Surgical stapler cartridge with tissue engagement protrusions having enlarged engagement surfaces

Abstract

The apparatus includes a cartridge body, a deck, an elongated slot, a plurality of pockets, and a plurality of engaging projections. The plurality of engaging projections extend from the deck and are configured to grip tissue or auxiliary material. The plurality of engaging projections include a first engaging projection associated with a first pocket. The first engaging projection includes a first inward projection and a first flat surface. The first inward projection extends inward between the first longitudinal end and the first side surface of the first pocket. The first flat surface extends substantially parallel to the deck. The first flat surface is defined by the first inward projection. The first flat surface defines the maximum height of the engaging projection relative to the deck. The first flat surface has a heterogeneous region that is at least partially defined by the first inward projection.

Claims

1. It is a device, (a) The cartridge body and (b) A deck defined by the cartridge body, configured to compress tissue against the anvil of a surgical stapler, (c) An elongated slot formed in the deck, (d) A plurality of pockets formed in the deck and configured to accommodate a plurality of staples, wherein the plurality of pockets include a first pocket, (i) First longitudinal end, (ii) A second longitudinal end disposed on the opposite side of the first longitudinal end, (iii) A first side surface disposed between the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end, (iv) A plurality of pockets, each having a second side surface disposed between the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end and opposite to the first side surface, (e) A plurality of engaging projections extending from the deck and configured to grip tissue or auxiliary material, wherein the plurality of engaging projections include a first engaging projection associated with the first pocket, the first engaging projection includes a first end portion, the first end portion tapering inward toward the first longitudinal end, so that the first end portion is narrower toward the longitudinal end than the first and second sides of the first pocket, and the first engaging projection is (i) A first inward projection extending inward between the first longitudinal end of the first pocket and the first side surface, and (ii) A device comprising a plurality of engaging projections, the first flat surface being substantially parallel to the deck, the first flat surface being defined by the first inward projections, the first flat surface defining the maximum height of the first engaging projections relative to the deck, and the first flat surface having a non-uniform region at least partially defined by the first inward projections.

2. The first flat surface is, (A) Inner boundary and (B) Outer boundary and (C) A first portion that defines a first distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in a direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, (D) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a second portion including the first inward projection, the second portion defining a second distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in the direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second distance is at least about twice the first distance.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inner boundary is stepped relative to the outer boundary.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inner boundary includes a first inner wall that partially defines the first inward projection, and the first inner wall extends substantially parallel to the first side surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the inner boundary includes a second inner wall that, together with the first inner wall, partially defines the first inward projection, and the second inner wall extends substantially perpendicularly to the first inner wall.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first inward projection extends toward the second longitudinal end and the second side surface.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first flat surface encloses the first longitudinal end of the first pocket.

9. The first engaging projection includes a first end portion that wraps around the first longitudinal end of the first pocket, and the first end portion is (i) The first inward projection, (ii) A second inward projection extending inward between the first longitudinal end and the second lateral side, and (iii) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first flat surface extending substantially parallel to the deck, the first flat surface having a non-uniform region at least partially defined by the first inward projection and the second inward projection.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second inward projection extends toward the second longitudinal end and the first side surface.

11. (i) A second inward projection extending inward between the second longitudinal end and the second side surface, (ii) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second flat surface extending substantially parallel to the deck, wherein the first flat surface and the second flat surface define the maximum height of the engaging projection with respect to the deck, and the second flat surface has a non-uniform region at least partially defined by the second inward projection.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sides extend substantially parallel to the elongated slot.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deck is substantially planar.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging projection at least partially surrounds the first pocket.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the lateral portion of the first engaging projection extends onto the first side surface of the first pocket, and the first engaging projection does not extend longitudinally along the second side surface of the first pocket, so that the second side surface opens directly to the deck.

16. It is a device, (a) The cartridge body and (b) A deck defined by the cartridge body, configured to compress tissue against the anvil of a surgical stapler, (c) An elongated slot formed in the deck, (d) A plurality of pockets formed in the deck and configured to accommodate a plurality of staples, the plurality of pockets including a first pocket, (e) A plurality of engaging projections extending from the deck and configured to grip tissue or auxiliary material, wherein the plurality of engaging projections include a first engaging projection associated with the first pocket, the first engaging projection includes a first end portion, the first end portion tapering inward toward a first longitudinal end, so that the first end portion is narrower at the first longitudinal end than the first and second sides of the first pocket, and the first engaging projection is (i) First inward projection, and (ii) A first flat surface extending substantially parallel to the deck, the first flat surface defining the maximum height of the first engagement projection to the deck, (A) Inner boundary and (B) Outer boundary and (C) A first portion that defines a first distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in a direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, (D) A device comprising a plurality of engaging protrusions, a first flat surface comprising a second portion including the first inward projection, the second portion defining a second distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in the direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the inner boundary includes a first inner wall that partially defines the first inward projection, and the first inner wall extends parallel to the first side surface.

18. It is a device, (a) The cartridge body and (b) A deck defined by the cartridge body, configured to compress tissue against the anvil of a surgical stapler, (c) An elongated slot formed in the deck, (d) A plurality of pockets formed in the deck and configured to accommodate a plurality of staples, the plurality of pockets including a first pocket, (e) A plurality of engaging projections extending from the deck and configured to grip tissue or auxiliary material, wherein the plurality of engaging projections include a first engaging projection associated with the first pocket, the first engaging projection includes a first end portion, the first end portion tapering inward toward a first longitudinal end, so that the first end portion is narrower at the first longitudinal end than the first and second sides of the first pocket, and the first engaging projection is (i) A first inward projection extending inward toward the first pocket, (ii) A second inward projection extending inward toward the first pocket, and (iii) A device comprising a plurality of engaging projections, the first flat surface being substantially parallel to the deck, the first flat surface defining the maximum height of the first engaging projection with respect to the deck, and the first flat surface having a non-uniform region at least partially defined by the first inward projection and the second inward projection.

19. The first flat surface is, (A) Inner boundary and (B) Outer boundary and (C) A first portion that defines a first distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in a direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, (D) The apparatus according to claim 18, comprising a second portion including the first inward projection, the second portion defining a second distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in the direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first flat surface further comprises a third portion, the third portion defining a third distance perpendicular to the outer boundary, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and the third distance being greater than either the first distance or the second distance.

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