Devices for sealing staples in tissue
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorFrederick E. Shelton, IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for forming an anastomosis between two body lumens are described herein. In one embodiment, an anastomosis can be formed by transecting a body lumen using a linear surgical stapler that delivers a plurality of sealing adjuncts in combination with a plurality of surgical staples along a staple line, where the plurality of sealing adjuncts are coupled to one another by a suture. A circular surgical stapler can be used to create an anastomosis with a second body lumen across the staple line. Before actuating the circular stapler, the proximal and distal ends of the staple line can be drawn into a central lumen of the circular stapler using the suture extending between the plurality of sealing adjuncts such that the staple line is resected when the circular stapler is actuated.
Claims17
A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
- a cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities, each staple cavity having a surgical staple disposed therein, wherein the staples are configured to be ejected from the cartridge body in a proximal to distal direction;
- and
- a plurality of sealing adjuncts coupled to the cartridge body such that a staple ejected from the cartridge body passes through one of the plurality of sealing adjuncts before entering into tissue adjacent to the cartridge body;
- wherein the plurality of staple cavities are arranged such that each of a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body have a number of longitudinal rows of staple cavities that is greater than a number of longitudinal rows of staple cavities in a middle portion of the cartridge body extending between the proximal and distal ends;
- and
- wherein the plurality of sealing adjuncts are positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the cartridge body.
A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
- a cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities, each staple cavity having a surgical staple disposed therein;
- a plurality of sealing adjuncts coupled to the cartridge body such that a staple ejected from the cartridge body passes through one of the plurality of sealing adjuncts before entering into tissue adjacent to the cartridge body;
- at least one suture thread coupled to and extending between the plurality of sealing adjuncts positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the cartridge body;
- and
- a washer disposed between the plurality of sealing adjuncts at the proximal and distal ends of the cartridge body and coupled to the at least one suture thread extending therebetween;
- wherein the plurality of staple cavities are arranged such that each of the proximal end and the distal end of the cartridge body have a number of staple cavities that is greater than a number of staple cavities in a middle portion of the cartridge body extending between the proximal and distal ends;
- and
- wherein the plurality of sealing adjuncts are positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the cartridge body.
An end effector for a surgical instrument, comprising:
- first and second jaws pivotably coupled at proximal ends thereof, the first jaw having a cartridge body removably attached thereto, the cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities, each staple cavity having a surgical staple disposed therein;
- a plurality of sealing adjuncts coupled to the cartridge body such that a staple ejected from the cartridge body passes through one of the plurality of sealing adjuncts before entering into tissue adjacent to the cartridge body;
- wherein the plurality of staple cavities are arranged such that each of a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body have a number of longitudinal rows of staple cavities that is greater than a number of longitudinal rows of staple cavities in a middle portion of the cartridge body extending between the proximal and distal ends;
- and
- wherein the plurality of sealing adjuncts are positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the cartridge body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.