Fabricating techniques for surgical stapler anvils
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsJason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of manufacturing an anvil for a surgical stapler. In various arrangements, the methods include forming an anvil body by rolling, extruding, metal injection molding or electrochemical machining. Preliminary staple-forming pocket configurations are formed in the anvil body by machining or during the metal injection molding or electro-chemical machining processes. The staple-forming pockets are provided with a final configuration using another manufacturing step such as coining or forging.
Claims23
A method of manufacturing an anvil for a surgical stapler, wherein said method comprises:
- providing anvil material;
- establishing a tissue contacting surface in the anvil material;
- and
- forming a staple-forming pocket into the anvil material through the tissue contacting surface, wherein said forming comprises:
- employing a first manufacturing process to establish the staple-forming pocket in the anvil material with a preliminary geometric shape, wherein the preliminary geometric shape comprises a bottom surface located a depth from the tissue contacting surface and at least two sloping walls extending from opposing sides of the bottom surface to the tissue contacting surface to form a pocket opening therein;
- and
- employing a second manufacturing process to change the preliminary geometric shape of the staple-forming pocket to a desired final geometric shape that differs from the preliminary geometric shape, wherein the desired final geometric shape comprises a staple leg guiding groove in the bottom surface.
A method of manufacturing an anvil for a surgical stapler, said method comprising:
- providing anvil material;
- establishing a tissue contacting surface in the anvil material;
- and
- forming a staple-forming pocket into the anvil material through the tissue contacting surface, wherein said forming comprises:
- employing a first manufacturing process to establish the staple-forming pocket in the anvil material, wherein the staple-forming pocket comprises a preliminary geometric shape and a preliminary surface finish, wherein the preliminary geometric shape comprises a preliminary bottom surface located a preliminary depth from the tissue contacting surface, wherein at least two sloping walls extend from opposing sides of the preliminary bottom surface to the tissue contacting surface to form a preliminary pocket opening therein;
- and
- employing a second manufacturing process that differs from the first manufacturing process to change the preliminary geometric shape of the staple-forming pocket to a desired final geometric shape that comprises a final bottom surface wherein at least a portion thereof is located a final depth from the tissue contacting surface, wherein the final depth is greater than the preliminary depth, wherein at least a portion of the final bottom surface includes a final desired surface finish that differs from the preliminary surface finish, and wherein the at least a portion of the final bottom surface comprises a staple leg guidance groove in the final bottom surface.
A method of manufacturing an anvil for a surgical stapler, said method comprising:
- creating a feedstock from anvil material;
- injection molding the feedstock into an anvil body comprising a tissue contacting surface, wherein the tissue contacting surface comprises a plurality of staple-forming pockets, wherein each staple-forming pocket comprises a preliminary geometric shape and a preliminary surface finish;
- conditioning the anvil body;
- and
- employing another manufacturing process to change the preliminary geometric shape of each staple-forming pocket to a desired final geometric shape that differs from the preliminary geometric shape, and wherein the desired final geometric shape comprises a portion comprising a final desired surface finish that differs from the preliminary surface finish.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.