US-20260123927-A1 - FASTENER CARTRIDGE WITH NON-REPEATING FASTENER ROWS

US20260123927A1US 20260123927 A1US20260123927 A1US 20260123927A1US-20260123927-A1

Abstract

A surgical device having at least one rotary input screw in the end effector is provided. A rotary input screw can extend through a central longitudinal portion of the end effector. The end effector can include an improved closure system, firing systems, leveraging and alignment features between the staple cartridge and the surgical device, staple cartridges having multi-staple drivers, single-firing knife and lockout/safety features for the same, and/or modified staple patterns, for example. Certain components can be 3D-printed components.

Inventors

Frederick E. Shelton, IV
Adam D. Hensel
Jason L. Harris

Assignees

CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251219

Claims (20)

1 . A linear fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck, wherein a longitudinal axis extends through the cartridge body; inner fastener cavities defined through the tissue-supporting deck into the cartridge body, wherein the inner fastener cavities are arranged in an inner longitudinal row on a first side of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the inner longitudinal row comprises an inner proximal-most fastener cavity; intermediate fastener cavities defined through the tissue-supporting deck into the cartridge body, wherein the intermediate fastener cavities are arranged in an intermediate longitudinal row on the first side of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the intermediate longitudinal row comprises an intermediate proximal-most fastener cavity; and outer fastener cavities defined through the tissue-supporting deck into the cartridge body, wherein the outer fastener cavities are arranged in an outer longitudinal row on the first side of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the outer longitudinal row comprises an outer proximal-most fastener cavity; drivers positioned in the inner fastener cavities, the intermediate fastener cavities, and the outer fastener cavities; and fasteners supported by the drivers, wherein each fastener comprises a crown comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a proximal leg extending from the proximal end, and a distal leg extending from the distal end, wherein the crowns define a uniform length across the inner longitudinal row, the intermediate longitudinal row, and the outer longitudinal row; wherein the inner proximal-most fastener cavity, the intermediate proximal-most fastener cavity, and the outer proximal-most fastener cavity is longitudinally offset, and wherein the inner proximal-most fastener cavity is longitudinally offset from the outer proximal-most fastener cavity by a longitudinal length that is less than half the uniform length of the crowns.
2 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the inner fastener cavities in the inner longitudinal row are longitudinally spaced apart by a first distance, wherein the intermediate fastener cavities in the intermediate longitudinal row are longitudinally spaced apart by a second distance, wherein the outer fastener cavities in the outer longitudinal row are longitudinally spaced apart by a third distance, and wherein the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance are the same distance.
3 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the inner longitudinal row, the intermediate longitudinal row, and the outer longitudinal row comprise the same number of fastener cavities, and wherein each row is laterally offset from the other rows by a different amount.
4 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the inner longitudinal row is laterally spaced apart from the intermediate longitudinal row by a first lateral distance, wherein the intermediate longitudinal row is laterally spaced apart from the outer longitudinal row by a second lateral distance, and wherein the first lateral distance is different than the second lateral distance.
5 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the inner longitudinal row, the intermediate longitudinal row, and the outer longitudinal row are different from each other.
6 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the tissue-supporting deck is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.
7 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners in the inner longitudinal row define a first unformed height, wherein the fasteners in the intermediate longitudinal row define a second unformed height, wherein the fasteners in the outer longitudinal row define a third unformed height, and wherein at least one of the first unformed height, the second unformed height, and the third unformed height are different.
8 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners in the inner longitudinal row are configured to assume a first formed height, wherein the fasteners in the intermediate longitudinal row are configured to assume a second formed height, wherein the fasteners in the outer longitudinal row are configured to assume a third formed height, and wherein at least one of the first formed height, the second formed height, and the third formed height are different.
9 . A linear fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck, wherein a longitudinal axis extends through the cartridge body; a first array of fastener cavities defined through the tissue-supporting deck into the cartridge body on a first side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the first array of fastener cavities comprises a first proximal-most fastener cavity; a second array of fastener cavities defined through the tissue-supporting deck into the cartridge body on a second side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the second array of fastener cavities comprises a second proximal-most fastener cavity; fasteners, wherein each fastener comprises a crown, a proximal leg extending from the crown, and a distal leg extending from the crown; and drivers supporting the fasteners, wherein each driver comprises: an inner support column; an intermediate support column; an outer support column; a first bridge connecting the inner support column and the intermediate support column; and a second bridge connecting the intermediate support column and the outer support column; wherein the first proximal-most fastener cavity is longitudinally offset from the second proximal-most fastener cavity by a distance.
10 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the first array of fastener cavities and the second array of fastener cavities comprise the same number of fastener cavities.
11 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the first array of fastener cavities and the second array of fastener cavities comprise the same pattern.
12 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 9 , wherein a longitudinal driver length is defined between the proximal-most proximal leg and the distal-most distal leg supported by the same driver, and wherein the distance is less than 50% the longitudinal driver length.
13 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the distance is approximately 25% the longitudinal driver length.
14 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the distance is approximately 10% the longitudinal driver length.
15 . A linear fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck, wherein a longitudinal axis extends through the cartridge body; an inner longitudinal row of fastener cavities on a first side of the longitudinal axis; an intermediate longitudinal row of fastener cavities on the first side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the intermediate longitudinal row of fastener cavities defines an intermediate axis parallel to the longitudinal axis; an outer longitudinal row of fastener cavities on the first side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the inner longitudinal row of fastener cavities and the outer longitudinal row of fastener cavities are asymmetric relative to the intermediate axis; triple drivers spanning the inner longitudinal row of fastener cavities, the intermediate longitudinal row of fastener cavities, and the outer longitudinal row of fastener cavities; and fasteners supported by the triple drivers, wherein each fastener comprises a crown comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a proximal leg extending from the proximal end, and a distal leg extending from the distal end, wherein the crowns define a uniform length across the inner longitudinal row, the intermediate longitudinal row, and the outer longitudinal row.
16 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the outer longitudinal row of fastener cavities comprises: an outer fastener cavity comprising a first proximal end; wherein the inner longitudinal row of fastener cavities comprises: a first inner fastener cavity comprising a second proximal end, wherein the first proximal end and the second proximal end are longitudinally aligned; and a second inner fastener cavity comprising a third proximal end, wherein the third proximal end is longitudinally staggered with respect to the proximal ends of all fastener cavities in the outer longitudinal row of fastener cavities.
17 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the inner longitudinal row of fastener cavities is the same length as the outer longitudinal row of fastener cavities.
18 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the inner longitudinal row of fastener cavities comprises more fastener cavities than the outer longitudinal row.
19 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 15 , further comprising a sled assembly comprising a first sled component and a second sled component.
20 . The linear fastener cartridge of claim 19 , wherein the first sled component comprises a proximal sled and the second sled component comprises a distal sled, wherein the proximal and distal sleds are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the linear fastener cartridge.

