Surgical staple cartridge having improved staple driver retention mechanism - Patents.com

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a surgical staple cartridge comprising two opposing side walls extending along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a staple driving direction, at least one side wall having one or more cantilever beams disposed along the longitudinal direction, the cantilever beams extending parallel to the staple driving direction, the cantilever beams having protrusions or grooves configured to cooperate with grooves or protrusions formed on a staple driver to hold the staple driver in place, the cantilever beams configured to flex outwardly to allow passage of the staple driver.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to the field of surgical instruments, and more particularly to the field of surgical staplers / staplers. [Background technology]

[0002] Surgical staplers / anastomotic instruments are typically used to place staples in tissue to reduce or eliminate tissue bleeding, for example when tissue is cut and the tissue needs to be closed to promote healing. Surgical staplers / anastomotic instruments (linear staplers / anastomotic instruments, right angle staplers / anastomotic instruments, etc.) may include an end effector assembly having a staple cartridge portion and a staple anvil portion, where the staple cartridge portion includes a staple cartridge configured to removably store surgical staples therein, and the staple anvil portion includes staple forming pockets for forming the staples. Such surgical staplers / anastomotic instruments generally include a closure system that moves one of the staple cartridge and staple anvil relative to the other, and a staple driver for driving the staples.

[0003] As described above, the surgical stapler / anastomosis instrument may be configured such that the staple cartridge and staple anvil portions of the end effector assembly are closed into a closed configuration to capture tissue between the staple cartridge and staple anvil portions. The staple driver then pushes the staples to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge and through the tissue against the staple forming grooves of the staple anvil portion, thereby securing the tissue layers together. The staples are generally positioned within a number of staple lines to more securely secure the tissue layers together. The end effector assembly may or may not include a cutting member that can be advanced between the staple lines to close the tissue layers together and then cut the tissue.

[0004] The staple cartridge includes a staple driver retaining mechanism to minimize or prevent accidental ejection of the staples, for example during shipping. The staple driver retaining mechanism is typically resilient or deformable. When a staple is to be fired, a force is applied to the staple driver, pushing the staple driver forward. Under the appropriate force, the staple driver retaining mechanism is adapted to flex or bend outwardly to release the staple driver, allowing the staple driver to advance forward and then push the staples out of the staple cartridge.

[0005] In existing surgical staple cartridges, the staple driver retaining mechanism is generally in the form of clamping walls, which are usually side walls of the staple cartridge. The staple drivers are clamped between the side walls. When a sufficient pushing force is applied to the staple driver to urge the staple driver forward, the side walls are adapted to flex or bend outwardly to release the staple driver. The structure and size of the side walls are relative to the entire staple cartridge or other portions of the staple cartridge, making it difficult to predict or control the retaining force of the staple driver retaining mechanism. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for an improved surgical staple cartridge to eliminate or reduce the aforementioned deficiencies.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a surgical staple cartridge having an improved staple driver retaining mechanism that isolates the retainer / release from the remainder of the staple cartridge sidewall to provide an appropriate retaining force to the staple driver.

[0008] The present disclosure provides a surgical staple cartridge comprising a first side wall extending along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a staple driving direction, the first side wall having one or more first cantilever beams formed along the longitudinal direction, the first cantilever beams extending parallel to the staple driving direction, each first cantilever beam being provided with a protrusion or groove, and a second side wall arranged opposite and parallel to the first side wall, the protrusions or grooves formed on the first cantilever beams being configured to cooperate with grooves or protrusions formed on a first surface of the staple driver to hold the staple driver in a fixed position, and the first cantilever beams being configured to flex outwardly to allow the staple driver to advance forward.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the first cantilevers are equidistantly spaced along the longitudinal direction.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the first cantilevers are not equally spaced along the longitudinal direction.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the first cantilever is angled inwardly or outwardly at an angle relative to the outer surface of the first sidewall.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the first cantilever beam and the outer surface of the first side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the first cantilever is angled inwardly or outwardly at an angle relative to the inner surface of the first sidewall.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the first cantilever and the inner surface of the first sidewall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the second side wall has one or more second cantilever beams along its longitudinal direction, the cantilever beams extending parallel to the staple driving direction, each second cantilever beam having a protrusion or groove, the protrusion or groove formed on the second cantilever beam configured to cooperate with a groove or protrusion formed on a second surface of the staple driver opposite the first surface to hold the staple driver in place, and the second cantilever beams configured to flex outwardly to allow the staple driver to advance forward.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the second cantilevers are equally spaced along the longitudinal direction.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the second cantilevers are not equally spaced along the longitudinal direction.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the one or more first cantilevers are each longitudinally aligned with one or more second cantilevers.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the one or more first cantilever beams are staggered with the one or more second cantilever beams along the longitudinal direction.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the second cantilever is inclined inwardly or outwardly at an angle relative to the outer surface of the second sidewall.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the second cantilever beam and the outer surface of the second side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the second cantilever is angled inwardly or outwardly at an angle relative to the inner surface of the second sidewall.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the second cantilever beam and the inner surface of the second side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

[0024] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the cantilever beam or projection formed on the staple driver is a longitudinally extending bar.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the cross section of the projections formed on the cantilever beams or staple drivers is trapezoidal or cambered.

