Abstract:
The present invention disclosed a surgical staple ( 50 ) and staple pocket ( 57 ) for forming kidney-shaped staple therefor, with the staple pocket ( 57 ) being recessed inward on the tissue contacting surface of the staple anvil ( 58 ), and with M-shaped staple ( 50 ) being used, wherein the degree of projection of the middle portion of the back span ( 51 ) of the M-shaped staple ( 50 ) arranged at the inner circle or arrangd at a proximal side of a cutter slot ( 121 ) is larger than that of the back span ( 51 ) of the M-shaped staple ( 50 ) arranged at the outer circle or arranged at a distal side of the cutter slot ( 121 ), so that when the staple ( 50 ) of the same height are adapted to staple tissues to be stapled of different thickness, staple driver ( 68 ) bends the M-shaped staple ( 50 ) on the staple pocket ( 57 ) to form kidney-shaped staple ( 50 ) so as to achieve the operational effect of being able to seal the stapled tissue, to stop bleeding and to heal the tissue therearound.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to surgical staples and staple pockets used in various surgical staplers, and more particularly to surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Arts 
         [0004]    Various surgical staplers used for replacing needles and thread, for manual stapling, in surgery are widely used in surgery such as end-end, end-side, and side-side stapling of organs and tissues including human digestive tract organs, respiratory tract organs, and urogenital organs, in surgery for forming a channel, and in surgery for closing a cut, and are particularly suitable for staples where organs and tissues are exposed and difficult to operate, so as to reduce operative time and improve quality of surgery. 
         [0005]    As described in US Patent Publication No. 20070194082 and 20090255978, various well-known staple shaping mechanisms of surgical staplers each mainly include: a staple cartridge and a staple anvil. Staple drivers, staples, and a cutter are mounted in the staple cartridge, where the cutter may be mounted as needed. A tissue contacting surface of the staple anvil is provided with staple pockets corresponding to the position of the staples in the staple cartridge. The staples and the staple pockets in the staple shaping mechanism of the surgical stapler have the following effects during the use of the surgical stapler. After the tissue to be stapled is clamped between the staple anvil and the staple cartridge, the staple drivers pushes the staples out of the staple cartridge, so that staple tips penetrate the clamped tissue to be stapled, and engage the staple pocket on the staple anvil, so as to bend the U-shaped staples into a B-shaped, thereby achieving the surgical purpose of stapling the tissue. 
         [0006]    As described in US Patent Publication No. 20070194082 and 20080061109, in various well-known surgical staplers, as shown in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, a staple pocket  2  on the tissue contacting surface of an anvil  1  comprises a side surface  3  and a bottom surface  4  which are formed through inward recessing on the surface of the anvil  1 . Intersection lines between the side surface  3  and the bottom surface  4  of the staple pocket  2  form two staple guide lines  5  and  6  of the staple pocket  2 . The staple pocket  2  forms perimeter  7  on the surface of the anvil  1 . As shown in  FIG. 2  of the present invention, a staple  8  in a staple cartridge (not shown) is U-shaped, and comprises a straight back span  9  and two straight staple legs  10  and  11 . End portions of the legs  10  and  11  are provided with tips  12  and  13  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5  of the present invention, when a staple driver  14  pushes the staple  8  out of the staple cartridge (not shown), the tips  12  and  13  of the U-shaped staple  8  are urged against the staple pocket  2  of the anvil  1 , so that the legs  10  and  11  of the U-shaped staple  8  bend along the staple guide lines  5  and  6  of the staple pocket  2 , to form a B-shaped staple  15 , thereby achieving the surgical purpose of tissue stapling. After the U-shaped staple  8  bends to form the B-shaped staple  15 , two rings  16  and  17  are formed, so that a clamping force of the stapled tissue between the legs and the back span is distributed in the two rings  16  and  17 , that is, is distributed on a length less than a half of the back span  9 , which incurs larger damage to the stapled tissue. Smaller size of the rings  16  and  17  facilitates sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue, but makes healing of surrounding tissues slower. Larger size of the rings  16  and  17  facilitates healing of surrounding tissues, but results in poor sealing of the stapled tissue and a poor hemostatic effect. Generally speaking, the edge of the stapled tissue is required to facilitate sealing and bleeding-stopping, and the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue is required to facilitate healing of the surrounding tissues. In order to achieve the surgical effect, staple cartridges loaded with U-shaped staples having legs of different heights and/or a staple anvil provided with staple pockets in different depths are required to be adopted, the surgical staples and the staple pockets of this kind of surgical stapler increase the difficulty in machining and mounting of the instrument, thereby increasing the cost of the instrument. On the other hand, when the staple  8  bends to form a B-shaped closed staple  15 , the tips  12  and  13  of the staple  15  converge at a midpoint of the back span  9 , so that in order to achieve the surgical purpose of tissue stapling, for tissues to be stapled and varying in clamping thickness, U-shaped staples having legs of different heights are required to be used. Therefore, during surgery the thickness of the tissue to be stapled is required to be determined first, and then the staple cartridge of U-shaped staples having legs of a different height is used. The specifications of the staple cartridge loaded with U-shaped staples having legs of different heights are limited, and normally for each difference of 0.5 mm in the tissue clamping thickness, there is a specification, so that the surgical staple and the staple pocket of this kind cannot meet surgical requirements of tissues varying in thicknesses to be stapled, thereby deteriorating the surgical effect, increasing the difficulty in surgery, and increasing surgical costs. Therefore, the surgical staple and the staple pocket are required to be improved. 
