Surgical staples having compressible or crushable members for securing tissue therein and stapling instruments for deploying the same

Abstract

A staple having a crown, a deformable leg extending from the crown, and a spring extending from the crown configured to compress tissue between the spring and the deformable member. Owing to the flexibility of the spring, the staple can accommodate a wide range of tissue thicknesses while still compressing the tissue captured therein. As a result, a single staple design can be used in a wide variety of surgical procedures thereby reducing the amount of staple designs that must be provided to the surgeon. In at least one embodiment, the staple includes a crushable member. This crushable member can include a plastically deformable first portion and an elastically deformable second portion. The present invention can also include, in various embodiments, a crown, a first deformable member extending from the crown, and means for compressing the tissue against the first deformable member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical staple insertable into tissue, said staple comprising:
 a wire comprising a base, wherein said wire is comprised of a first material;   a crown attached to and at least partially surrounding said base, wherein said crown is comprised of a second material which is different than said first material;   a first deformable member extending from said base, wherein said wire further comprises said first deformable member;   a second deformable member extending from said base, wherein said wire further comprises said second deformable member; and   a spring extending from said crown, said spring configured to bias said tissue against at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member, said spring extending intermediate said first deformable member and said second deformable member;   wherein said spring comprises a cantilever extending from said crown; wherein said cantilever comprises: a first end attached to said crown; a second end movable relative to said crown; and a curved portion configured to contact tissue, wherein said curved portion is intermediate said first end and said second end.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said fastener further includes a second deformable member extending from said crown, said spring configured to bias said tissue against said second deformable member. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said spring includes a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said crown, said second end configured to move with respect to said first end. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said spring includes a first end and a second end, and wherein said first and second ends are attached to said crown. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is comprised of foam. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical of  claim 1 , wherein said spring includes a first elastic member and a second elastic member, said second elastic member positioned intermediate said first elastic member and said crown. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical staple of  claim 6 , wherein said spring is integrally molded with said crown. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said spring and said crown are comprised of a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical staple deformable between a first shape and a second shape, said staple comprising:
 a crown;   a first deformable member extending from said crown; and   a crushable member, said crushable member positioned intermediate said first deformable member and said crown after said staple has been deformed into said second shape.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical staple of  claim 9 , wherein said crushable member is comprised of foam. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical staple of  claim 9 , wherein said crown is overmolded onto at least a portion of said first deformable member, and wherein said crushable member is integrally molded with said crown. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical staple of  claim 9 , wherein said crushable member includes a plastically deformable first portion and an elastically deformable second portion. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical staple of  claim 9 , wherein said crushable member is configured to bias tissue positioned intermediate said crushable member and said first deformable member against said first deformable member. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical staple of  claim 13 , wherein said staple further includes a second deformable member extending from said crown, said crushable member configured to bias said tissue against said second deformable member. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical staple of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said crushable member and said crown are comprised of a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         16 . A surgical staple insertable into tissue, said fastener comprising:
 a wire comprising a base, wherein said wire is comprises of a first material;   a crown attached to and at least partially encompassing said base, wherein said crown is comprised of a second material which is different than said first material;   a first deformable member extending from said base, wherein said wire further comprises said first deformable member;   a second deformable member extending from said base, wherein said wire further comprises said second deformable member; and   compressing means for compressing said tissue against at least one of said first deformable member and said second deformable member;   wherein said compressing means comprises a cantilever extending from said crown, wherein said cantilever comprises a first end attached to said crown; a second end movable relative to said crown; and a curved portion configured to contact tissue, wherein said curved portion is intermediate said first end and said second end.   
     
     
         17 . The surgical fastener of  claim 16 , wherein said fastener further includes a second deformable member extending from said crown, said compressing means configured to bias said tissue against said second deformable member. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical staple of  claim 16 , wherein said compressing means includes a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said crown, said second end configured to move with respect to said first end. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical staple of  claim 16 , wherein said compressing means includes a first end and a second end, and wherein said first and second ends are attached to said crown. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical staple of  claim 16 , wherein said compressing means is comprised of foam.