Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes
First Claim
1. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
- a first surface having a first plurality of retention slots and a first planar axis, said first surface including first and second sides;
a second surface having a second plurality of retention slots and a second planar axis, said second surface including first and second sides, said first side of said second surface being adjacent said second side of said first surface, wherein said first and second planar axes intersect to define an obtuse angle therebetween; and
a first and a second plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first and second pluralities of retention slots, respectively, said first and second pluralities of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs, said first plurality of surgical fasteners having a first leg length, said second plurality of surgical fasteners having a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
324 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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a first surface having a first plurality of retention slots and a first planar axis, said first surface including first and second sides;
a second surface having a second plurality of retention slots and a second planar axis, said second surface including first and second sides, said first side of said second surface being adjacent said second side of said first surface, wherein said first and second planar axes intersect to define an obtuse angle therebetween; and
a first and a second plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first and second pluralities of retention slots, respectively, said first and second pluralities of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs, said first plurality of surgical fasteners having a first leg length, said second plurality of surgical fasteners having a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
two portions, each of said portions comprising;
a first surface having a first plurality of retention slots and a first planar axis, said first surface including first and second sides;
a second surface having a second plurality of retention slots and a second planar axis, said second surface including first and second sides, said first side of said second surface being adjacent said second side of said first surface, wherein said first and second planar axes intersect to define an obtuse angle therebetween; and
a first and a second plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first and second pluralities of retention slots, respectively, said first and second pluralities of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs, said first plurality of surgical fasteners having a first leg length, said second plurality of surgical fasteners having a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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a staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising;
a first surface having a first plurality of retention slots and a first planar axis, said first surface including first and second sides;
a second surface having a second plurality of retention slots and a second planar axis, said second surface including first and second sides, said first side of said second surface being adjacent said second side of said first surface, wherein said first and second planar axes intersect to define an obtuse angle therebetween; and
a first and a second plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first and second pluralities of retention slots, respectively, said first and second pluralities of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs, said first plurality of surgical fasteners having a first leg length, said second plurality of surgical fasteners having a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length; and
an anvil member positionable with respect to said staple cartridge and defining a plurality of different gaps disposed between said anvil and said staple cartridge such that when said anvil member is proximate to said staple cartridge, a first gap between said first surface of said staple cartridge and said anvil is less than a second gap between said second surface of said staple cartridge and said anvil. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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a first surface having a first plurality of retention slots and a first planar axis;
a second surface having a second plurality of retention slots and a second planar axis, wherein said first planar axis is substantially parallel to said second planar axis;
a third surface interposed between said first and second surfaces, said third surface having a third planar axis that intersects said first and second planar axes; and
a first and second plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first and second pluralities of retention slots, respectively, said first and second pluralities of surgical fastener including a backspan and a pair of legs, said first plurality of surgical fasteners having a first leg length, said second plurality of surgical fasteners having a second leg length, and said second leg length being different than said first leg length. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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a convex surface having a center, said convex surface including left and right sides extending away from said center, each of said left and right sides having a first and a second plurality of retention slots;
a first and a second plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in said first and second plurality of retention slots, respectively, said first and second pluralities of surgical fasteners including a backspan and a pair of legs, said first plurality of surgical fasteners having a first leg length, said second plurality of surgical fasteners having a second leg length, and said second leg length is different than said first leg length. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
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a staple cartridge having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces each include a plurality of retention slots and define a planar axis, each retention slot being dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener, the first surface being adjacent to the second surface wherein the first planar axis does not intersect the second planar axis;
an anvil member cooperative with the staple cartridge such that when the anvil member is proximate to the staple cartridge a plurality of gaps are defined therebetween, wherein a first gap between the first surface and the anvil member is not equal to a second gap between the second surface and the anvil member. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification