US4605001A — Surgical stapling instrument with dual staple hei…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, first means for driving the staples partially from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members to force the staples into the tissue to produce at least one row of unformed staples therein and for cutting the tissue along a line adjacent to said row of unformed staples, and second means for completely ejecting the staples from said staple carrying means and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of closed staples adjacent to the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 135 words

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, first means for driving the staples partially from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members to force the staples into the tissue to produce at least one row of unformed staples therein and for cutting the tissue along a line adjacent to said row of unformed staples, and second means for completely ejecting the staples from said staple carrying means and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of closed staples adjacent to the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, including: means for selecting different closed staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, including: means for adjusting the spacing between said jaw members to select one of two predetermined staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein: said first and second means are operable separately and sequentially to reduce the force required to actuate the stapling instrument to form the staples and to cut the tissue.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 139 words

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, first means for driving the staples partially from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members to force the staples into the tissue without forming the staples against said anvil means and for cutting the tissue along a line between said rows of unformed staples, second means for completely ejecting the staples from said staple carrying means and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows of closed staples in the tissue on opposite sides of the line cut between said staple rows.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 139 words

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, first means for driving the staples partially from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members to force the staples into the tissue without forming the staples against said anvil means and for cutting the tissue along a line between said rows of unformed staples, second means for completely ejecting the staples from said staple carrying means and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows of closed staples in the tissue on opposite sides of the line cut between said staple rows.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 5, including: means for selecting different closed staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 5, including: means for adjusting the spacing between said jaw members to select one of two predetermined staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 5, wherein: said first and second means are operable separately and sequentially to reduce the force required to actuate the stapling instrument to form the staples and to cut the tissue.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 75 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 5, wherein said first means comprises: an elongate actuator assembly slidable longitudinally relative to said jaw members, said assembly including cam means for sequentially driving the staples partially from said staple carrying means to force the staples into the tissue gripped between said jaw members without forming the staples against said anvil means, and knife means for cutting the tissue along a line adjacent to said row of staples.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said second means comprises: an elongate staple driver slidable longitudinally relative to said jaw members for completely ejecting the staples from said staple carrying means and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of closed staples in the tissue.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, including: support means carried by said actuator assembly for aligning and spacing said jaw members apart by a predetermined distance to set the staple height to be produced.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 11, wherein: said support means is adapted to provide support to said jaw members along substantially the entire length of said staple carrying means and said anvil means while the staples are formed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 12, wherein: said support means is adjustable to vary the spacing between said staple carrying means and said anvil means to select one of two different staple heights to be produced.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 5, including: means for interlocking said staple carrying means and said anvil means to maintain a desired longitudinal and lateral alignment therebetween when the staples are formed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 181 words

A surgical stapling instrument comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including an anvil adapted to form said staples, an elongate actuator assembly mounted on one of said jaw members and slidable longitudinally relative to said jaw members, said actuator assembly including cam means for sequentially driving the staples partially from said staple cartridge to force the staples in said longitudinal rows into tissue gripped between said jaw members without forming the staples against said anvil, and knife means for cutting the tissue along a line between said longitudinal staple rows after the unformed staples are forced into the tissue, and an elongate staple driver mounted on one of said frames and slidable longitudinally relative to said jaw members for completely ejecting the staples from said staple cartridge and forming the staples against said anvil to provide laterally spaced longitudinal rows of closed staples along opposite sides of the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 181 words

A surgical stapling instrument comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including an anvil adapted to form said staples, an elongate actuator assembly mounted on one of said jaw members and slidable longitudinally relative to said jaw members, said actuator assembly including cam means for sequentially driving the staples partially from said staple cartridge to force the staples in said longitudinal rows into tissue gripped between said jaw members without forming the staples against said anvil, and knife means for cutting the tissue along a line between said longitudinal staple rows after the unformed staples are forced into the tissue, and an elongate staple driver mounted on one of said frames and slidable longitudinally relative to said jaw members for completely ejecting the staples from said staple cartridge and forming the staples against said anvil to provide laterally spaced longitudinal rows of closed staples along opposite sides of the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 15, wherein: said actuator assembly includes support means cooperable with said elongate jaw members and adapted to provide support along substantially the entire length of said staple cartridge and said anvil during the forming of the staples.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 54 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 15, wherein said actuator assembly comprises: an elongated I-beam structure including first and second elongated support members slidable longitudinally into said elongate jaw members to provide support to said jaw members along substantially the entire length of said staple cartridge and said anvil while the staples are formed.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 17, including: shim means carried by one of said elongated support members, said shim means being selectively movable with said support member into one of said jaw members for adjusting the spacing between said jaw members to determine the staple height to be produced.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 18, wherein: said shim means comprises an elongated sleeve member slidably received on one of said elongated support members of said actuator assembly.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 67 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 15, including: means for pivotally connecting said jaw members together at remote ends thereof to allow said jaw members to pivot toward and away from each other, and a saddle member mounted on one of said jaw members at an intermediate position therealong for receiving the other jaw member therein to maintain said jaw members in alignment at said intermediate position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 15, including: means for interlocking said staple cartridge and said anvil to maintain the longitudinal and lateral alignment therebetween when the staples are formed.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 50 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 21, wherein said interlocking means includes: one or more upstanding prongs provided on said anvil carrying jaw member adjacent to said anvil, and one or more slots provided in said staple cartridge for receiving said prongs to align said anvil with said staple cartridge.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 150 words

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, means for driving the staples from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of closed staples in the tissue, knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line adjacent to said staple row, and support means including elongated support members movable into engagement with each of said jaw members and adapted to provide longitudinal and lateral support to said jaw members along substantially the entire length of said staple carrying means and said anvil means while the staples are formed.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 150 words

