up from the second deck surface relative to the bottom
surface. The cartridge deck also comprises a third deck surface
laterally offset from the second deck surface in a direction away
from the elongate slot, wherein the second deck surface is stepped
up from the third deck surface relative to the bottom surface. The
staple cartridge also comprises a plurality of staple cavities. The
plurality of staple cavities comprise a first row of staple
cavities defined in the first deck surface, and a second row of
staple cavities defined in the second deck surface, wherein the
first row of staple cavities is closer to the elongate slot than
the second row of staple cavities. The plurality of staple cavities
further comprise a third row of staple cavities defined in the
third deck surface, wherein the second row of staple cavities is
closer to the elongate slot than the third row of staple cavities.
The staple cartridge also comprises a plurality of staples housed
in the cartridge body, wherein the plurality of staples comprises
first staples deployable from the first row of staple cavities,
second staples deployable from the second row of staple cavities,
and third staples deployable from the third row of staple cavities.
The staple cartridge further comprises tissue retention features
defining a perimeter around the plurality of staple cavities,
wherein the tissue retention features protrude from at least two of
the first deck surface, the second deck surface, and the third deck
surface. Example 22--The staple cartridge assembly of Example 21,
wherein the tissue retention features protrude from the first deck
surface, the second deck surface, and the third deck surface.
Example 23--The staple cartridge assembly of Example 21, wherein
the cartridge deck is free from the tissue retention features in
areas between the plurality of staple cavities. Example 24--The
staple cartridge assembly of Examples 21 or 22, wherein each of the
tissue retention features comprises a base defined in the cartridge
deck, and a peak narrower than the base. Example 25--The staple
cartridge assembly of Examples 21, 22, or 24, wherein the third
deck surface comprises more of the retention features than the
second deck surface. Example 26--The staple cartridge assembly of
Examples 21, 22, or 24 wherein the first deck surface comprises
more of the retention features than the second deck surface.
Example 27--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 21, 22, 24,
25, or 26, wherein the tissue retention members are comprised of an
elastomer. Example 28--A staple cartridge assembly for use with a
surgical stapling instrument including an anvil, wherein the staple
cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a proximal portion,
a distal portion, and an elongate slot extending between the
proximal portion and the distal portion. The cartridge body further
comprises a cartridge deck comprising a first deck surface defining
a first deck height, and a second deck surface defining a second
deck height, wherein the second deck surface is laterally offset
from the first deck surface in a direction away from the elongate
slot, and wherein the second deck height is shorter than the first
deck height. The staple cartridge also comprises a plurality of
staple cavities comprising a first row of staple cavities defined
in the first deck surface, and a second row of staple cavities
defined in the second deck surface, wherein the first row of staple
cavities is closer to the elongate slot than the second row of
staple cavities. The staple cartridge also comprises a plurality of
staples housed in the cartridge body, the plurality of staples
comprising first staples deployable from the first row of staple
cavities into tissue, and second staples deployable from the second
row of staple cavities into the tissue. The staple cartridge
further comprises cleats configured to resist movement of the
tissue relative to the cartridge deck, wherein the cleats comprise
first cleats extending from the first deck surface, wherein each of
the first cleats comprises a first cleat height, and second cleats
extending from the second deck surface. The second cleats are
laterally offset from the first cleats in a direction away from the
elongate slot, wherein each of the second cleats comprises a second
cleat height, and wherein the first cleat height is different than
the second cleat height. Example 29--The staple cartridge assembly
of Example 28, wherein the cartridge deck comprises a third deck
surface defining a third deck height, wherein the third deck
surface is laterally offset from the second deck surface in a
direction away from the elongate slot, and wherein the third deck
height is shorter than the second deck height. Example 30--The
staple cartridge assembly of Examples 28 or 29, wherein the cleats
comprise third cleats extending from the third deck surface, and
wherein each of the third cleats comprises a third cleat height,
and wherein the second cleat height is shorter than the third cleat
height. Example 31--The staple cartridge assembly of Example 30,
wherein the first cleat height is shorter than the second cleat
height. Example 32--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 28,
29, 30, or 31, wherein the second deck surface comprises more of
