{
  "patent_number": "US 12733930",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Surgical Stapler That Adjusts for Different Tissue Thicknesses",
  "original_title": "Surgical stapling instrument",
  "summary": "This patent describes a surgical stapling instrument that can use different disposable cartridges, called reloads, to staple tissues of varying thicknesses by changing the gap between the stapler's jaws.",
  "what_it_does": "The surgical instrument includes a long shaft and an end effector, which is the part that does the stapling. This end effector has a jaw and a special coupling member. This coupling member is designed to hold two different types of reloads, attaching them to the end effector. When the first reload is in place, the coupling member holds it so there's a specific 'tissue gap' between the jaw and the reload. When the second reload is used, the coupling member holds it to create a different, larger tissue gap. This design allows a surgeon to treat tissues of various sizes, shapes, and thicknesses using the same main instrument, simply by switching reloads.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover surgical stapling instruments that only accept one type of reload with a fixed tissue gap.",
    "Does not cover surgical stapling instruments where the tissue gap is adjusted by the instrument's internal mechanism, rather than by swapping different reloads.",
    "Does not cover surgical instruments that do not use disposable reloads.",
    "Does not cover surgical instruments that do not create a specific tissue gap, such as simple cutting or grasping tools."
  ],
  "filed": "2024-05-14",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "medical_devices",
    "surgical_instruments"
  ],
  "abstract": "A surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and an end effector. The end effector includes a jaw, and a coupling member configured to receive a first and second reload and to removably couple the first and second reload to the end effector. The coupling member is configured to retain the first reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the first reload have a tissue gap therebetween. The coupling member is configured to retain the second reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the second reload have a tissue gap therebetween that is larger than the first tissue gap. The instrument is designed to accommodate reloads with different tissue gaps between the first jaw and the reload, thereby allowing an operator to treat tissue of varying sizes, shapes and thicknesses with the same surgical instrument.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733930/surgical-stapling-instrument",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733930/surgical-stapling-instrument/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12733930",
  "relatedPatents": [
    {
      "patentNumber": "10736702",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Surgical Tool with Flexible, Articulating, and Rotating End Effectors",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10736702/activating-and-rotating-surgical-end-effectors"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12402879",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How Surgical Tools Give Haptic Feedback Near Operation Limits",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12402879/surgical-instrument-having-force-feedback-capabilities"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12733950",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Testing and Calibrating Surgical Instrument Tips with Built-in Alignment Features",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733950/end-effector-assembly-instrument-system-and-method-facilitating-testing"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "10959744",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Customizing Surgical Dissectors Using 3D Printing",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10959744/surgical-dissectors-and-manufacturing-techniques"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12733934",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Connecting Surgical Tools with Rotational-to-Linear Motion Adapters",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733934/adapter-extension-and-connector-assemblies-for-surgical-devices"
    }
  ]
}