# US 12,108,952 B2 · Surgical stapling apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,108,952 B2 - Document ID: US12108952B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/246,744 - Filed: 2021-05-03 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-11 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Michael A. Zemlok; Adam Ross; Russell Pribanic; Ryan Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108952B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/00123: {and automatic shutdown} - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - 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 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00845: {of moving parts with respect to each other} - A61B 2017/00853: {low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)} - A61B 2017/07221: {curved} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a housing having an actuator; an elongated member extending from the housing; an end effector disposed on an end of the elongated member, the end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a staple cartridge and the second jaw having a plurality of staple forming recesses; the staple cartridge having at least a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment each having a tissue contacting surface and staple receiving slots defined in the tissue contacting surface, the first segment and the second segment being biased toward the second jaw and movable; a biasing members for each of the first segment and the second segment; and a pressure sensor for each of the first segment and the second segment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a first jaw member and a second jaw member that are configured to maintain a parallel relationship with one another as the first and second jaw members move between an approximated position and a separated position; and a staple cartridge supported by the first jaw member and including: opposed outer side surfaces; and a tissue contacting surface including a first segment and at least a second segment, each segment being movable relative to the other segment prior to a firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, each segment defining at least two staple receiving slots, each segment extending between an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the outer end portion of at least one of the segments extending to at least one of the opposed outer side surfaces of the staple cartridge, wherein the first segment floats on a spring and is positioned to move from a first position aligned with a tissue contacting plane of the tissue contacting surface towards a second position, the first segment positioned to move towards the spring and away from the tissue contacting plane as the first segment moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first position is an expanded position, and the second position is a depressed position relative to the second segment, wherein the spring is configured to urge the first segment toward the first position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second segments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure from a movement of the at least one of the first and second segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is disposed in electrical communication with a controller and a power source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are arranged in longitudinally extending parallel rows. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are staggered longitudinally with respect to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting surface defines a knife slot that extends along a longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge between proximal and distal end portions of the staple cartridge, the knife slot separating the tissue contacting surface into a first side and a second side, the first segment being disposed on the first side of the knife slot, the second segment being disposed on the second side of the knife slot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second segments is V-shaped. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second segments is movable in at least one of a side-to-side direction and a longitudinal direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge, the side-to-side direction being transverse to the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 11 An intelligent surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a first jaw member and a second jaw member that are configured to maintain a parallel relationship with one another as the first and second jaw members move between an approximated position and a separated position; a staple cartridge supported by the first jaw member and including: opposed outer side surfaces; and a tissue contacting surface including a first segment and at least a second segment, each segment being movable relative to the other segment prior to a firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, each segment defining at least two staple receiving slots, each segment extending between an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the outer end portion of at least one of the segments extending to at least one of the opposed outer side surfaces of the staple cartridge, wherein the first segment floats on a spring and is positioned to move from a first position aligned with a tissue contacting plane towards a second position, the first segment positioned to move towards the spring and away from the tissue contacting plane as the first segment moves from the first position to the second position; and a controller in electrical communication with the staple cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first position is an expanded position, and the second position is a depressed position relative to the second segment, wherein the spring is configured to urge the first segment toward the first position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second segments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure from a movement of the at least one of the first and second segments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is disposed in electrical communication with the controller and a power source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are arranged in longitudinally extending parallel rows. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are staggered longitudinally with respect to one another. ### Claim 18 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a first jaw member; a second jaw member; and a staple cartridge supported by the first jaw member and including: a tissue contacting surface including a first segment and at least a second segment, each segment being movable relative to the other segment prior to a firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, each segment defining at least two staple receiving slots, the first segment supported on a spring and positioned to move from a first position aligned with a tissue contacting plane towards a second position, the first segment positioned to move towards the spring and away from the tissue contacting plane as the first segment moves from the first position to the second position.