the cleats than the first deck surface. Example 33--The staple
cartridge assembly of Examples 28, 29, 30, 31, or 32, wherein each
of the cleats comprises a base defined in the cartridge deck, and a
peak narrower than the base. Example 34--The staple cartridge
assembly of Example 33, wherein the peaks define a plane
substantially parallel to the cartridge deck. Example 35--The
staple cartridge assembly of Examples 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, or
34, wherein the cleats are comprised of an elastomer. Example 36--A
surgical stapling instrument, comprising an anvil and a staple
cartridge. The anvil comprises a first row of pockets, and a second
row of pockets, and at least one of the anvil and the staple
cartridge is movable relative to the other between an open
configuration and a closed configuration to capture tissue. The
staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, a plurality of staple
cavities, a plurality of staples, and transverse gap-setting
members. The cartridge body comprises a proximal portion, a distal
portion, an intermediate portion between the proximal portion and
the distal portion, and an elongate slot extending between the
proximal portion and the distal portion. The cartridge body further
comprises a cartridge deck comprising a first deck surface, and a
second deck surface positioned further away from the elongate slot
than the first deck surface. The plurality of staple cavities
comprises a first row of staple cavities defined in the first deck
surface, wherein a first gap is defined between the first row of
pockets and the first row of staple cavities in the closed
configuration. The plurality of staple cavities further comprises a
second row of staple cavities defined in the second deck surface,
wherein the first row of staple cavities is closer to the elongate
slot than the second row of
staple cavities, wherein a second gap is defined between the second
row of pockets and the second row of staple cavities in the closed
configuration, and wherein the second gap is greater than the first
gap. The plurality of staples is housed in the cartridge body, and
comprises first staples deployable from the first row of staple
cavities into the tissue, and second staples deployable from the
second row of staple cavities into the tissue. The transverse
gap-setting members comprise a first transverse gap-setting member
at the proximal portion, wherein the first transverse gap-setting
member comprises a first height. The transverse gap-setting members
also comprise a second transverse gap-setting member at the
intermediate portion, wherein the second transverse gap-setting
member comprises a second height greater than the first height. The
transverse gap-setting members further comprise a third transverse
gap-setting member at the distal portion, wherein the third
transverse gap-setting member comprises a third height greater than
the second height. Example 37--The surgical instrument of Example
36, wherein the transverse gap-setting members extend across the
elongate slot. Example 38--The surgical instrument of Examples 36
or 37, wherein each of the transverse gap-setting members comprises
a base defined in the cartridge deck, and a peak narrower than the
base. Example 39--The surgical instrument of Examples 36, 37, or
38, wherein the transverse gap-setting members are comprised of an
elastomer. Example 40--The surgical instrument of Examples 36, 37,
38, or 39, wherein the first transverse gap-setting member is
positioned proximal to the plurality of staple cavities, and
wherein the third transverse gap-setting member is positioned
distal to the plurality of staple cavities. Example 41--A staple
cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument
including an anvil, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a
cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a proximal portion, a
distal portion, an elongate slot extending between the proximal
portion and the distal portion, and a bottom surface. The cartridge
body also comprises a cartridge deck on an opposite side of the
cartridge body from the bottom surface. The cartridge deck
comprises a first deck surface, and a second deck surface laterally
offset from the first deck surface in a direction away from the
elongate slot, wherein the first deck surface is stepped up from
the second deck surface relative to the bottom surface. The
cartridge body also comprises staple pockets on opposite sides of
the elongate slot, wherein the staple pockets comprise deformable
retention features. The staple cartridge also comprises staples
deployable from the staple pockets into tissue captured between the
cartridge deck and the anvil. The staple cartridge further
comprises staple drivers movable from a starting position to deploy
the staples into the tissue, wherein the deformable retention
features are configured to maintain the staple drivers at the
starting positions. Example 42--The staple cartridge assembly of
Example 41, wherein the deformable retention features are
deformable retention ribs. Example 43--The staple cartridge
assembly of Examples 41 or 42, wherein the deformable retention
ribs comprise interference portions. Example 44--The staple
