Johnson & Johnson has filed a patent for an apparatus that includes a staple, a body, a staple driver, and an alignment feature. The alignment feature is designed to minimize rotation of the staple driver and includes various components such as a contact feature, an alignment member, a connecting portion, or an inwardly tapering portion. The apparatus aims to improve the stability and accuracy of staple insertion. GlobalData’s report on Johnson & Johnson gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Johnson & Johnson, Surgical robots was a key innovation area identified from patents. Johnson & Johnson's grant share as of September 2023 was 52%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
An apparatus for minimizing rotation of a staple driver
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230309991A1) describes an apparatus for stapling. The apparatus includes a staple, a body with a deck surface that has a staple aperture, and a staple driver that moves within the staple aperture. The patent claims an alignment feature that minimizes rotation of the staple driver as it advances the staple through the aperture. The alignment feature can include various components such as a contact feature, an alignment member, a connecting portion, or an inwardly tapering portion. These components are designed to guide the movement of the staple driver and ensure proper alignment during the stapling process.
The patent also mentions that the alignment feature can be formed using 3D printing technology. This means that the components of the alignment feature can be created using additive manufacturing processes, allowing for precise and customized designs. The alignment feature may include a contact feature that slidably contacts the inner surface of the staple aperture. This contact feature can be made from a compressible material to provide flexibility during the stapling process. Additionally, the alignment feature may have multiple contact features on different sides of the staple driver to further enhance alignment.
The alignment feature can also include an alignment member that extends perpendicular to the staple axis of the staple aperture. This alignment member helps maintain the orientation of the staple driver as it moves relative to the aperture. Furthermore, the alignment feature may include a connecting portion that remains coupled with the staple driver even in a disconnected state. This ensures minimal rotation of the staple driver during the stapling process.
The apparatus described in the patent can be used in conjunction with a staple cartridge and a surgical instrument. The staple cartridge includes the staple, body, staple driver, and alignment feature, and can be operatively coupled with a staple cartridge receiving portion of the surgical instrument.
Overall, this patent describes an apparatus for stapling that includes an alignment feature to minimize rotation of the staple driver and ensure accurate stapling. The use of 3D printing technology allows for precise manufacturing of the alignment feature components. This invention has potential applications in various fields where stapling is required, such as surgery or construction.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies
