US-12616473-B2 - Staple cartridge retention features for surgical stapler

US12616473B2US 12616473 B2US12616473 B2US 12616473B2US-12616473-B2

Abstract

An apparatus includes an end effector, a staple cartridge retainer, and a staple cartridge datum locator. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a knife sled, and a replaceable staple cartridge. The first jaw can selectively couple with the replaceable staple cartridge and the knife sled can actuate along a firing stroke to cut and staple tissue called by the first and second jaws. The staple cartridge retainer is located along a distal portion of the end effector and includes a resilient retention body that can inhibit the replaceable staple cartridge from disassociating with the first jaw. The staple cartridge datum location is located along a proximal portion of the end effector and can position the replaceable staple cartridge at its predetermined datum location when the first and second jaw are in a closed position.

Inventors

Seth D. Holdmeyer
Kenneth C. Boshell, JR.
Jonathan Z. Von Stein
Heather E. Dickson
Christopher A. Denzinger
Mark D. Overmyer

Assignees

CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240628

Claims (11)

1 . An apparatus comprising: (a) an end effector extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the end effector is operable to clamp, staple, and cut tissue, comprising: (i) a first jaw configured to selectively receive a staple cartridge, wherein the first jaw comprises a side wall, (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, (iii) a replaceable staple cartridge configured to selectively couple with the first jaw, and (iv) a knife sled configured to actuate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw along a firing stroke while the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw to thereby cut and staple tissue clamped by the first and second jaws; (b) a staple cartridge retainer associated with the replaceable staple cartridge and located at the distal portion of the end effector, wherein the staple cartridge retainer comprises a resilient retention body configured to inhibit the replaceable staple cartridge from disassociating with the first jaw, wherein the resilient retention body comprises a latch head and a resilient grip attached to the latch head, wherein the latch head is configured to engage a portion of the side wall to selectively couple the replaceable staple cartridge with the first jaw, wherein the resilient grip extends distally past a distal most end of the side wall when the replaceable staple cartridge is selectively coupled with the first jaw; and (c) a staple cartridge datum locator associated with the second jaw and the replaceable staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge datum locator is located at the proximal portion of the end effector and is configured to position the replaceable staple cartridge at a predetermined datum location when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first jaw comprises a pair of lateral sidewalls each having a projection, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge defines a longitudinally extending vertical alignment slot configured to receive the projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is coupled to the first jaw, wherein the projection and the vertical alignment slot are configured to vertically restrain the replaceable staple cartridge relative to the first jaw.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the staple cartridge datum locator comprises an upwardly extending protrusion associated with the replaceable staple cartridge.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the staple cartridge datum locator comprises a complementary cavity defined by the second jaw, wherein the complementary cavity is configured to engage the upwardly extending protrusion to thereby position the replaceable staple cartridge at its predetermined datum location when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second jaw comprises a first slanted engagement surface, wherein the upwardly extending protrusion comprises a second slanted engagement surface, wherein the first slanted engagement surface and the second slanted engagement surface are configured to engage each other to thereby position the replaceable staple cartridge at its predetermined datum location when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the staple cartridge datum locator defines a particulate channel dimensioned to receive excess matter while the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw comprises a plurality of staple forming pockets.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are pivotally coupled via a pivot pin.
9 . An apparatus comprising: (a) an end effector extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the end effector is operable to clamp, staple, and cut tissue, comprising: (i) a first jaw configured to selectively receive a staple cartridge, wherein the first jaw comprises a side wall, (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, (iii) a staple cartridge configured to couple with the first jaw, and (iv) a knife sled configured to actuate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw along a firing stroke while the staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw to thereby cut and staple tissue clamped by the first and second jaws; (b) a staple cartridge retainer comprising a resilient grip and a latch head attached to the resilient grip, wherein the latch head is configured to engage the side wall of the first jaw while the staple cartridge is coupled with the first jaw to thereby inhibit the staple cartridge from disassociating from the first jaw, wherein the resilient grip extends distally from the latch head and is located distally relative to a distal most end of the side wall while the staple cartridge is coupled with the first jaw; and (c) a staple cartridge datum locator associated with the second jaw and the staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge datum locator is configured to position the staple cartridge at a predetermined datum location.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the staple cartridge retainer comprises an intermediate section interposed between the latch head and the resilient grip.
11 . An apparatus comprising: (a) an end effector extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the end effector is operable to clamp, staple, and cut tissue, comprising: (i) a first jaw configured to selectively receive a staple cartridge, wherein the first jaw comprises a side wall defining a hole, (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, and (iii) a staple cartridge configured to couple with the first jaw; (b) a staple cartridge retainer configured to inhibit the staple cartridge from disassociating from the first jaw in the open position, wherein the staple cartridge retainer comprises a latch head and a resilient grip, wherein the latch head is configured to fit within the hole of the side wall when the staple cartridge is coupled with the first jaw, wherein the resilient grip extends distally from the latch head and a distal most end of the side wall, wherein the resilient grip is accessible to a user while the staple cartridge is coupled with the first jaw; and (c) a staple cartridge datum locator associated with the second jaw and the staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge datum locator is configured to position the staple cartridge at a predetermined datum location in response to the first jaw and the second jaw transitioning into the closed position.

