Fastener cartridge assembly comprising a cam and driver arrangement
First Claim
1. A surgical stapling assembly for stapling and cutting tissue, comprising:
- an anvil;
a firing member including a tissue cutting portion; and
a replaceable cartridge, comprising;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of first staples positioned in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of second staples positioned in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of drivers configured to drive said first staples and said second staples against said anvil; and
a sled movable from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises;
a plurality of first rails positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and
a plurality of second rails positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said first rails are configured to lift said drivers toward said anvil to deform said first staples to a first formed height and said second staples to a second formed height, wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height, and wherein at least one said first rail comprises a height which is different than the height of another said first rail.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling assembly comprising an anvil, a firing member, and a replaceable cartridge is disclosed. The replaceable cartridge comprises a longitudinal slot, a first row of staple cavities, a second row of staple cavities, first staples, second staples, staple drivers, and a sled. The sled comprises a plurality of first rails positioned on a first side of the longitudinal slot and a plurality of second rails positioned on a second side of the longitudinal slot. The first rails are configured to lift the drivers toward the anvil to deform the first staples to a first formed height and the second staples to a second formed height. The first formed height is different than the second formed height. At least one first rail of the plurality of first rails comprises a height which is different than the height of another first rail of the plurality of first rails.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A surgical stapling assembly for stapling and cutting tissue, comprising:
-
an anvil; a firing member including a tissue cutting portion; and a replaceable cartridge, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member; a first longitudinal row of staple cavities; a second longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of first staples positioned in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of second staples positioned in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of drivers configured to drive said first staples and said second staples against said anvil; and a sled movable from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises; a plurality of first rails positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and a plurality of second rails positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said first rails are configured to lift said drivers toward said anvil to deform said first staples to a first formed height and said second staples to a second formed height, wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height, and wherein at least one said first rail comprises a height which is different than the height of another said first rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A replaceable staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an anvil, said replaceable staple cartridge comprising:
-
a cartridge body; a proximal end; a distal end; a longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end toward said distal end; a first longitudinal row of staple cavities; a second longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of first staples positioned in said first longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of second staples positioned in said second longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of drivers configured to drive said first staples and said second staples against the anvil; and a sled movable from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises; a plurality of first ramps positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and a plurality of second ramps positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said first ramps are configured to lift said drivers toward the anvil to deform said first staples to a first formed height and said second staples to a second formed height, wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height, and wherein at least one said first ramp comprises a ramp height which is different than the ramp height of another said first ramp. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A surgical fastening assembly for fastening and cutting tissue, comprising:
-
an anvil; a firing member including a tissue cutting portion; and a fastener cartridge, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member; a first longitudinal row of fastener cavities; a second longitudinal row of fastener cavities; a plurality of first fasteners positioned in said first longitudinal row of fastener cavities; a plurality of second fasteners positioned in said second longitudinal row of fastener cavities; a plurality of drivers configured to drive said first fasteners and said second fasteners against said anvil; and a sled movable from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises; a plurality of first rails positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and a plurality of second rails positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said first rails are configured to lift said drivers toward said anvil to deform said first fasteners to a first formed height and said second fasteners to a second formed height, wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height, and wherein at least one said first rail comprises a height which is different than the height of another said first rail. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification