# US 12,599,382 B2 · Staple cartridge comprising formation support features

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- Number: US 12,599,382 B2
- Document ID: US12599382B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 19/028,418
- Filed: 2025-01-17
- Published: 2025-05-22
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-30
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Cilag GmbH International
- Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Taylor W. Aronhalt; Jordan B. Wong; Shane R. Adams; Mark S. Zeiner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12599382B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position}
- A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
- A61B 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling}
- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/0003: {of parts of the instruments}
- A61B 2017/00119: {alarm; indicating an abnormal situation}
- A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits}
- A61B 2017/00314: {Separate linked members}
- A61B 2017/00327: {with actuating members moving in opposite directions}
- 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 2017/00871: {polymeric}
- A61B 2017/00929: {isolating electrical current}
- A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil}
- 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 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2018/00529: {Liver}
- A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting}
- A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing}
- A61B 2018/00779: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00827: {Current}
- A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance}
- A61B 2018/00892: {Voltage}
- A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws}
- A61B 2090/035: {preventing further rotation}
- A61B 2090/067: {for measuring angles}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including staple formation features is disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an upper jaw and a lower jaw, the staple cartridge being in the lower jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body; and
a staple cavity comprising an opening in the deck, the staple cavity defined by, and disposed between, opposing walls, wherein each of the opposing walls comprise a protrusion extending inwardly into the staple cavity; and
a staple positioned in the staple cavity, wherein the staple is movable from an unfired position to a fired position during a firing stroke, wherein the staple comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein each of the first leg and the second leg includes a portion thereof that engages the protrusion of each of the opposing walls, respectively, as the staple is moved into the fired position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the portion of the first leg comprises a first staple leg shoulder and the portion of the second leg comprises a second staple leg shoulder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein when the first staple leg shoulder contacts the protrusion of a first opposing wall of the opposing walls when the staple is moved into the fired position, the first leg moves inwardly toward the second leg.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein when the second staple leg shoulder contacts the protrusion of a second opposing wall of the opposing walls when the staple is moved into the fired position, the second leg moves inwardly toward the first leg.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder each comprise an angled surface, an arcuate surface, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the protrusions of the opposing walls, respectively, prior to the first leg and the second leg contacting a lower surface of the upper jaw, such that the first leg and the second leg have inward momentum when the first leg and the second leg contact the lower surface of the upper jaw to facilitate proper deformation of the staple.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the protrusions of the opposing walls, respectively, at the same time that the first leg and the second leg contact a lower surface of the upper jaw, such that at least a portion of the lower surface of the upper jaw, along with the protrusions of the opposing walls, cooperatively provide a plurality of points of contact for the first leg and the second leg as the first leg and the second leg are being deformed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The staple cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the protrusions of the opposing walls, respectively, after the first leg and the second leg contact a lower surface of the upper jaw.

### Claim 9

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an upper jaw and a lower jaw, the staple cartridge being in the lower jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck;
a staple cavity defined by opposing walls;
a first protrusion formed in one of the opposing walls; and
a second protrusion formed in another of the opposing walls, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend toward each other into the staple cavity; and
a staple positioned in the staple cavity, wherein the staple is movable from an unfired position to a fired position during a firing stroke, wherein the staple comprises:
a first leg; and
a second leg,
wherein the first protrusion is configured to move the first leg toward the second leg as the staple is moved into the fired position, and wherein the second protrusion is configured to move the second leg toward the first leg as the staple is moved into the fired position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein the first leg comprises a first staple leg shoulder and the second leg comprises a second staple leg shoulder.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein when the first staple leg shoulder contacts the first protrusion when the staple is moved into the fired position, the first leg moves inwardly toward the second leg, and when the second staple leg shoulder contacts the second protrusion when the staple is moved into the fired position, the second leg moves inwardly toward the first leg.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder comprise an angled surface, an arcuate surface, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first staple leg shoulder comprises a protuberance in the first leg, and wherein the second staple leg shoulder comprises a protuberance in the second leg.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively, prior to the first leg and the second leg contacting a lower surface of the upper jaw, such that the first leg and the second leg have inward momentum when the first leg and the second leg contact the lower surface of the upper jaw to facilitate proper deformation of the staple.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively, at the same time that the first leg and the second leg contact a lower surface of the upper jaw, such that at least a portion of the lower surface of the upper jaw, along with the first protrusion and the second protrusion, cooperatively provide a plurality of points of contact for the first leg and the second leg as the first leg and the second leg are being deformed.

### Claim 16

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an anvil, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck;
a staple cavity comprising an opening defined in the deck, the staple cavity being defined by a first interior wall and a second interior wall opposite the first interior wall, wherein the first interior wall includes a first projection extending into the staple cavity and the second interior wall includes a second projection extending into the staple cavity; and
a staple positioned in the staple cavity, wherein the staple is movable from an unfired position to a fired position during a firing stroke, wherein the staple comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein each of the first leg and the second leg includes a portion thereof that engages the first projection and the second projection, respectively, as the staple is moved into the fired position, such that the first leg is moved toward the second leg and the second leg is moved toward the first leg as the staple is moved into the fired position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The staple cartridge of claim 16, wherein the portion of the first leg comprises a first staple leg shoulder and the portion of the second leg comprises a second staple leg shoulder.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the first projection and the second projection, respectively, prior to the first leg and the second leg contacting a surface of the anvil, such that the first leg and the second leg have inward momentum when the first leg and the second leg contact the surface of the anvil to facilitate proper deformation of the staple.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the first projection and the second projection, respectively, at the same time that the first leg and the second leg contact a surface of the anvil, such that at least a portion of the surface of the anvil, along with the first projection and the second projection, cooperatively provide a plurality of points of contact for the first leg and the second leg as the first leg and the second leg are being deformed.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The staple cartridge of claim 17, wherein the first staple leg shoulder and the second staple leg shoulder contact the first projection and the second projection, respectively, after the first leg and the second leg contact a surface of the anvil.