Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Todd Phillip Omaits

Federico Bilotti

Laszlo Csiky

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Alessandro Pastorelli

William Bruce Weisenburgh, Ii

Eugene L Timperman

Bennie Thompson

Michael A Murray

Mark A Neurohr

Chester O Baxter, Iii

Charles J Scheib

Taylor W Aronhalt

George Mark Pomeroy

Frederick E Shelton

Chester O Baxter

Frederick E Iv Shelton

A surgical stapling instrument () comprises a staple fastening assembly () in the distal region of said instrument, the staple fastening assembly () including a cartridge device () which comprises at least one closed row () of staples and defines a wavy distal end surface (), and an anvil () which defines a wavy proximal staple forming surface () substantially matching the distal end surface () and which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device () for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device (), wherein the distal end surface () and the staple forming surface () have a globally wavy shape including two opposite peaks () and two opposite valleys () angularly spaced at about 90&#xb0; from the adjacent peaks () and in that said two-peaks-two-valleys wavy shape is formed by a stepped configuration of said surfaces ().

Surgical stapling instrument

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

Tissue thickness compensator comprising detachable portions

Various forms of surgical instruments are disclosed. In various embodiments, the instrument includes a cartridge supporting assembly for operably supporting a staple cartridge therein. The cartridge supporting assembly may be responsive to firing and retraction motions applied thereto from a firing assembly. An anvil may be operably coupled to an anvil closure assembly. The anvil closure assembly may be constructed to selectively move the anvil in a proximal direction toward the cartridge supporting assembly to enable a portion of tissue to be clamped between a cartridge supported by the cartridge supporting assembly and the anvil under a predetermined amount of compression. The device may further include a closure actuator that operably interacts with the anvil closure assembly such that as the closure actuator is moved in a first direction, the anvil closure assembly causes the anvil to move in the proximal direction to increase the compression of the tissue between the staple cartridge and the anvil. A variable load generating member may cooperate with the anvil closure assembly and the closure actuator to apply a resistive load to the closure actuator in relation to an amount of compression applied to the tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge.

Surgical stapling instrument with mechanical indicator to show levels of tissue compression

Various forms of surgical instruments are disclosed. In various embodiments, the instrument includes a cartridge supporting assembly for operably supporting a staple cartridge therein. The cartridge supporting assembly may be responsive to firing and retraction motions applied thereto from a firing assembly. An anvil may be operably coupled to an anvil closure assembly. The anvil closure assembly may be constructed to selectively move the anvil in a proximal direction toward the cartridge supporting assembly to enable a portion of tissue to be clamped between a cartridge supported by the cartridge supporting assembly and the anvil under a predetermined amount of compression. The device may further include a compression limiting assembly that interacts with the anvil closure assembly to prevent further travel of the anvil in the proximal direction toward the cartridge supporting assembly when the predetermined amount of compression has been attained.

Surgical stapling instrument with mechanical mechanism for limiting maximum tissue compression

A surgical stapler includes a head in which a plurality of staples are stored. The head includes a facing surface. The stapler also includes an anvil having an anvil surface shaped and dimensioned for forming the staples upon actuation of the surgical stapler, the anvil including a facing surface opposed to the facing surface of the head for mating engagement therewith. The facing surface of the head is obliquely oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the head creating an elliptical staple line when the head is brought into contact with anvil during actuation of the surgical stapler.

Elliptical intraluminal surgical stapler for anastomosis

A surgical stapling instrument comprises a frame having a body portion and a handle. A staple fastening assembly is provided in the distal region of the instrument and includes a cartridge device, which comprises at least one closed row () of staples, and an anvil. The anvil is movable relative to the cartridge device and is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device. A knife, which has a closed cutting edge, is contained within the cartridge device and is positioned such that there is at least one closed row () of staples on the outside of the cutting edge. It can be moved towards the anvil. The line along which the closed row () of staples is arranged has a stepped shape, leaving a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the staple fastening assembly, such that this line has a larger total length than the projection of this line onto this plane. This provides a greater flexibility of the anastomotic site and less tension during instrument removal, alleviating the incidence of clinical complications.

Growing community of inventors

Liberty Township, OH, United States of America

Todd Phillip Omaits