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including staple carrying means adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including anvil means adapted to form said staples, means for driving the staples from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce at least one row of closed staples in the tissue, knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line adjacent to said staple row, and support means including elongated support members movable into engagement with each of said jaw members and adapted to provide longitudinal and lateral support to said jaw members along substantially the entire length of said staple carrying means and said anvil means while the staples are formed.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 37 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 23, wherein: said support means includes means for adjusting the spacing between said jaw members to select one of two predetermined staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 108 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 23, wherein said driving means comprises: first means for driving the staples partially from said staple carrying means into tissue gripped between said jaw members to force the staples into the tissue without forming the staples against said anvil means to provide at least one row of unformed staples in the tissue, and second means for completely ejecting the staples from said staple carrying means and forming the staples against said anvil means after the tissue is cut to provide at least one row of closed staples in the tissue adjacent to the line cut by said knife means in the tissue.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 37 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 25, wherein: said first and second means are operable separately and sequentially to reduce the force required to actuate the stapling instrument to form the staples and to cut the tissue.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 23, including: means for interlocking said staple carrying means and said anvil means to maintain a desired longitudinal and lateral alignment therebetween when the staples are formed.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 145 words

A surgical stapling instrument comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including an anvil adapted to form said staples, means for sequentially driving the staples from said staple cartridge into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal rows of closed staples in the tissue, knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line between said longitudinal staple rows, and support means including elongated support members movable into engagement with each of said elongate jaw members and adapted to provide support along substantially the entire length of said staple cartridge and said anvil during the forming of the staples.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 145 words

A surgical stapling instrument comprising: first and second cooperating elongate jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and said other jaw member including an anvil adapted to form said staples, means for sequentially driving the staples from said staple cartridge into tissue gripped between said jaw members and forming the staples against said anvil means to produce a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal rows of closed staples in the tissue, knife means for cutting the tissue gripped between said jaw members along a line between said longitudinal staple rows, and support means including elongated support members movable into engagement with each of said elongate jaw members and adapted to provide support along substantially the entire length of said staple cartridge and said anvil during the forming of the staples.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 61 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 28, wherein said support means comprises: an elongated I-beam structure including first and second elongated support members slidable longitudinally into said first and second elongate jaw members, respectively, to provide longitudinal and lateral support to said jaw members along substantially the entire length of said staple cartridge and said anvil while the staples are formed.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 50 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 29, including: shim means carried by one of said elongated support members, said shim means being selectively movable with said support member into one of said jaw members for adjusting the spacing between said jaw members to determine the staple height to be produced.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 30, wherein: said shim means comprises an elongated sleeve member slidably received on one of said elongated support members of said actuator assembly.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 67 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 28, including: means for pivotally connecting said jaw members together at remote ends thereof to allow said jaw members to pivot toward and away from each other, and a saddle member mounted on one of said jaw members at an intermediate position therealong for receiving the other jaw member therein to maintain said jaw members in alignment at said intermediate position.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 30 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 28, including: means for interlocking said staple cartridge and said anvil to maintain the longitudinal and lateral alignment therebetween when the staples are formed.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 50 words

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 33, wherein said interlocking means includes: one or more upstanding prongs provided on said anvil carrying jaw member adjacent to said anvil, and one or more slots provided in said staple cartridge for receiving said prongs to align said anvil with said staple cartridge.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of performing a surgical anastomosis, comprising: driving a plurality of staples into the tissue to be anastomosed before the tissue is cut to produce at least one row of unformed staples in the tissue, cutting the tissue along a line adjacent to said row of unformed staples, and forming the staples after the tissue is cut to provide at least one row of closed staples adjacent to the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of performing a surgical anastomosis, comprising: driving a plurality of staples into the tissue to be anastomosed before the tissue is cut to produce at least one row of unformed staples in the tissue, cutting the tissue along a line adjacent to said row of unformed staples, and forming the staples after the tissue is cut to provide at least one row of closed staples adjacent to the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 35, wherein: said staples are arranged in at least two laterally spaced rows and said tissue is cut along a line located between said rows of staples.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of performing an anastomosis using a surgical stapling instrument including first and second cooperating jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including an anvil adapted to form said staples, said method comprising: clamping the tissue to be anastomosed between the staple cartridge and the anvil on the jaw members, partially ejecting the staples from said staple cartridge into the tissue gripped between the jaw members to force the staples into the tissue before the tissue is cut without forming the staples to produce at least one row of unformed staples in the tissue, cutting the tissue gripped between the jaw members along a line adjacent to said row of unformed staples, and completely ejecting the staples from the staple cartridge and forming the staples against the anvil after the tissue is cut to provide at least one row of closed staples adjacent to the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of performing an anastomosis using a surgical stapling instrument including first and second cooperating jaw members, one of said jaw members including a staple cartridge adapted to receive a plurality of staples arranged in at least one row, and said other jaw member including an anvil adapted to form said staples, said method comprising: clamping the tissue to be anastomosed between the staple cartridge and the anvil on the jaw members, partially ejecting the staples from said staple cartridge into the tissue gripped between the jaw members to force the staples into the tissue before the tissue is cut without forming the staples to produce at least one row of unformed staples in the tissue, cutting the tissue gripped between the jaw members along a line adjacent to said row of unformed staples, and completely ejecting the staples from the staple cartridge and forming the staples against the anvil after the tissue is cut to provide at least one row of closed staples adjacent to the line cut in the tissue.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 37, wherein: said staples are arranged in at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows and said tissue is cut along a line located between said rows of staples.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-08-11	1990-02-10	1990-08-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-08-11	1994-02-10	1994-08-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-08-11	1998-02-10	1998-08-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical stapling instrument with dual staple height mechanism

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