# US 11,992,207 B2 · Surgical staples with expandable backspan > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,207 B2 - Document ID: US11992207B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/738,227 - Filed: 2022-05-06 - Published: 2022-08-18 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Stanislaw Kostrzewski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992207B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position} - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/00884: {enhancing wound closure} - A61B 2017/00893: {pharmaceutically effective} - A61B 2017/07228: {Arrangement of the staples} - A61B 2017/07235: {containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials} - A61B 2017/07242: {achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes} - A61B 2017/0725: {with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots} - A61B 2017/07264: {characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical staple includes a body includes a first leg, a second leg, and a backspan. The backspan has a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a crimped region. The first portion of the backspan includes a looped member. The second portion of the backspan extends between a first end portion of the first leg and a first end portion of the looped member. The third portion of the backspan extends between a first end portion of the second leg and a second end portion of the looped member. The crimped region includes a crimped section in at least one of the second portion or the third portion of the backspan. A combined wire thickness of the second and third portions of the backspan in the crimped region is about equal to the diameter of the body of the surgical staple. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A staple cartridge assembly comprising: a carrier defining a support channel, the carrier having spaced shoulders; first and second resilient members supported on the spaced shoulders of the carrier; and a staple cartridge including a body defining a knife slot and staple pockets positioned on opposite sides of the knife slot, the staple cartridge defining a longitudinal axis and including pushers, staples, and an actuation sled, the pushers and staples received within the staple pockets, the actuation sled movable through the body of the staple cartridge into engagement with the pushers to eject the staples from the staple pockets, the body of the staple cartridge supported on the first and second resilient members such that the first and second resilient members are positioned between the body of the staple cartridge and the carrier, wherein each of the staples includes a first leg, a second leg, and a backspan, the backspan having a first portion with a looped member including a first end portion and a second end portion, a second portion extending between the first end portion of the first leg and the first end portion of the looped member, and a third portion extending between the first end portion of the second leg and the second end portion of the looped member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the staple pockets includes a contour having a first segment shaped and dimensioned to receive the first leg of the staple, a second segment shaped and dimensioned to receive the second leg of the staple, and an intermediate segment shaped and dimensioned to receive the backspan of the staple, wherein each of the staple pockets defines a longitudinal axis that is skewed in relation to the longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the pushers includes a staple seat configured to releasably receive a backspan of one of the staples, each of the staple seats being skewed in relation to a longitudinal axis of the pusher, wherein the staple seat of each of the pushers is adapted to align each of the staples with each of the staple pockets of the staple cartridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 3, wherein the staple seat of each of the pushers includes a first wall projecting from a first portion of the staple seat, and a second wall projecting from a second portion of the staple seat, the first wall and the second wall defining a skewed channel that extends between the first portion of the staple seat and the second portion of the staple seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein the skewed channel of the staple seat of each of the pushers is adapted to releasably receive the respective backspan of one of the staples such that each of the staples is supported in a skewed fashion on the staple seat of the pusher. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein when each of the staples is positioned on a respective staple seat of one of the pushers, the first wall of the staple seat engages the second portion of the backspan of the staple and the second wall of the staple seat engages the third portion of the backspan of the staple to releasably receive the backspan of the staple. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the staples includes a crimped region having a crimped section defined in at least one of the second portion and the third portion of the backspan, wherein a combined thickness of the second and third portions of the backspan in the crimped region is about equal to a diameter a remaining portion of backspan of the staple. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second resilient members are fixedly attached to the spaced shoulders of the carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second resilient members are releasably attached to the spaced shoulders of the carrier. ### Claim 10 A stapling instrument comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a loading unit supported on the distal portion of the elongated shaft and including a tool assembly, the tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly coupled to the cartridge assembly such that the tool assembly is movable between an open configuration and a clamped configuration, the cartridge assembly including: a carrier defining a support channel, the carrier having spaced shoulders; first and second resilient members supported on the spaced shoulders of the carrier; and a staple cartridge including a body defining a knife slot and staple pockets positioned on opposite sides of the knife slot, the staple cartridge defining a longitudinal axis and including pushers, staples, and an actuation sled, the pushers and staples received within the staple pockets, the actuation sled movable through the body of the staple cartridge into engagement with the pushers to eject the staples from the staple pockets, the body of the staple cartridge supported on the first and second resilient members such that the first and second resilient members are positioned between the body of the staple cartridge and the carrier, wherein each of the staples includes a first leg, a second leg, and a backspan, the backspan having a first portion with a looped member including a first end portion and a second end portion, a second portion extending between the first end portion of the first leg and the first end portion of the looped member, and a third portion extending between the first end portion of the second leg and the second end portion of the looped member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein each of the staple pockets includes a contour having a first segment shaped and dimensioned to receive the first leg of the staple, a second segment shaped and dimensioned to receive the second leg of the staple, and an intermediate segment shaped and dimensioned to receive the backspan of the staple, wherein each of the staple pockets defines a longitudinal axis that is skewed in relation to the longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stapling instrument of claim 11, wherein each of the pushers includes a staple seat configured to releasably receive a backspan of one of the staples, each of the staple seats being skewed in relation to a longitudinal axis of the pusher, wherein the staple seat of each of the pushers is adapted to align each of the staples with each of the staple pockets of the staple cartridge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The stapling instrument of claim 12, wherein the staple seat of each of the pushers includes a first wall projecting from a first portion of the staple seat, and a second wall projecting from a second portion of the staple seat, the first wall and the second wall defining a skewed channel that extends between the first portion of the staple seat and the second portion of the staple seat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The stapling instrument of claim 13, wherein the skewed channel of the staple seat of each of the pushers is adapted to releasably receive the respective backspan of one of the staples such that each of the staples is supported in a skewed fashion on the staple seat of the pusher. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The stapling instrument of claim 13, wherein when each of the staples is positioned on a respective staple seat of one of the pushers, the first wall of the staple seat engages the second portion of the backspan of the staple and the second wall of the staple seat engages the third portion of the backspan of the staple to releasably receive the backspan of the staple. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein each of the staples includes a crimped region having a crimped section defined in at least one of the second portion and the third portion of the backspan, wherein a combined thickness of the second and third portions of the backspan in the crimped region is about equal to a diameter a remaining portion of backspan of the staple. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the first and second resilient members are fixedly attached to the spaced shoulders of the carrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the first and second resilient members are releasably attached to the spaced shoulders of the carrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The stapling instrument of claim 10, further including a handle assembly, the elongated shaft extending distally from the handle assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the loading unit is releasably secured to the distal portion of the elongated shaft.