US 12,733,927 B2Granted

Method of surgical stapling

AssigneeCilag GmbH International

InventorsNicholas Fanelli, Kevin M. Fiebig, Jeffery D. Bruns, John K. Bruce, Pierre R. Mesnil, Shannon L. Jones, John W. Stodghill, Gregory G. Scott, Devanathan Raghavan, John P. May, Nicholas A. Wilson, Cory G. Kimball, Kristin L. Jambor, Scott A. Jenkins

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Abstract

A method of operating a surgical instrument includes clamping tissue with a surgical instrument end effector and actuating the end effector to drive staples into the clamped tissue, including a first longitudinal row having at least one first formed staple with a first formed shape in which the first legs are aligned laterally with each other and with the first crown; a second longitudinal row having at least one second formed staple with a second formed shape in which each second leg is skewed laterally away from the second crown at a first angle; and a third longitudinal row of third formed staples having at least one third formed staple with a third formed shape in which each third leg is skewed laterally away from the third crown at a second angle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

(a) a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper deck that defines a stapling surface;
(b) a plurality of pockets extending through the upper deck and configured to house respective staples, wherein the pockets are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows;
(c) a plurality of staple drivers aligned with and movable within the pockets for driving respective staples into tissue;
(d) a staple driver actuator translatable distally relative to the body for lifting the staple drivers sequentially;
(e) a plurality of first pocket extenders extending upwardly from the upper deck, wherein each first pocket extender includes a first top surface positioned at a first height above the upper deck;
and
(f) at least one second pocket extender extending upwardly from the upper deck and positioned distal to the plurality of first pocket extenders, wherein the at least one second pocket extender includes:
(i) a second top surface positioned at a second height above the upper deck, wherein the second height is different from the first height,
(ii) a distally-facing surface having a first profile such that the distally-facing surface is configured to apply a first frictional force to tissue, and
(iii) a proximally-facing surface having a second profile that is different from the first profile such that the proximally-facing surface is configured to apply a second frictional force to tissue that is greater than the first frictional force.

7 more elements

A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

(a) a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper deck that defines a stapling surface;
(b) a plurality of pockets extending through the upper deck and configured to house respective staples, wherein the pockets are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows;
(c) a plurality of staple drivers aligned with and movable within the pockets for driving respective staples into tissue;
(d) a staple driver actuator translatable distally relative to the body for lifting the staple drivers sequentially;
(e) a plurality of first pocket extenders extending upwardly from the upper deck, wherein each of the plurality of first pocket extenders includes a first top surface;
(f) at least one second pocket extender extending upwardly from the upper deck and positioned distal to the plurality of first pocket extenders, wherein the at least one second pocket extender includes:
(i) a second top surface, and
(ii) a distally-facing surface extending substantially obliquely relative to the upper deck;
(g) at least one longitudinal rail extending upwardly from the upper deck and proximally from the at least one second pocket extender, wherein the at least one longitudinal rail includes a third top surface;
and
(h) at least one bridge extending upwardly from the upper deck and laterally between at least one of:
(i) a corresponding pair of the first pocket extenders, or
(ii) the at least one longitudinal rail and a corresponding one of the first pocket extenders,
wherein the at least one bridge includes a fourth top surface.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/245,562Filed 23 Jun 2025 · continuation
Priority: 17 Apr 2023
Published: US 2025/0312036 A19 Oct 2025
Granted: 15 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61B 17/0644
Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue: penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
A61B 17/07207
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: the staples being applied sequentially
A61B 17/07292
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
A61B 2017/00477
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: coupling

Family

Application63/459,739Us provisional application · filed 17 Apr 2023
Application63/467,615Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2023
Application63/467,622Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2023
Application63/467,623Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2023
Application63/467,648Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2023
Application63/467,649Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2023
Application18/588,684Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Feb 2024
US 2025/0312036 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Oct 2025
US 12,471,913 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2024/0350137 A1Published application
US 12,733,927 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.