Description

BACKGROUND In some settings, endoscopic surgical instruments may be preferred over traditional open surgical devices to minimize the size of the surgical incision as well as post-operative recovery time and complications. Consequently, some endoscopic surgical instruments may be suitable for placement of a distal end effector at a desired surgical site through the cannula of a trocar. These distal end effectors may engage tissue in a number of ways to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic effect (e.g., endocutter, grasper, cutter, stapler, clip applier, access device, drug/gene therapy delivery device, and energy delivery device using ultrasound, RF, laser, etc.). Endoscopic surgical instruments may include a shaft that extends proximally from the end effector to a handle portion that is manipulated by the clinician, or alternatively to a robot. Such a shaft may enable insertion to a desired depth and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, thereby facilitating positioning of the end effector within the patient. Positioning of an end effector may be further facilitated through inclusion of one or more articulation joints or features, enabling the end effector to be selectively articulated or otherwise deflected relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Examples of endoscopic surgical instruments include surgical staplers. Some such staplers are operable to clamp down on layers of tissue, cut through the clamped layers of tissue, and drive staples through the layers of tissue to substantially seal the severed layers of tissue together near the severed ends of the tissue layers. Such endoscopic surgical staplers may also be used in open procedures and/or other non-endoscopic procedures. By way of example only, a surgical stapler may be inserted through a thoracotomy and thereby between a patient's ribs to reach one or more organs in a thoracic surgical procedure that does not use a trocar as a conduit for the stapler. Such procedures may include the use of the stapler to sever and close a vessel leading to an organ, such as a lung. For instance, the vessels leading to an organ may be severed and closed by a stapler before removal of the organ from the thoracic cavity. Of course, surgical staplers may be used in various other settings and procedures. The surgical stapling features of the present disclosure seek to retain a staple cartridge within the end effector when the end effector is in an open position, and further align the staple cartridge with staple forming pockets of an anvil when the end effector reaches a closed position. Specifically, such features of the present disclosure place the staple cartridge at a predetermined datum relative to the end effector. While various kinds of surgical staplers and associated components have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used the invention described in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the examples given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative surgical instrument having a housing, a shaft assembly, an articulation joint, and an end effector; FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1, with select components omitted from view to reveal portions of a cable articulation subsystem, a knife firing subsystem, and a roll subsystem of the surgical instrument; FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the end effector and the articulation joint of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a distal end portion of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a knife of the end effector of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is an end view of the end effector of FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the end effector and the articulation joint of FIG. 3, with an anvil of the end effector omitted; FIG. 8A is a side cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1, depicting the anvil in an open position; FIG. 8B is a side cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1, depicting the anvil in a grasping position with the knife partially advanced; FIG. 8C is a side cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1, depicting the anvil in a clamping position with the knife partially advanced; FIG. 8D is a side cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1, depicting the anvil in the clamping position with the knife fully advanced; FIG. 9A is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a proximal end portion of the end effector of the surgical ins