cartridge assembly of Examples 41, 42, or 43, wherein the staple
drivers comprise clearance slots configured to receive the
deformable retention features. Example 45--The staple cartridge
assembly of Examples 41, 42, 43, or 44, further comprising a sled
configured to move the staple drivers from the starting position by
applying a deployment force to the staple drivers sufficient to
deform the deformable retention features. Example 46--The staple
cartridge assembly of Examples 41, 42, 43, 44, or 45, wherein the
staples are integral with the staple drivers. Example 47--The
staple cartridge assembly of Examples 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, or 46,
wherein the deformable retention features are configured to
maintain the staple drivers at the starting position in absence of
the bottom surface. Example 48--The staple cartridge assembly of
Examples 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, or 47, wherein the staple pockets
comprise side walls, and wherein the deformable retention features
protrude from the side walls. Example 49--The staple cartridge
assembly of Example 48, wherein the deformable retention features
are more flexible than the side walls. Example 50--The staple
cartridge assembly of Examples 48 or 49, wherein the deformable
retention features comprise a different material composition that
the side walls. Example 51--A staple cartridge assembly for use
with a surgical stapling instrument including an anvil, wherein the
staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body. The cartridge body
comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, an elongate slot
extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and
a bottom surface. The cartridge body also comprises a cartridge
deck on an opposite side of the cartridge body from the bottom
surface. The cartridge deck comprises a first deck surface, and a
second deck surface laterally offset from the first deck surface in
a direction away from the elongate slot, wherein the first deck
surface is further away from the second deck surface relative to
the bottom surface. The cartridge body further comprises staple
pockets on opposite sides of the elongate slot. The staple
cartridge also comprises staples deployable from the staple pockets
into tissue captured between the cartridge deck and the anvil. The
staple cartridge further comprises staple drivers movable from a
starting position to deploy the staples into the tissue, wherein
the staple drivers comprise deformable retention features
configured to maintain the staple drivers at the starting
positions. Example 52--The staple cartridge assembly of Example 51,
wherein the deformable retention features are deformable retention
ribs. Example 53--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 51 or
52, further comprising a sled configured to move the staple drivers
from the starting position by applying a deployment force to the
staple drivers sufficient to deform the deformable retention
features. Example 54--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 51,
52, or 53, wherein the deformable retention features are integral
with the staple drivers. Example 55--The staple cartridge assembly
of Examples 51, 52, 53, or 54, wherein the staples are integral
with the staple drivers. Example 56--The staple cartridge assembly
of Examples 51, 52, 53, 54, or 55, wherein the deformable retention
features are configured to maintain the staple drivers at the
starting position in absence of the bottom surface. Example 57--The
staple cartridge assembly of Examples 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, or 56,
wherein the staple drivers comprise side walls, and wherein the
deformable retention features protrude from the side walls. Example
58--The staple cartridge assembly of Example 57, wherein the
deformable retention features are more flexible than the side
walls. Example 59--The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 57 or
58, wherein the deformable retention features comprise a different
material composition that the side walls. Example 60--A staple
cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument
including an anvil, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a
cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a proximal portion, a
distal portion, and an elongate slot extending between the proximal
portion and the distal portion. The cartridge body also comprises a
bottom surface, a cartridge deck on an opposite side of the
cartridge body from the bottom surface, and staple pockets on
opposite sides of the elongate slot. The staple cartridge also
comprises staples deployable from the staple pockets into tissue
captured between the cartridge deck and the anvil. The staple
cartridge further comprises staple drivers movable from a starting
position to deploy the staples into the tissue, wherein the staple
drivers comprise a quadruple staple driver. The quadruple staple
driver comprises pushers configured to simultaneously deploy four
of the staples into the tissue, wherein the pushers comprise side
walls, and deformable retention features protruding from the side
walls, wherein the deformable retention features cooperate to
maintain the quadruple staple driver at the starting position.