         [0007]    As described in US Patent Publication No. 20090255978: as shown in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, a staple pocket  2  on the tissue contacting surface of an anvil  1  comprises a side surface  3  and a bottom surface  4  which are formed through inward recessing on the surface of the anvil  1 . Intersection lines between the side surface  3  and the bottom surface  4  of the staple pocket  2  form two staple guide lines  5  and  6  of the staple pocket  2 . The staple pocket  2  forms perimeter  7  on the surface of the anvil  1 . As shown in  FIG. 6  of the present invention, an staple  18  of a surgical stapler in a staple cartridge (not shown) comprises a W-shaped back span  19  and two straight legs  20  and  21 . End portions of the legs  20  and  21  are provided with tips  22  and  23  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9  of the present invention, two protruding parts  24  and  25  on the W-shaped back span  19  of the staple  18  correspond to positions of two recessed grooves  26  and  27  on the staple pocket  2  of the anvil  1  respectively. When the staple driver  28  pushes the staple  18  out of the staple cartridge (not shown), the tips  22  and  23  of the staple  18  are urged against the staple pocket  2  of the anvil  1 , so that the two legs  20  and  21  of the staple  18  bend along staple guide lines  5  and  6  of the staple pocket  2  to form a B-shaped staple  29 , thereby achieving the surgical purpose of tissue stapling. Therefore, when tissue to be stapled and having the same clamping thickness are stapled, the surgical requirements of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the edge of the stapled tissue and facilitating healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue are met respectively by adopting the staple anvil provided with the staple pocket of the same depth and adopting the staple cartridge loaded with staples having legs of the same height and having the W-shaped back spans  19  having the protruding parts  24  and  25  of different heights. However, when the staple  18  bends to form the staple  29  in the shape of a complete B, the tips  22  and  23  of the staple  29  also converge at a midpoint of the W-shaped back span  19 , so that a clamping force of the stapled tissue between the legs  20  and  21  and the back span  19  is distributed in the two rings of the B-shaped staple  29 , that is, is distributed on a length less than a half of the back span  19 , which incurs large damage to the stapled tissue. Further, in order to achieve the surgical purpose of tissue stapling, for tissue varying in clamping thickness to be stapled, staples having legs of different heights are required to be used. Therefore, during surgery the thickness of the tissue to be stapled is required to be determined first, and then the staple cartridge with staples having legs of a different height is used. The specifications of the staple cartridge loaded with staples having legs of different heights are limited, and normally for each difference of 0.5 mm in the tissue clamping thickness, there is a specification, so that the surgical staple the staple pocket of this kind cannot meet surgical requirements of tissues varying in thicknesses to be stapled, thereby deteriorating the surgical effect, increasing the difficulty in surgery, and increasing surgical costs. Therefore, the surgical staple and the staple pocket are required to be improved. 
