Surgical staples having attached drivers and stapling instruments for deploying the same

Abstract

A surgical stapling system including a driver and a staple where the driver is connected to the staple. In previous surgical stapling systems, the driver and the staple were not connected. A surgical stapling system in accordance with the present invention may have fewer components, less assembly and manufacturing time, and may accommodate larger staples which are at least partially embedded in the driver. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling system comprises a staple, the staple including a deformable member, and a stapler, the stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge for removably storing the staple, and a cam movable between a first position and a second position. In these embodiments, the surgical stapling system further comprises a driver attached to the staple, the driver being operatively engaged with the cam to move the staple toward the anvil when the cam is moved between the first position and the second position.

1 . A surgical staple, comprising:
 a first deformable member;   a base, said first deformable member extending from said base; and   a driver, wherein at least a portion of said base is embedded in said driver, said driver including:
 a cam-contacting surface, said cam-contacting surface configured to operatively engage with a cam of a stapler; and 
 a tissue-contacting surface, said first deformable member configured to hold tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said tissue-contacting surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said driver is overmolded onto said base. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said cam-contacting surface comprises a beveled surface on said driver. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said driver is coated with a hydrophilic material such that said hydrophilic material can expand to compress tissue intermediate said driver and said first deformable member. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , said staple further including a second deformable member extending from said base, wherein said second deformable member is configured to hold tissue intermediate said second deformable member and said tissue-contacting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical staple of  claim 1 , wherein said driver is configured to be assembled to said base in order to embed said base in said driver. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical staple, comprising:
 a first deformable member;   a base, said first deformable member extending from said base; and   a driver attached to at least one of said deformable member and said base, said driver configured to be operatively engaged with a cam of a stapler.   
     
     
         9 . The staple of  claim 8 , wherein said driver is overmolded onto said base. 
     
     
         10 . The staple of  claim 8 , wherein said driver includes a cam-contacting surface, said cam-contacting surface comprising a beveled surface. 
     
     
         11 . The staple of  claim 8 , wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         12 . The staple of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of said driver is coated with a hydrophilic material such that said hydrophilic material can expand to compress tissue intermediate said driver and said first deformable member. 
     
     
         13 . The staple of  claim 8 , said staple further including a second deformable member extending from said base, wherein at least a portion of said base is embedded in said driver. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical stapling system, comprising:
 a staple, said staple including a first deformable member;   a stapler, including:
 an anvil; 
 a staple cartridge for removably storing said staple; and 
 a cam movable between a first position and a second position; and 
   a driver attached to said staple, said driver configured to directly engage said cam to move said staple toward said anvil when said cam is moved between said first position and said second position.   
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling system of  claim 14 , wherein said driver is overmolded onto a portion of said staple. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical stapling system of  claim 14 , wherein said driver includes a first angled surface, wherein said cam includes a second angled surface, and wherein said second angled surface is configured to co-operate with said first angled surface to move said staple toward said anvil. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical stapling system of  claim 14 , wherein said driver is comprised of a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical stapling system of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of said driver is coated with a hydrophilic material such that said hydrophilic material can expand to compress tissue intermediate said driver and said first deformable member. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical stapling system of  claim 14 , said staple further including a second deformable member and a base, said first and second deformable members extending from said base, wherein at least a portion of said base is embedded in said driver. 
     
     
         20 . A method for processing an instrument for surgery, said method comprising:
 obtaining said stapler of  claim 14 ;   sterilizing said stapler; and   storing said stapler in a sterile container.