Example 61--A surgical instrument comprising a staple firing member
and an end effector. The staple firing member comprises a cutting
member and an engagement member. The engagement member comprises a
first engagement portion protruding in a first direction and a
second engagement portion protruding in a second direction opposite
the first direction. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge
comprising a plurality of staples and an anvil, wherein at least
one of the staple cartridge and the anvil is movable to capture
tissue between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The anvil
comprises a first forming portion, comprising a first outer
interface comprising first staple forming pockets and a first inner
interface and a second forming portion spaced apart from the first
forming portion. The second forming portion comprises a second
outer interface comprising second staple forming pockets and a
second inner interface. The anvil further comprises an anvil
channel, wherein the staple firing member is advanced along the
anvil channel to cause the plurality of staples to be deployed into
the tissue and to be deformed against the first staple forming
pockets and the second staple forming pockets. The anvil channel
comprises an elongate slot inwardly open along a longitudinal axis
of the anvil, wherein the elongate slot extends longitudinally
between the first forming portion and the second forming portion.
The anvil channel further comprises a first recess extending
longitudinally adjacent the first inner interface, wherein the
first recess is sized to receive the first engagement portion and a
second recess extending longitudinally adjacent the second inner
interface, wherein the second recess is sized to receive the second
engagement portion. The anvil further comprises a first
reinforcement member attached to the first inner interface, wherein
the first engagement portion is configured to slidingly engage the
first reinforcement member during the advancement of the staple
firing member and a second reinforcement member attached to the
second inner interface, wherein the elongate slot extends
longitudinally between the first reinforcement member and the
second reinforcement member. The second reinforcement member is
configured to engage the second reinforcement member during the
advancement of the staple firing member. Example 62--The surgical
instrument of Example 61, wherein the first reinforcement member
has a different material composition than the first forming
portion. Example 63--The surgical instrument of Examples 61 or 62,
wherein the first reinforcement member is harder than the first
forming portion. Example 64--The surgical instrument of Examples
61, 62, or 63, wherein the second reinforcement member has a
different material composition than the second forming portion.
Example 65--The surgical instrument of Examples 61, 62, 63, or 64,
wherein the second reinforcement member is harder than the second
forming portion. Example 66--The surgical instrument of Examples
61, 62, 63, 64, or 65, wherein the first reinforcement member is
welded to the first inner interface, and wherein the second
reinforcement member is welded to the second inner surface. Example
67--The surgical instrument of Examples 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, or 66,
wherein the anvil further comprises an anvil cover welded to the
first forming portion and the second forming portion. Example 68--A
surgical instrument comprising an end effector transitionable
between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a
firing assembly. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge
comprising a plurality of staples and an anvil comprising a
plurality of staple forming pockets, wherein at least one of the
staple cartridge and the anvil is movable to capture tissue between
the staple cartridge and the anvil. The firing assembly is movable
to cause the plurality of staples to be deployed into the tissue
and to be deformed against the plurality of staple forming pockets.
The firing assembly comprises a firing member and a laminated
firing bar extending proximally from the firing member. The firing
member comprises a cutting edge, a first engagement member
configured to movably engage the anvil, and a second engagement
member configured to movably engage the staple cartridge, wherein
the first engagement member and the second engagement member
cooperate to transition the end effector to the closed
configuration. The laminated firing bar comprises a first outer
layer, a second outer layer, and an intermediate layer sandwiched
between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, wherein
the intermediate layer is thicker than the first outer layer, and
wherein the intermediate layer is thicker than the second outer
layer. Example 69--The surgical instrument of Example 68, wherein
the intermediate layer comprises a different material composition
than at least one of the first outer layer and the second. Example
70--The surgical instrument of Examples 68 or 69, wherein the
intermediate layer is at least partially made from titanium.
