US 7,980,443 B2Granted

End effectors for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument

AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.

InventorsCharles J. Scheib, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mark S. Ortiz, Douglas B. Hoffman, Patrick A. Weizman, Dean B. Bruewer, Kevin R. Doll, Bret W. Smith, William D. Kelly, Ronald J. Kolata, Joshua R. Uth, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jerome R. Morgan, Kyle P. Moore, Mark H. Ransick, Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Thomas W. Huitema, Glen A. Armstrong, Shailendra K. Parihar, Donna L. Korvick, Richard W. Timm, Gregory B. Blair

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Abstract

In various embodiments, an anvil of a disposable loading unit including a first member having staple pockets for deforming staples, a first cover plate secured to the first member, and a second cover plate secured to at least one of the first member and the first cover plate, wherein the first and second cover plates can be configured to support the first member. In at least one embodiment, an anvil can include a first member inserted into a second member, where at least one of the first and second members can be deformed to retain one to the other. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a disposable loading unit comprising a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a sleeve, wherein the sleeve can be configured to be slid relative to the staple cartridge and the anvil to hold the anvil in a closed position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge carrier comprises a carrier outer surface;
an anvil comprising at least one staple deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein said anvil comprises an anvil outer surface;
and
a sleeve comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a distal end;
an aperture, wherein said sleeve is configured to be slid along said carrier outer surface and said anvil outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil are configured to be positioned within said aperture such that said sleeve can hold said anvil in said second position;
a first slot extending along said longitudinal axis on a first side of said sleeve, wherein said first slot comprises:
a first open end opening toward said distal end;
and
a first closed proximal end;
a second slot extending along a second side of said sleeve, wherein said second slot is aligned with said first slot, and wherein said second slot comprises:
a second open end opening toward said distal end;
and
a second closed proximal end;
and
a staple cartridge positioned within said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said staple cartridge and said anvil define a tissue gap therebetween when said anvil is in said second position, and wherein said first slot and said second slot are aligned with said tissue gap.

14 more elements

A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, said disposable loading unit comprising:

a first jaw, comprising:
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples;
a first tissue-compression surface;
and
a first outer surface;
a second jaw rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein said second jaw comprises:
an anvil comprising at least one staple deforming cavity;
a second tissue-compression surface;
and
a second outer surface;
and
a sleeve, comprising:
a distal end;
an aperture defined by an aperture sidewall, wherein said sleeve is configured to be slid along said first outer surface and said second outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of said first jaw and said second are configured to be positioned within said aperture such that said aperture sidewall can hold said second jaw in said second position;
a first slot extending along a first side of said sleeve, wherein said first slot comprises:
a first open end opening toward said distal end;
and
a first closed proximal end;
a second slot extending along a second side of said sleeve, wherein said second slot is aligned with said first slot, and wherein said second slot comprises:
a second open end opening toward said distal end;
and
a second closed proximal end;
wherein said first tissue-compression surface and said second tissue- compression surface define a tissue gap therebetween when said second jaw is in said second position, and wherein said first slot and said second slot are aligned with said tissue gap.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/031,873Filed 15 Feb 2008
Published: US 2009/0206140 A120 Aug 2009
Granted: 19 Jul 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

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 2017/00473
With a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable: distal part, e.g. tip or head
A61B 2017/07214
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: stapler heads
A61B 2017/07285
Stapler heads: characterised by its cutter