         [0008]    As described in US Patent Publication No. 20110087276: as shown in  FIG. 2  of the present invention, an staple  8  in a staple cartridge (not shown) is U-shaped, and comprises a straight back span  9  and two straight legs  10  and  11 . End portions of the legs  10  and  11  are provided with tips  12  and  13  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 10  of the present invention, the tissue contacting surface of a staple anvil  30  is provided with two separate staple pockets  31  and  32 , which respectively comprise side surfaces  33  and  34  and bottom surfaces  35  and  36  formed through inward recessing on the surface of the staple anvil  30 . Intersection lines between the side surface  33  and the bottom surface  35  form two staple guide lines  37  and  38  of the staple pocket  31 . Intersection lines between the side surface  34  and the bottom surface  36  form two staple guide lines  39  and  40  of the staple pocket  32 . The two staple pockets  31  and  32  form perimeters  41  and  42  on the surface of the staple anvil  30  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 13  of the present invention, when a staple driver  43  pushes the staple  8  out of the staple cartridge (not shown), the tips  12  and  13  of the staple  8  are urged against the staple pockets  31  and  32  of the staple anvil  30  respectively, so that the two legs  10  and  11  of the staple  8  bend along the staple guide lines  37  and  38  of the staple pocket  31  and the staple guide lines  39  and  40  of the staple pocket  32  respectively, to form a spiral staple  44 , thereby achieving the surgical purpose of tissue stapling. When the two legs  10  and  11  of the staple  8  bend to form the spiral staple  44 , the tips  12  and  13  of the staple  8  do not converge at a midpoint of the back span  9 , so that tissues varying in clamping thickness to be stapled do not require staples having legs of different heights to be used, that is, the staple cartridge loaded with the staples having the legs being the same in height is applicable to stapling tissues varying in clamping thickness. However, a large spacing  47  is formed between the spiral staple  44  and the crossing legs  45  and  46 , which is likely to incur leakage and bleeding at the edge of the stapled tissue, so that in order to facilitate sealing and bleeding-stopping of the edge of the stapled tissue, an embodiment of the surgical stapler using the spirally shaped staples in the US Patent Publication No. 20110087276 uses more rows of staples than the surgical stapler using B-shaped staples, which increases the volume of the surgical stapler and the stapling width of the stapled tissue, thereby not only shrinking the application scope of the surgery using the surgical stapler but also increasing the cost of the surgical stapler. Therefore, the surgical staple and the staple pocket are required to be improved. 
         [0009]    It can be obviously seen from the above that, a large number of varieties of surgical staplers have been designed, and the development work of the staples and the staple pockets for new surgical staplers continues, so as to further improve the surgical staplers that are annually extensively used around the world, aiming at achieving the surgical purpose of reliable tissue stapling, making the use convenient, and reducing the costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0010]    An objective of the present invention is to provide surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple, so that a back span and two legs of an staple form an M-shaped staple, and a staple pocket comprises a side surface, a bottom surface, and an oblique ridge that are formed after the staple pocket is inward recessed on the tissue contacting surface of a staple anvil. Therefore, when tissue varying in thickness is stapled by using staples of the same height, each staple driver pushes the M-shaped staple out of the staple cartridge, and urges tips of the M-shaped staple against the staple pocket of the staple anvil, so that the two legs of the M-shaped staple bend along staple guide lines of the staple pocket respectively, so as to bend the M-shaped staple to form a kidney-shaped staple, thereby not only achieving the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the edge of the stapled tissue and facilitating the healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue, but also making the use of the surgical stapler convenient and reducing the costs. 
         [0011]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple, so that multiple staple pockets are staggered-arranged on two or more rings or in two or more rows on the tissue contacting surface of a staple anvil, and positions of M-shaped staples arranged in a staple cartridge correspond to positions of the staple pockets arranged on the surface of the staple anvil. The degree in which a middle portion of a back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on an inner ring or on a near side of the cutter slot protrudes towards tips of two legs may be greater than the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on an outer ring or on a far side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs. Therefore, when staples of the same height are used to staple tissue varying in thickness, not only the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the edge of the stapled tissue is achieved, but also the surgical effect of facilitating the healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue is achieved. 
         [0012]    Currently, the well-known surgical staples are located in the staple cartridge, the staple comprises a back span and two legs, and end portions of the two legs are provided with tips respectively; the well-known staple pocket comprises a side surface and a bottom surface that are formed after inward recessing on the tissue contacting surface of the staple anvil, and the staple pockets forms perimeters on the surface of the staple anvil. Staple drivers pushe the staples out of the staple cartridge, and urge the tips of the staples against the staple pockets of the staple anvil, so as to bend the legs of the staples. 
         [0013]    The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions. 
         [0014]    In surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple according to the present invention, the staple pocket comprises a side surface, a bottom surface, and an oblique ridge that are formed after the staple pocket is inward recessed on the tissue contacting surface of a staple anvil, a ridge line of an oblique ridge and a long axis of the staple pocket intersect and form an acute angle, a ridge top of the oblique ridge is inward recessed towards the bottom surface, the oblique ridge divides the bottom surface into two parts, and intersection lines between the side surface and the oblique ridge of the staple pocket and the bottom surface form staple guide lines of the staple pocket. The staples are located in a staple cartridge. The staple comprises a back span and two legs, end portions of the two legs are provided with tips respectively, and a middle portion of the back span protrudes towards the tips of the two legs, so that the back span and the two legs of the staple form an M-shaped staple. The axis of the back span may comprise several curve segments, may also comprise several straight line segments, and may also comprise curve segment and straight line segment, so that the back span and the two legs of the staple form the M-shaped staple. The section of the back span and legs of the staple may be round or not, and may also be polygonal. The pointed ends of two tips of a staple may be located on each outer side of the staple, and may also be located on each inner side of the staple. 