Example 71--The surgical instrument of Examples 68, 69, or 70,
wherein at least one of the first outer layer and the second outer
layer is at least partially made from stainless steel. Example
72--The surgical instrument of Examples 68, 69, 70, or 71, wherein
the laminated firing bar comprises a transverse aperture extending
through the first outer layer, the intermediate layer, and the
second outer layer, wherein the transverse aperture is at least
partially filled with melted portions of at least one of the first
outer layer and the second outer layer. Example 73--The surgical
instrument of Example 72, wherein the melted portions extend
through the intermediate layer. Example 74--The surgical instrument
of Examples 68, 69, 70, or 71, wherein the laminated firing bar
comprises a transverse aperture extending through the first outer
layer, the intermediate layer, and the second outer layer, wherein
the transverse aperture is at least partially filled with a filler
material configured to weld the intermediate layer to the first
outer layer and the second outer layer. Example 75--The surgical
instrument of Example 74, wherein at least one of the first outer
layer and the second outer layer is at least partially made from
the filler material. Example 76--A surgical instrument comprising
an end effector transitionable between an open configuration and a
closed configuration and a firing assembly. The end effector
comprises a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples and
an anvil comprising a plurality of staple forming pockets, wherein
at least one of the staple cartridge and the anvil is movable to
capture tissue between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The
firing assembly is a firing assembly movable to cause the plurality
of staples to be deployed into the tissue and to be deformed
against the plurality of staple forming pockets. The firing
assembly comprises a firing member and a laminated firing bar
extending proximally from the firing member. The firing member
comprises a cutting edge, a first engagement member configured to
movably engage the anvil, and a second engagement member configured
to movable engage the staple cartridge, wherein the first
engagement member and the second engagement member cooperate to
transition the end effector to the closed configuration. The
laminated firing bar comprises a first outer layer, a second outer
layer, and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the first outer
layer and the second outer layer, wherein the intermediate layer is
harder than the first outer layer, and wherein the intermediate
layer is harder than the second outer layer. Example 77--The
surgical instrument of Example 76, wherein the laminated firing bar
comprises a transverse aperture extending through the first outer
layer, the intermediate layer, and the second outer layer, wherein
the transverse aperture is at least partially filled with melted
portions of at least one of the first outer layer and the second
outer layer. Example 78--The surgical instrument of Example 77,
wherein the melted portions extend through the intermediate layer.
Example 79--The surgical instrument of Example 76, wherein the
laminated firing bar comprises a transverse aperture extending
through the first outer layer, the intermediate layer, and the
second outer layer, wherein the transverse aperture is at least
partially filled with a filler material configured to weld the
intermediate layer to the first outer layer and the second outer
layer. Example 80--The surgical instrument of Example 79, wherein
at least one of the first outer layer and the second outer layer is
at least partially made from the filler material. Example 81--An
end effector for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the end
effector comprises a shaft portion, an anvil extending distally
from the shaft portion, a staple cartridge comprising a plurality
of staples, an elongate channel, and a firing member. The elongate
channel is configured to receive the staple cartridge, wherein the
elongate channel is movable relative to the anvil between an open
configuration and a closed configuration to capture
tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The firing
member is configured to cause the plurality of staples to be
deployed into the tissue, wherein the firing member is movable
distally to positively transition the elongate channel to a closed
configuration, and wherein the firing member is movable proximally
to positively transition the elongate channel to the open
configuration. Example 82--The end effector of Example 81, wherein
the anvil is fixedly attached to the shaft portion. Example 83--The
end effector of Examples 81 or 82, further comprising a pivot,
wherein the elongate channel is rotatable about the pivot. Example
84--The end effector of Example 83, wherein the elongate channel
comprises a channel hook movably coupled to the pivot. Example
85--The end effector of Examples 81, 82, 83, or 84, wherein the
staple cartridge is removably attached to the elongate channel.
Example 86--The end effector of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, or 85,
wherein the staple cartridge comprises a stepped deck. Example
87--The end effector of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, or 86, wherein
the firing member comprises a cutting edge. Example 88--An end
effector for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the end
effector comprises a shaft portion, an anvil extending distally
from the shaft portion, a staple cartridge comprising a plurality
of staples, an elongate channel, and a firing member. The elongate
channel is configured to receive the staple cartridge, wherein the
elongate channel is movable relative to the anvil between an open
configuration and a closed configuration to capture tissue between
the anvil and the staple cartridge. The firing member is movable
relative to the elongate channel to cause the plurality of staples
to be deployed into the tissue, wherein the firing member is
configured to apply a closing force that transitions the elongate
channel to the closed configuration, and wherein the firing member
is configured to apply an opening force that transitions the
elongate channel to the open configuration. Example 89--The end
effector of Example 88, wherein the anvil is fixedly attached to
the shaft portion. Example 90--The end effector of Examples 88 or
89, further comprising a pivot, wherein the elongate channel is
rotatable about the pivot. Example 91--The end effector of Example
90, wherein the elongate channel comprises a channel hook movably
coupled to the pivot. Example 92--The end effector of Examples 88,
89, 90, or 91, wherein the staple cartridge is removably attached
to the elongate channel. Example 93--The end effector of Examples
88, 89, 90, 91, or 92, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a
stepped deck. Example 94--The end effector of Examples 88, 89, 90,
91, 92, or 93, wherein the firing member comprises a cutting edge.