Description

PRIORITY The present application is a continuation of 18/909,378, entitled “Surgical Stapler Sled Assembly,” filed October 8, 2024, published as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2025/0025156 on January 23, 2025, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. App. No. 17/211,197, entitled “Fastener Cartridge with Non-Repeating Fastener Rows,” filed March 24, 2021, published as U.S. Pub. No. 2022/0304682 on September 29, 2022, now abandoned, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. BACKGROUND The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in various arrangements, to surgical stapling and cutting instruments, end effectors, and staple cartridges for use therewith that are designed to staple and cut tissue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various features of the embodiments described herein, together with advantages thereof, may be understood in accordance with the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle, a shaft assembly, and an end effector, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, wherein the end effector is illustrated in a straight, or non-articulated, configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, wherein the end effector is illustrated in an articulated configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, wherein the end effector is illustrated in an unfired, clamped configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of FIG. 1 taken along section line 6-6 in FIG. 6, wherein the end effector is illustrated in an open configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly of FIG. 1 taken along section line 7-7 in FIG. 6, wherein the end effector is illustrated in a clamped configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling assembly comprising a shaft assembly and the end effector of FIG. 1, wherein the end effector is attached to the shaft assembly by way of an articulation joint, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 9, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 9, wherein the end effector is illustrated in an unfired, clamped configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling assembly comprising a shaft assembly and the end effector of FIG. 1, wherein the end effector is attached to the shaft assembly by way of an articulation joint, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 12, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 12, wherein the end effector is illustrated in an unfired, clamped configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling assembly comprising a shaft assembly and the end effector of FIG. 1, wherein the end effector is attached to the shaft assembly by way of an articulation joint, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 15, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 15, wherein the end effector is illustrated in an unfired, clamped configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a