         [0015]    When a staple driver pushes the M-shaped staple out of the staple cartridge, the staple driver urges the tips of the two legs of the M-shaped staple against the staple pocket of the staple anvil, so that the two legs of the M-shaped staple bend along the staple guide lines of the staple pocket respectively, and meanwhile a portion, in the middle of the back span and protruding towards the tips of the two legs, moves towards a portion, inward recessed towards the bottom surface, of the ridge top of the oblique ridge on the staple pocket of the staple anvil, so as to bend the M-shaped staple to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
         [0016]    When the M-shaped staple is bent to form a kidney-shaped staple, the two legs of the M-shaped staple cross each other and bend, so that the two tips deviate from the middle portion of the back span. Therefore, tissues to be stapled and varying in clamping thickness do not require staples having legs of different heights to be used, that is, the staple cartridge loaded with the staples having the legs being the same in height is applicable to stapling tissue varying in clamping thickness. After the M-shaped staple is bent to form the kidney-shaped staple, the portion, in the middle of the back span of the M-shaped staple and protruding towards the tips of the two legs, protrudes into the crossing legs of the kidney-shaped staple, so that a spacing formed between the legs and the back span is narrow and long, the clamping force of the stapled tissue between the legs and the back span is distributed on the whole length of the back span, so as to achieve not only the surgical effect facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue but also the surgical effect of facilitating healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue, and achieve the use effect of making the use of the surgical stapler convenient and reducing the costs. 
         [0017]    The staple anvil of the present invention may be circular. Multiple staple pockets are staggered-arranged on two or more rings on the surface of the circular staple anvil. The positions of the M-shaped staples arranged in the staple cartridge correspond to the positions of the staple pockets arranged on the tissue contacting surface of the circular staple anvil. The degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on an inner ring protrudes towards the tips of the two legs may be greater than the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on an outer ring protrudes towards the tips of the two legs, and may also be the same as the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on the outer ring protrudes towards the tips of the two legs. Extension lines of ridge lines of oblique ridges of two adjacent staple pockets on two adjacent rings may intersect. 
         [0018]    The staple anvil of the present invention may be linear, and may specifically be in the shape of a straight line or in the shape of a curve. Multiple staple pockets are staggered-arranged in two or more rows on the tissue contacting surface of the linear staple anvil. Extension lines of ridge lines of oblique ridges of two adjacent staple pockets in two adjacent rows may intersect. The linear staple anvil may be provided with a cutter slot. Multiple staple pockets are arranged on two sides of the cutter slot of the linear staple anvil. The positions of the M-shaped staples arranged in the staple cartridge correspond to the positions of the staple pockets arranged on the surface of the linear staple anvil. The degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on a near side of the cutter slot of the linear staple anvil protrudes towards the tips of the two legs may be greater than the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on a far side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs, and may also be the same as the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on the far side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs. 
         [0019]    Multiple staple pockets are staggered-arranged on two or more rings or in two or more rows on the tissue contacting surface of the staple anvil, and the positions of the M-shaped staples arranged in the staple cartridge correspond to the positions of the staple pockets on the surface of the staple anvil, so that after the M-shaped staples are bent to form the kidney-shaped staples, the kidney-shaped staples of two adjacent rows collectively block gaps between the staples, thereby achieving the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue. Further, the extension lines of the ridge lines of the oblique ridges of two adjacent staple pockets on two adjacent rings or in two adjacent rows intersect, so that after the M-shaped staples are bent to form the kidney-shaped staples, the positions of the tips of the legs of two adjacent kidney-shaped staples on the two adjacent ring or in the two adjacent rows are staggered relative to each other, so as to achieve not only the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue but also the surgical effect of enhancing the strength at the stapled tissue. If the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on the inner ring or on the near side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs is greater than the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on the outer ring or on the far side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs, when staples having legs of the same height are used to staple tissues varying in thickness, not only the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the edge of the stapled tissue can be achieved, but also the surgical effect of facilitating the healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue can be achieved. 