Example 95--An end effector for use with a surgical instrument,
wherein the end effector comprises a shaft portion, an anvil
extending distally from the shaft portion, a staple cartridge
comprising a plurality of staples, and an elongate channel. The end
effector further comprises an opening cam movably engaged with the
elongate channel, a firing member, and a firing bar. The elongate
channel is configured to receive the staple cartridge, wherein the
elongate channel is movable relative to the anvil between an open
configuration and a closed configuration to capture tissue between
the anvil and the staple cartridge. The firing member is movable
relative to the elongate channel to cause the plurality of staples
to be deployed into the tissue. The firing bar extends proximally
from the firing member, wherein a retraction of the firing bar
moves the opening cam to positively open the elongate channel.
Example 96--The end effector of Example 95, wherein the anvil is
fixedly attached to the shaft portion. Example 97--The end effector
of Examples 95 or 96, further comprising a channel pivot, wherein
the elongate channel is rotatable about the channel pivot. Example
98--The end effector of Example 97, wherein the opening cam is
positioned proximal to the channel pivot. Example 99--The end
effector of Examples 95, 96, 97, or 98, further comprising a cam
pivot, wherein the opening cam is rotatable about the cam pivot.
Example 100--The end effector of Example 99, wherein the cam pivot
is positioned proximal to the channel pivot. Example 101--A
disposable loading unit for use with a surgical instrument, wherein
the disposable loading unit comprises an end effector and a
connector portion extending proximally from the end effector. The
end effector comprises an anvil, an elongate channel, and a staple
cartridge removably coupled to the elongate channel, wherein at
least one of the anvil and the elongate channel is movable to
capture tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The
connector portion comprises a hollow body defining a longitudinal
axis therethrough. The hollow body comprises a first body portion
on a first side of a plane transecting the hollow body, wherein the
plane encompasses the longitudinal axis, a second body portion on a
second side of the plane, and a plurality of connectors. The
plurality of connectors comprise a first connector protruding from
the first body portion, a second connector protruding from the
first body portion, a third connector protruding from the second
body portion, and a fourth connector protruding from the second
body portion, wherein the plurality of connectors cooperate to
releasably connect the disposable loading unit to the surgical
instrument. Example 102--The disposable loading unit of Example
101, wherein the first connector and the third connector define a
first axis transecting the longitudinal axis. Example 103--The
disposable loading unit of Example 102, wherein the first axis is
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Example 104--The disposable
loading unit of Examples 102 or 103, wherein the second connector
and the fourth connector define a second axis transecting the
longitudinal axis. Example 105--The disposable loading unit of
Example 104, wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axis.
Example 106--The disposable loading unit of Example 104, wherein
the second axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Example
107--The disposable loading unit of Example 101, 102, 103, 104,
105, or 106, wherein the first connector is spaced apart from the
second connector by a first distance, and wherein the third
connector is spaced apart from the fourth connector by a second
distance. Example 108--The disposable loading unit of Example 107,
wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance. Example
109--A disposable loading unit for use with a surgical instrument,
wherein the disposable loading unit comprises an end effector and a
connector portion extending proximally from the end effector. The
end effector comprises an anvil, an elongate channel, and a staple
cartridge removably coupled to the elongate channel, wherein at
least one of the anvil and the elongate channel is movable to
capture tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The
connector portion extends proximally from the end effector. The
connector portion comprises a hollow body defining a longitudinal
axis therethrough. The hollow body comprises a first engagement
portion and a second engagement portion. The first engagement
portion comprises a first connector protruding from the hollow body
and a second connector protruding from the hollow body in a
direction away from the first connector. The second engagement
portion comprises a third connector protruding from the hollow body
and a fourth connector protruding from the hollow body in a
direction away from the third connector, wherein the first
engagement portion is radially offset from the second engagement
portion, and wherein the first engagement portion and the second
engagement portion cooperate to releasably connect the disposable
loading unit to the surgical instrument. Example 110--The
disposable loading unit of Example 109, wherein the first
engagement portion is oriented at a 90.degree. angle with respect
to the second engagement portion. Example 111--The disposable
loading unit of Examples 109 or 110, wherein the first engagement
portion defines a first axis transecting the longitudinal axis.