[0026] The surgical staple cartridges provided by the present disclosure have a staple driver retaining mechanism that can flex or bend independently of the sidewalls of the staple cartridge, such as a cantilever retaining mechanism that can be designed somewhat independently of the sidewalls of the staple cartridge and can flex or deform independently of the sidewalls of the staple cartridge under the pushing force of the staple driver to allow the staple driver to be released, thereby providing a desired retention force to the staple driver without modifying the overall structure of the sidewalls of the staple cartridge. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] The present disclosure and its features and advantages will be better understood by reference to the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are designated by like reference numerals in the following description and drawings, in which the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some parts may be omitted for clarity and conciseness, and some drawings may be drawn in an exaggerated or sketch-like manner. [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an exemplary surgical stapler without a surgical staple cartridge installed therein. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates an exemplary end effector portion of a surgical stapler with a surgical staple cartridge installed therein. [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates an exemplary side view of a surgical staple cartridge according to the present disclosure; [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a surgical staple cartridge according to the present disclosure; [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates an exemplary longitudinal cross-sectional view of a surgical staple cartridge according to the present disclosure; [Figure 6] 1 illustrates an exemplary partial cross-sectional view of a surgical staple cartridge according to the present disclosure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Next, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. What is described herein is only an exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure, and a person skilled in the art will envision other ways to implement the present disclosure based on the exemplary embodiments described herein, which are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG 1 illustrates a surgical stapler 100. A surgical staple cartridge 10 according to the present disclosure may be installed within the surgical stapler 100 and other similar surgical staplers. FIG 2 illustrates an end effector portion of the surgical stapler 100 installed with the surgical staple cartridge 10.

[0030] Figures 3 and 4 show a surgical staple cartridge 10 in accordance with the present disclosure, while Figures 5 and 6 show longitudinal and transverse cross-sectional views, respectively, of staple cartridge 10. As shown in the figures, surgical staple cartridge 10 includes side walls 20 and 30 extending along a longitudinal direction L, with side walls 20 and 30 disposed parallel and opposite to one another.

[0031] One or more cantilevers 21, 31 are provided on each of the side walls 20, 30 to hold the staple driver 40 (see FIG. 6) in place. The cantilevers may be formed integrally with the side walls. The ends of the cantilevers are substantially flush with the ends of the side walls. Slots are provided on the upper and lower sides of each cantilever to form individual cantilevers from the side walls. Each cantilever is provided with a protrusion 22, 32, respectively (preferably on the inner surface of each cantilever). The protrusions 22, 32 can cooperate with grooves 41, 42 on either side of the staple driver 40 extending along the longitudinal direction L, thereby holding the staple driver 40 in place and preventing accidental movement of the staple driver 40 along the driving direction D, which could unintentionally eject a staple.

[0032] When an appropriate force is applied to staple driver 40 to advance the staple driver along direction D toward the staples, side walls 20, 30 are adapted to flex outwardly by staple driver 40 to release the staple driver, allowing the staple driver to expel the staples from the staple cartridge. Cantilever beams 21, 31 and protrusions 22, 32 can be designed to apply an appropriate holding force to staple driver 40 without modifying the remainder of side walls 20, 30.

[0033] It will be appreciated that the staple cartridge of the present disclosure need not include cantilever beams on both side walls 20, 30. Rather, the objectives of the present disclosure may be achieved by including a cantilever structure on only one side wall. It will also be appreciated that, alternatively or in addition, the cantilever beam may be provided with a groove and the staple driver may be provided with a protrusion configured to cooperate with the groove formed on the cantilever beam.

[0034] Similarly, in the staple cartridge of the present disclosure, each sidewall 20, 30 may include the same or a different number of cantilever structures, and the cantilever structures may be uniformly or non-uniformly distributed along the longitudinal direction L on each sidewall 20, 30. Further, the cantilever structures on sidewall 20 may be aligned or staggered with the cantilever structures on sidewall 30 along the longitudinal direction.