         [0020]    The surgical staples and staple pockets for forming kidney-shaped staples in the present invention may be used in combination with surgical staples and staple pockets of another type according to surgical requirements on tissue stapling. For example, one ring or one row adopts the surgical staples and staple pockets for forming kidney-shaped staple in the present invention, and another ring or another row adopts surgical staples and staple pockets of another type. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an outside view of a well-known staple pocket. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an outside view of a well-known U-shaped staple. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of a well-known U-shaped staple against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an outside view showing that a well-known U-shaped staple bends on a staple pocket of a staple anvil to form a B-shaped staple. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an outside view of a well-known B-shaped staple that is shaped by bending. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an outside view of a well-known staple with a back span being W-shaped. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of a well-known staple, with a back span being W-shaped, against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is an outside view showing that a well-known staple, with a back span being W-shaped, is shaped on a staple pocket of a staple anvil by bending. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is an outside view of a well-known staple, with a back span being W-shaped, shaped by bending. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is an outside view of well-known bias-arranged staple pockets. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of a well-known U-shaped staple against bias-arranged staple pockets of a staple anvil. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is an outside view showing that a well-known U-shaped staple bends on bias-arranged staple pockets of a staple anvil to form a spiral staple by bending. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is an outside view of a well-known spiral staple that is shaped by bending. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is an outside view of an M-shaped staple having a back span with the axis comprising of a curve according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is an outside view a staple pocket for kidney-shaping according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple bends on a staple pocket of a staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple shaped by bending. 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  is an outside view of an M-shaped staple with the section being square according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple of  FIG. 19  against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0041]      FIG. 21  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple of  FIG. 19  bends on a staple pocket of a staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0042]      FIG. 22  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple of  FIG. 21  shaped by bending. 
           [0043]      FIG. 23  is an outside view of an M-shaped staple having a back span with the axis comprising of a bent line according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 24  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple of  FIG. 23  against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0045]      FIG. 25  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple of  FIG. 23  bends on a staple pocket of a staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0046]      FIG. 26  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple of  FIG. 25  shaped by bending. 
           [0047]      FIG. 27  is an outside view of an M-shaped staple having a back span with the axis comprising of a curve and a bent line according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 28  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple of  FIG. 27  against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0049]      FIG. 29  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple of  FIG. 27  bends on a staple pocket of a staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0050]      FIG. 30  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple of  FIG. 29  shaped by bending. 
           [0051]      FIG. 31  is an outside view of a circular staple anvil according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 32  is an outside view of a staple pushing ring. 
           [0053]      FIG. 33  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple against a staple pocket of a circular staple anvil (the staple pushing ring is removed). 
           [0054]      FIG. 34  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple bends on a staple pocket of a circular staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0055]      FIG. 35  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple shaped by bending on a staple pocket of a circular staple anvil. 
           [0056]      FIG. 36  is an outside view of a linear staple anvil according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 37  is an outside view of a staple driver and an M-shaped staple. 
           [0058]      FIG. 38  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple against a staple pocket of a linear staple anvil (the staple pushing ring is removed). 
           [0059]      FIG. 39  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple bends on a staple pocket of a linear staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0060]      FIG. 40  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple shaped by bending on a staple pocket of a linear staple anvil. 
           [0061]      FIG. 41  is an outside view of an M-shaped staple according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 42  is an outside view of a staple pocket for kidney-shaping an staple according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0063]      FIG. 43  is an outside view showing that a staple driver urges tips of an M-shaped staple against a staple pocket of a staple anvil. 
           [0064]      FIG. 44  is an outside view showing that an M-shaped staple bends on a staple pocket of a staple anvil to form a kidney-shaped staple. 
           [0065]      FIG. 45  is an outside view of a kidney-shaped staple shaped by bending. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0066]    Preferred embodiments of surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple according to the present invention are described below through examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. The scope of the present invention is specified by the claims. It should be known that some or all of the accompanying drawings are schematic drawings for illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not illustrate the real size of what is shown. By referring to the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments, the above and other objectives and advantages of the present invention may be better understood. 
         [0067]    The processes of various surgical staples and staple pockets for forming kidney-shaped staples according to embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to  FIG. 14  to  FIG. 40 , so as to illustrate effects of the kidney-shaped surgical staples and the staple pockets. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , an staple  50  arranged in a staple cartridge (not shown) comprises a back span  51  and two legs  52  and  53 . End portions of the two legs  52  and  53  are provided with tips  54  and  55  respectively. Pointed ends of the tips  54  and  55  of the staple  50  are located on an inner side of the staple  50 . A middle portion  56  of the back span  51  protrudes towards the tips  54  and  55  of the two legs  52  and  53 , and the axis of the back span  51  comprises several curve segments, so that the back span  51  and the two legs  52  and  53  of the staple  50  form an M-shaped staple  50 . 