Example 112--The disposable loading unit of Example 111, wherein
the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Example
113--The disposable loading unit of Examples 111 or 112, wherein
the second engagement portion defines a second axis transecting the
longitudinal axis. Example 114--The disposable loading unit of
Example 113, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis. Example 115--The disposable loading unit of
Examples 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, or 114, wherein the first
engagement portion is spaced apart from the second engagement
portion. Example 116--A disposable loading unit for use with a
surgical instrument, wherein the disposable loading unit comprises
an end effector and a connector portion extending proximally from
the end effector. The end effector comprises an anvil, an elongate
channel, and a staple cartridge removably coupled to the elongate
channel, wherein at least one of the anvil and the elongate channel
is movable to capture tissue between the anvil and the staple
cartridge. The connector portion comprises a tubular member,
wherein the tubular member comprises an outer wall, a first
coupling flange, and a second coupling flange. The outer wall
comprises a first portion and a second portion radially offset from
the first portion. The first coupling flange is radially disposed
on the first portion of the outer wall. The second coupling flange
is radially disposed on the second portion of the outer wall,
wherein the first coupling flange and the second coupling flange
cooperate to releasably connect the disposable loading unit to the
surgical instrument. Example 117--The disposable loading unit of
Example 116, wherein the first coupling flange comprises a first
distal portion, wherein the second coupling flange comprises a
second distal portion, and wherein the first distal portion is
positioned distally with respect to the second distal portion.
Example 118--The disposable loading unit of Examples 116 or 117,
wherein the first coupling flange comprises a first proximal
portion, wherein the second coupling flange comprises a second
proximal portion, and wherein the first proximal portion is
positioned proximally with respect to the second proximal portion.
Example 119--The disposable loading unit of Examples 116, 117, or
118, wherein the first coupling flange is spaced apart from the
second coupling flange.
[0436] Many of the surgical instrument systems described herein are
motivated by an electric motor; however, the surgical instrument
systems described herein can be motivated in any suitable manner.
In various instances, the surgical instrument systems described
herein can be motivated by a manually-operated trigger, for
example. In certain instances, the motors disclosed herein may
comprise a portion or portions of a robotically controlled system.
Moreover, any of the end effectors and/or tool assemblies disclosed
herein can be utilized with a robotic surgical instrument system.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/118,241, entitled SURGICAL
STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS,
now U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535, for example, discloses several
examples of a robotic surgical instrument system in greater
detail.
[0437] The surgical instrument systems described herein have been
described in connection with the deployment and deformation of
staples; however, the embodiments described herein are not so
limited. Various embodiments are envisioned which deploy fasteners
other than staples, such as clamps or tacks, for example. Moreover,
various embodiments are envisioned which utilize any suitable means
for sealing tissue. For instance, an end effector in accordance
with various embodiments can comprise electrodes configured to heat
and seal the tissue. Also, for instance, an end effector in
accordance with certain embodiments can apply vibrational energy to
seal the tissue.
[0438] The entire disclosures of: [0439] U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,312,
entitled ELECTROSURGICAL HEMOSTATIC DEVICE, which issued on Apr. 4,
1995; [0440] U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,818, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING
INSTRUMENT HAVING SEPARATE DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS,
which issued on Feb. 21, 2006; [0441] U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,139,
entitled MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT
WITH TACTILE POSITION FEEDBACK, which issued on Sep. 9, 2008;
[0442] U.S. Pat. No. 7,464,849, entitled ELECTRO-MECHANICAL
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE SYSTEM AND ANVIL ALIGNMENT
COMPONENTS, which issued on Dec. 16, 2008; [0443] U.S. Pat. No.