[0035] Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer surface of the cantilever 21 and / or cantilever 31 may be inclined inwardly at a predetermined angle relative to the outer surface of the corresponding sidewall 20, 30, while the inner surface of the cantilever and the inner surface of the corresponding sidewall are located in the same plane. That is, the cross section of the cantilever is tapered. A cantilever having such a configuration has better deformability or easily flexes outwardly to overcome the holding force on the staple driver 40 applied by the cantilever structure with only a small force to release the staple driver. Thus, in the staple cartridge of the present disclosure, the shape of each cantilever may be designed independently from the rest of the sidewall, and the inner and outer surfaces of the cantilever may be inclined inwardly or outwardly at an angle relative to the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall. In other embodiments, the inner and outer surfaces of the cantilever may be aligned with the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall (located in the same plane), respectively. In further embodiments, the inner and outer surfaces of the cantilever may be parallel to the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall (which are disposed in different planes). The specific structure of the cantilever, including the extension direction of the inner and outer surfaces of the cantilever and the shape and size of the protrusions (or grooves), may be designed according to the desired retention force. In further embodiments, the inner and outer surfaces of the cantilever may be curved.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the projections 22, 32 are bars extending along the longitudinal direction L (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) and the cross section of the projections 22, 32 is trapezoidal (as shown in FIG. 6). It is contemplated that the cross section of the projections 22, 32 may have other shapes, such as a cambered shape, so long as it provides the desired retention force for retaining the staple driver 40. Similarly, the projections formed on the staple driver may be bars extending along the longitudinal direction L and the cross section of the projections may be trapezoidal, cambered, or any other shape.

[0037] The scope of protection of the present disclosure is defined only by the claims. In this specification, reference to "various embodiments", "several embodiments", "one embodiment", or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, although phrases such as "various embodiments", "some embodiments", "one embodiment", or "in an embodiment" appear in this specification, they do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner. Thus, a specific feature, structure, or characteristic shown or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined in whole or in part with a feature, structure, or characteristic of one or more other embodiments without conflict, and the resulting modifications and variations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A surgical staple cartridge for a surgical stapler, wherein the staple driver of the surgical stapler is capable of pushing staples out of the surgical staple cartridge, and the surgical staple cartridge is A first side wall extending along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the stapling direction, wherein one or more first cantilevers are provided on the first side wall along the longitudinal direction, the one or more first cantilevers extend parallel to the stapling direction, and each first cantilever is provided with a projection or groove, The first side wall is arranged parallel to and opposite to the second side wall, A surgical staple cartridge wherein the projection or groove formed on the first cantilever beam is configured to cooperate with the groove or projection formed on the first surface of the staple driver to hold the staple driver in place, and the first cantilever beam is configured to bend outward to allow the staple driver to pass through.

2. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first cantilever beams are spaced equally apart along the longitudinal direction.

3. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first cantilever beams are not spaced at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

4. The surgical staple cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer surface of the first cantilever beam is inclined inward or outward at a certain angle with respect to the outer surface of the first side wall.

5. The surgical staple cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer surface of the first cantilever beam and the outer surface of the first side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

6. The surgical staple cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner surface of the first cantilever beam is inclined inward or outward at a certain angle with respect to the inner surface of the first side wall.

7. The surgical staple cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner surface of the first cantilever beam and the inner surface of the first side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

8. A surgical staple cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second side wall is provided with one or more second cantilevers arranged along the longitudinal direction, the one or more second cantilevers extend parallel to the staple driving direction, each second cantilever is provided with a projection or groove, the projection or groove formed on the second cantilever is configured to cooperate with a groove or projection formed on a second surface of the staple driver opposite to the first surface in order to hold the staple driver in place, and the second cantilever is configured to bend outward so that the staple driver can pass through.

9. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the second cantilever beams are spaced equally apart along the longitudinal direction.

10. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the second cantilever beams are not spaced equally apart along the longitudinal direction.

11. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein each of the one or more first cantilever beams is aligned with the one or more second cantilever beams along the longitudinal direction.

12. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the one or more first cantilever beams are arranged alternately with the one or more second cantilever beams along the longitudinal direction.

13. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the outer surface of the second cantilever beam is inclined inward or outward at a certain angle with respect to the outer surface of the second side wall.

14. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the outer surface of the second cantilever beam and the outer surface of the second side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

15. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the second cantilever beam is inclined inward or outward at a certain angle with respect to the inner surface of the second side wall.

16. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the second cantilever beam and the inner surface of the second side wall are in the same plane or parallel to each other.

17. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the projection is a bar extending along the longitudinal direction.

18. The surgical staple cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the cross-section of the projection formed on the second surface of the second cantilever beam or the staple driver is trapezoidal or upwardly curved.

19. The surgical staple cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cross-section of the projection formed on the first cantilever beam or the first surface of the staple driver is trapezoidal or upwardly curved.

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