         [0069]    A staple pocket  57  shown in  FIG. 15  comprises a side surface  59 , a bottom surface  60 , and an oblique ridge  61  that are formed after the staple pocket  57  is inward recessed on a tissue contacting surface of a staple anvil  58 . The staple pocket  57  forms perimeter  62  on the surface of the staple anvil  58 . A ridge line of the oblique ridge  61  and a long axis of the staple pocket  57  intersect and form an acute angle. A ridge top  65  of the oblique ridge  61  is inward recessed towards the bottom surface  60 . The oblique ridge  61  divides the bottom surface  60  into two parts. Intersection lines between the side surface  59  and the oblique ridge  61  of the staple pocket  57  and the bottom surface  60  form staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pocket  57  respectively. 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 18 , when a staple driver  68  pushes the M-shaped staple  50  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple driver  68  urges the tips  54  and  55  of the two legs  52  and  53  of the M-shaped staple  50  against the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so that the two legs  52  and  53  of the M-shaped staple  50  bend along the staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pocket  57  respectively, and meanwhile the protruding portion  56  in the middle of the back span  51  moves towards an inward recessed portion  69  of the ridge top  65  of the oblique ridge  61  on the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so as to bend the M-shaped staple  50  to form a kidney-shaped staple  70 . 
         [0071]    The section of the back span and legs of the M-shaped staple may be round as shown in the forgoing drawing, and may be of other shapes. The section of a back span  81  and legs  82  and  83  of an M-shaped staple  80  shown in  FIG. 19  is square. As shown in  FIG. 20  to  FIG. 22 , when a staple driver  84  pushes the M-shaped staple  80  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple driver  84  urges tips  85  and  86  of the two legs  82  and  83  of the M-shaped staple  80  against the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so that the two legs  82  and  83  of the M-shaped staple  80  bend along the staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pocket  57  respectively, and meanwhile a protruding portion  87  in the middle of the back span  81  moves towards the inward recessed portion  69  of the ridge top  65  of the oblique ridge  61  on the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so as to bend the M-shaped staple  80  to form a kidney-shaped staple  88 . 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 23 , an staple  90  arranged in a staple cartridge (not shown) comprises a back span  91  and two legs  92  and  93 . End portions of the two legs  92  and  93  are provided with tips  94  and  95  respectively. A middle portion  96  of the back span  91  protrudes towards the tips  94  and  95  of the two legs  92  and  93 , and the axis of the back span  91  comprises several straight line segments, so that the back span  91  and the two legs  92  and  93  of the staple  90  form an M-shaped staple  90 . 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 24  to  FIG. 26 , when a staple driver  97  pushes the M-shaped staple  90  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple driver  97  urges tips  94  and  95  of the two legs  92  and  93  of the M-shaped staple  90  against the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so that the two legs  92  and  93  of the M-shaped staple  90  bend along the staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pocket  57  respectively, and meanwhile a protruding portion  96  in the middle of the back span  91  moves towards the inward recessed portion  69  of the ridge top  65  of the oblique ridge  61  on the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so as to bend the M-shaped staple  90  to form a kidney-shaped staple  98 . 
         [0074]    As shown in  FIG. 27 , an staple  100  arranged in a staple cartridge (not shown) comprises a back span  101  and two legs  102  and  103 . End portions of the two legs  102  and  103  are provided with tips  104  and  105  respectively. A middle portion  106  of the back span  101  protrudes towards the tips  104  and  105  of the two legs  102  and  103 , and the axis of the back span  101  comprises curve segment and straight line segment, so that the back span  101  and the two legs  102  and  103  of the staple  100  form an M-shaped staple  100 . 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 28  to  FIG. 30 , when a staple driver  107  pushes the M-shaped staple  100  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple driver  107  urges tips  104  and  105  of the two legs  102  and  103  of the M-shaped staple  100  against the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so that the two legs  102  and  103  of the M-shaped staple  100  bend along the staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pocket  57  respectively, and meanwhile a protruding portion  106  in the middle of the back span  101  moves towards the inward recessed portion  69  of the ridge top  65  of the oblique ridge  61  on the staple pocket  57  of the staple anvil  58 , so as to bend the M-shaped staple  100  to form a kidney-shaped staple  108 . 
         [0076]    As shown in  FIG. 14  to  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 23  to  FIG. 26 , and  FIG. 31  to  FIG. 35 , multiple staple pockets  57  are staggered-arranged on two rings on a tissue contacting surface of a circular anvil  110 . M-shaped staples  50  and staples  90  arranged in a staple cartridge (not shown) correspond to positions of the staple pockets  57  arranged on the surface of the circular anvil  110 . The M-shaped staple  50  is arranged on an outer ring of the staple cartridge, and the M-shaped staple  90  is arranged on an inner ring of the staple cartridge. The degree in which the middle portion  96  of the back span  91  of the M-shaped staple  90  arranged on the inner ring protrudes towards the tips  94  and  95  of the two legs  92  and  93  is greater than the degree in which the middle portion  56  of the back span  51  of the M-shaped staple  50  arranged on the outer ring protrudes towards the tips  54  and  55  of the two legs  52  and  53 . Extension lines of ridge lines of oblique ridges  113  and  114  of two adjacent staple pockets  111  and  112  on two adjacent rings intersect. 
