EP-4736790-A2 - STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING PROJECTIONS EXTENDING FROM A CURVED DECK SURFACE

Abstract

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises an elongate slot extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, wherein the elongate slot defines a longitudinal axis, a cartridge body, and a deck surface. The staple cartridge further comprises a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in the cartridge body, wherein the first longitudinal row of staple cavities extends alongside the elongate slot. First cavity extenders protrude above said deck surface, wherein each first cavity extender surrounds a first section of a staple cavity from the first longitudinal row. The staple cartridge further comprises a second longitudinal row extending alongside the first longitudinal row of staple cavities. Second cavity extenders protrude above the deck surface, wherein each second protrusion surrounds a second section of a staple cavity from the second longitudinal row. The second section is different than the first section.

Inventors

• SHELTON IV, FREDERICK E.
• HARRIS, JASON L.

Assignees

• Ethicon LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20201218

Claims (11)

1. A surgical end effector, comprising: an anvil; a staple cartridge jaw, wherein at least one of said anvil and said staple cartridge jaw is movable with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and a staple cartridge replaceably seated in said staple cartridge jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises: an elongate slot extending from a proximal end toward a distal end; a cartridge body; a cartridge deck; staple cavities defined within said cartridge body, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a perimeter; and projections extending above said cartridge deck, wherein each said projection extends around a portion of a said perimeter, wherein a length of said portion varies based on a lateral position of said staple cavity with respect to said elongate slot.
2. . The surgical end effector of Claim 1, wherein said staple cavities comprise: a first staple cavity defined within said cartridge body a first lateral distance from said elongate slot, wherein said first staple cavity comprises a first perimeter; and a second staple cavity defined within said cartridge body a second lateral distance from said elongate slot, wherein said second staple cavity comprises a second perimeter, wherein said first perimeter and said second perimeter are the same, and wherein said first lateral distance is different than said second lateral distance.
3. . The surgical end effector of Claim 2, wherein said projections comprise: a first projection extending around a first portion of said first perimeter of said first staple cavity; a second projection extending around a second portion of said second perimeter of said second staple cavity, wherein a length of said second portion is different than a length of said first portion.
4. . The surgical end effector of Claim 3, wherein said length of said second portion is smaller than said length of said first portion.
5. . The surgical end effector of Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said staple cavities further comprise a third staple cavity defined within said cartridge body a third lateral distance from said elongate slot, wherein said third perimeter is the same as said first perimeter, wherein said third staple cavity is distal to said first staple cavity, wherein said third lateral distance is the same as said first lateral distance, and wherein said third staple cavity comprises a third perimeter.
6. . The surgical end effector of Claim 5, wherein said projections further comprise a third projection extending around a third portion of said third perimeter of said third staple cavity, wherein a length of said third portion is different than said length of said first portion.
7. . The surgical end effector of Claim 6, wherein said length of said third portion is greater than said length of said first portion.
8. . The surgical end effector of any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein said first projection comprises a first tissue-supporting surface, wherein a first tissue gap is defined between said first tissue-supporting surface and said anvil when said anvil and said staple cartridge jaw are in said closed configuration, wherein said second projection comprises a second tissue-supporting surface, wherein a second tissue gap is defined between said second tissue-supporting surface and said anvil when said anvil and said staple cartridge jaw are in said closed configuration, and wherein said first tissue gap is different than said second tissue gap.
9. . The surgical end effector of any one of Claims 3 to 8, wherein said first projection extends from said deck surface to a first height, wherein said second projection extends from said deck surface to a second height, and wherein said first height is different than said second height.
10. . A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said staple cartridge comprises: an elongate slot extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, wherein said elongate slot defines a longitudinal axis; a cartridge body; a deck surface; a longitudinal row of first staple cavities defined in said cartridge body, wherein said longitudinal row of first staple cavities extends alongside said elongate slot; first cavity extenders protruding above said deck surface, wherein each said first cavity extender surrounds a first perimeter section of a said first staple cavity; a longitudinal row of second staple cavities defined in said cartridge body, wherein said longitudinal row of second staple cavities extends alongside said longitudinal row of first staple cavities; and second cavity extenders protruding above said deck surface, wherein each said second extender surrounds a second perimeter section of a said second staple cavity, and wherein a length of said second perimeter section is different than a length of said first perimeter section.
11. . The staple cartridge of Claim 10, wherein said first perimeter section is larger than said second perimeter section.

Description

BACKGROUND The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in various embodiments, to surgical cutting and stapling instruments and staple cartridges therefor that are designed to cut and staple tissue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a distal end of a surgical stapling instrument in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the distal end of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 illustrated in a closed, or clamped, configuration;FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the distal end of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 illustrated in an articulated configuration;FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge removed from the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the distal end of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 illustrated with some components removed;FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the distal end of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 illustrated with additional components removed;FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drive system including a quick jaw closure system, a high-load jaw clamping system, and a staple firing system of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the staple firing system of FIG. 7;FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the distal end of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the quick jaw closure system and the high-load jaw clamping system of FIG. 7;FIG. 11 illustrates an anvil jaw of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 in an open position;FIG. 12 illustrates the anvil jaw of FIG. 11 closed by the quick jaw closure system of FIG. 7;FIG. 13 illustrates the high-load jaw clamping system of FIG. 7 applying a high clamping load to the anvil jaw;FIG. 14 illustrates the high-load jaw clamping system of FIG. 7 disengaged from the anvil jaw;FIG. 15 illustrates the quick jaw closure system being disengaged from the anvil jaw;FIG. 16 is a detail view arising from FIG. 14;FIG. 17 is a detail view arising from FIG. 15;FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge comprising driver retention features in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 18;FIG. 20 is a partial elevational view of a sidewall of the staple cartridge of FIG. 18;FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 18 further comprising a staple driver in an unfired and/or retention position;FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge of FIGS. 18-21 and an interface between the staple driver and the driver retention feature when the staple driver is in the unfired and/or retention position;FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of a staple cartridge comprising windows defined therein and a staple driver in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the staple driver of FIG. 23;FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge comprising driver retention features in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 25, wherein the staple cartridge comprises staple drivers;FIG. 27 is a perspective view of one of the staple drivers of FIG. 26;FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a staple driver comprising a retention ledge in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a top mold and a bottom mold for forming a staple cartridge configured to movably receive the staple driver of FIG. 28 therein;FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the bottom mold of FIG. 29;FIG. 31A is a partial cross-sectional view of a staple cartridge including a firing member contacting a staple driver as the firing member translates distally during a staple firing stroke in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 31B is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple driver of FIG. 31A in a fully-fired position;FIG. 32A is a partial cross-sectional view of the firing member and the staple driver of FIG. 31A after the firing member translates distally past the staple driver;FIG. 32B is a partial cross-sectional view of the firing member of FIG. 31A contacting the staple driver as the firing member translates proximally after the staple firing stroke;FIG. 33 is a partial plan view of a staple cartridge comprising staple drivers and a driver retention member in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the staple drivers of FIG. 33, wherein an aperture is defined in the staple drivers, and wherein the aperture is configured to receive the driver retention member when the staple driver is in a raised, or retention, position;FIG. 35 is a partial cross-sectional view of the interactio