7,670,334, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING AN ARTICULATING END
EFFECTOR, which issued on Mar. 2, 2010; [0444] U.S. Pat. No.
7,753,245, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS, which issued on
Jul. 13, 2010; [0445] U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,514, entitled SELECTIVELY
ORIENTABLE IMPLANTABLE FASTENER CARTRIDGE, which issued on Mar. 12,
2013; [0446] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/343,803, entitled
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES; now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,845,537; [0447] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,573,
entitled SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING RF
ELECTRODES, filed Feb. 14, 2008; [0448] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/031,873, entitled END EFFECTORS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING
AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.
7,980,443; [0449] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/235,782,
entitled MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat.
No. 8,210,411; [0450] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/249,117,
entitled POWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH
MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,045;
[0451] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/647,100, entitled
MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH ELECTRIC ACTUATOR
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ASSEMBLY, filed Dec. 24, 2009; now U.S. Pat.
No. 8,220,688; [0452] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/893,461,
entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE, filed Sep. 29, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.
8,733,613; [0453] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/036,647,
entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 28, 2011, now
U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,870; [0454] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/118,241, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE
STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535; [0455]
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/524,049, entitled ARTICULATABLE
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE, filed on Jun. 15,
2012; now U.S. Pat. No. 9,101,358; [0456] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/800,025, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS
SENSOR SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,345,481;
[0457] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,067, entitled STAPLE
CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 13, 2013,
now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263552; [0458]
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0175955, entitled
SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE TRIGGER
LOCKING MECHANISM, filed Jan. 31, 2006; and [0459] U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2010/0264194, entitled SURGICAL
STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR, filed Apr.
22, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,040, are hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
[0460] Although various devices have been described herein in
connection with certain embodiments, modifications and variations
to those embodiments may be implemented. Particular features,
structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features,
structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in
connection with one embodiment may be combined in whole or in part,
with the features, structures or characteristics of one ore more
other embodiments without limitation. Also, where materials are
disclosed for certain components, other materials may be used.
Furthermore, according to various embodiments, a single component
may be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may
be replaced by a single component, to perform a given function or
functions. The foregoing description and following claims are
intended to cover all such modification and variations.
[0461] The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed
of after a single use, or they can be designed to be used multiple
times. In either case, however, a device can be reconditioned for
reuse after at least one use. Reconditioning can include any
combination of the steps including, but not limited to, the
disassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacement of
particular pieces of the device, and subsequent reassembly of the
device. In particular, a reconditioning facility and/or surgical
team can disassemble a device and, after cleaning and/or replacing
particular parts of the device, the device can be reassembled for
subsequent use. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
reconditioning of a device can utilize a variety of techniques for
disassembly, cleaning/replacement, and reassembly. Use of such
techniques, and the resulting reconditioned device, are all within
the scope of the present application.
[0462] The devices disclosed herein may be processed before
surgery. First, a new or used instrument may be obtained and, when
necessary, cleaned. The instrument may then be sterilized. In one
sterilization technique, the instrument is placed in a closed and
sealed container, such as a plastic or TYVEK bag. The container and
instrument may then be placed in a field of radiation that can
penetrate the container, such as gamma radiation, x-rays, and/or
high-energy electrons. The radiation may kill bacteria on the
instrument and in the container. The sterilized instrument may then
be stored in the sterile container. The sealed container may keep
the instrument sterile until it is opened in a medical facility. A
device may also be sterilized using any other technique known in
the art, including but not limited to beta radiation, gamma
radiation, ethylene oxide, plasma peroxide, and/or steam.
[0463] While this invention has been described as having exemplary
designs, the present invention may be further modified within the
spirit and scope of the disclosure. This application is therefore
intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the
invention using its general principles.
[0464] Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in
whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference
herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the
incorporated materials do not conflict with existing definitions,
statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this
disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as
explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material
incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof,
that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which
conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other
disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to
the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated
material and the existing disclosure material.
* * * * *