         [0077]    When a staple pushing ring  115  pushes the M-shaped staples  50  and  90  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple pushing ring  115  urges the tips  54  and  55  of the two legs  52  and  53  of each M-shaped staple  50  and the tips  94  and  95  of the two legs  92  and  93  of each M-shaped staple  90  against the staple pockets  57  of the circular anvil  110 , so that the two legs  52  and  53  of each M-shaped staple  50  and the two legs  92  and  93  of each M-shaped staple  90  bend along the staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pockets  57  respectively, and meanwhile the protruding portion  56  in the middle of the back span  51  of each M-shaped staple  50  and the protruding portion  96  in the middle of the back span  91  of each M-shaped staple  90  move towards the inward recessed portions  69  of the ridge tops  65  of the oblique ridges  61  on the staple pockets  57  of the anvil  110 , so as to bend the M-shaped staples  50  to form kidney-shaped staples  70  and bend the M-shaped staples  90  to form kidney-shaped staples  98 . In this case, tips  117  of the legs  116  of the kidney-shaped staples  70  and tips  119  of the legs  118  of the kidney-shaped staples  98 , which are adjacent and in two adjacent rings, are staggered relative to each other. 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIG. 14  to  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 23  to  FIG. 26 , and  FIG. 36  to  FIG. 40 , multiple staple pockets  57  are staggered-arranged in two rows on two sides of a cutter slot  121  on a tissue contacting surface of a linear anvil  120 . M-shaped staples  50  and  90  arranged in a staple cartridge (not shown) correspond to positions of the staple pockets  57  arranged on the surface of the linear anvil  120 . The M-shaped staples  50  are arranged on a far side of the cutter slot  121 . The M-shaped staples  90  are arranged on a near side of the cutter slot  121 . The degree in which the middle portion  96  of the back span  91  of each M-shaped staple  90  arranged on the near side of the cutter slot  121  of the linear anvil  120  protrudes towards the tips  94  and  95  of the two legs  92  and  93  is greater than the degree in which the middle portion  56  of the back span  51  of each M-shaped staple  50  arranged on the far side of the cutter slot  121  protrudes towards the tips  54  and  55  of the two legs  52  and  53 . Extension lines of ridge lines of oblique ridges  124  and  125  of two adjacent staple pockets  122  and  123  in two adjacent rows intersect. 
         [0079]    When staple drivers  126  push the M-shaped staples  50  and  90  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple driver  126  urges the tips  54  and  55  of the two legs  52  and  53  of each M-shaped staple  50  and the tips  94  and  95  of the two legs  92  and  93  of each M-shaped staple  90  against the staple pockets  57  of the linear anvil  120 , so that the two legs  52  and  53  of each M-shaped staple  50  and the two legs  92  and  93  of each M-shaped staple  90  bend along the staple guide lines  66  and  67  of the staple pockets  57  respectively, and meanwhile the protruding portion  56  in the middle of the back span  51  of each M-shaped staple  50  and the protruding portion  96  in the middle of the back span  91  of each M-shaped staple  90  move towards the inward recessed portions  69  of the ridge tops  65  of the oblique ridges  61  on the staple pockets  57  of the anvil  120 , so as to bend the M-shaped staples  50  to form a kidney-shaped staples  70  and bend the M-shaped staples  90  to form a kidney-shaped staples  98 . In this case, tips  128  of the legs  127  of the kidney-shaped staples  70  and tips  130  of the legs  129  of the kidney-shaped staples  98 , which are adjacent and in two adjacent rows, are staggered relative to each other. 
         [0080]    The processes of surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple according to a second embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to  FIG. 41  to  FIG. 45 , so as to illustrate effects of the surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple. 
         [0081]    As shown in  FIG. 41 , an staple  131  arranged in a staple cartridge (not shown) comprises a back span  132  and two legs  133  and  134 . End portions of the two legs  133  and  134  of the staple  131  are provided with tips  135  and  136  respectively. Pointed ends of the tips  135  and  136  of the staple  131  are located on an outer side of the staple  131 . A middle portion  137  of the back span  132  of the staple  131  protrudes towards the tips  135  and  136  of the two legs  133  and  134 , so that the back span  132  and the two legs  133  and  134  of the staple  131  form an M-shaped staple  131 . 
         [0082]    A staple pocket  138  shown in  FIG. 42  comprises a side surface  140 , a bottom surface  141 , and an oblique ridge  142  that are formed after inward recessing on a tissue contacting surface of a anvil  139 . The staple pocket  138  forms perimeter  143  on the surface of the anvil  139 . A ridge line of the oblique ridge  142  and a long axis of the staple pocket  138  intersect and form an acute angle. A ridge top  144  of the oblique ridge  142  is inward recessed towards the bottom surface  141 . The oblique ridge  142  divides the bottom surface  141  into two parts. Intersection lines between the side surface  140  and the oblique ridge  142  of the staple pocket  138  and the bottom surface  141  form staple guide lines  146  and  147  of the staple pocket  138  respectively. 
         [0083]    As shown in  FIG. 43  to  FIG. 45 , when a staple driver  148  pushes the M-shaped staple  131  out of a staple cartridge (not shown), the staple driver  148  urges tips  135  and  136  of the two legs  133  and  134  of the M-shaped staple  131  against the staple pocket  138  of the anvil  139 , so that the two legs  133  and  134  of the M-shaped staple  131  bend along the staple guide lines  146  and  147  of the staple pocket  138  respectively, and meanwhile a protruding portion  137  in the middle of the back span  132  moves towards an inward recessed portion  145  of the ridge top  144  of the oblique ridge  142  on the staple pocket  138  of the anvil  139 , so as to bend the M-shaped staple  131  to form a kidney-shaped staple  149 . 
         [0084]    The surgical staples and staple pockets for forming kidney-shaped staples in the present invention may be used in combination with surgical staples and staple pockets of another type according to surgical requirements on tissue stapling. For example, one ring or one row adopts the surgical staples and staple pockets for forming kidney-shaped staples in the present invention, and another ring or another row adopts surgical staples and staple pockets of another type. 
         [0085]    It can be seen from the above detailed descriptions that, compared with the surgical staples and the staple pockets thereof in the various existing surgical staplers, the surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple in the present invention have the following technical effects. 
         [0086]    In the surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple according to the present invention, when the M-shaped staple is bent to form a kidney-shaped staple, the two legs of the M-shaped staple cross each other and bend, so that the two tips deviate from the middle portion of the back span. Therefore, tissues to be stapled and varying in clamping thickness do not require staples having legs of different heights to be used, that is, the staple cartridge loaded with the M-shaped staples having the legs being the same in height is applicable to stapling tissues varying in clamping thickness. After the M-shaped staple is bent to form the kidney-shaped staple, the portion, in the middle of the back span of the M-shaped staple and protruding towards the tips of the two legs, protrudes into the crossing legs of the kidney-shaped staple, so that a spacing formed between the bent legs and the back span is narrow and long, the clamping force of the stapled tissue between the legs and the back span is distributed on the whole length of the back span, so as to achieve not only the surgical effect facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue but also the surgical effect of facilitating healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue, and achieve the use effect of making the use of the surgical stapler convenient and reducing the costs. 
         [0087]    In the surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple according to the present invention, multiple staple pockets are staggered-arranged on two or more rings or in two or more rows on the tissue contacting surface of the staple anvil, and the positions of the M-shaped staples arranged in the staple cartridge correspond to the positions of the staple pockets on the surface of the staple anvil, so that after the M-shaped staples are bent to form the kidney-shaped staples, the kidney-shaped staples of two adjacent rows are staggered-arranged and can collectively block gaps between the staples, thereby achieving the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue. Further, the extension lines of the ridge lines of the oblique ridges of two adjacent staple pockets on two adjacent rings or in two adjacent rows intersect, so that after the M-shaped staples are bent to form the kidney-shaped staples, the positions of the tips of the legs of two adjacent kidney-shaped staples on the two adjacent ring or in the two adjacent rows are staggered relative to each other, so as to achieve not only the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the stapled tissue but also the surgical effect of enhancing the strength at the stapled tissue. If the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on the inner ring or on the near side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs is greater than the degree in which the middle portion of the back span of the M-shaped staple arranged on the outer ring or on the far side of the cutter slot protrudes towards the tips of the two legs, when staples of the same height are used to staple stapled tissues varying in thickness, not only the surgical effect of facilitating sealing and bleeding-stopping of the edge of the stapled tissue can be achieved, but also the surgical effect of facilitating the healing of the surrounding tissue of the inner side of the edge of the stapled tissue can be achieved. 
         [0088]    Therefore, it can be seen that the objectives, including the objectives shown by the above descriptions, are effectively achieved. Only typical and preferred embodiments of the present invention are described herein, and some changes may be made to the aforementioned structures without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to or confined by the described specific details, and shall include, as stated in the claims, any improvement or modification obvious to persons of ordinary skill in the art.