Connected surgical staples and stapling instruments for deploying the same
First Claim
1. A surgical stapling system for stapling tissue, comprising:
- a first staple, wherein said first staple comprises;
a first deformable member;
a first base, wherein said first deformable member extends from said first base; and
a first crown, wherein said first crown is attached to said first base, wherein said first crown includes a first tissue-contacting surface, and wherein, upon deployment of said first staple, said first deformable member is configured to capture tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said first tissue-contacting surface;
a second stap1e, wherein said second staple comprises;
a second deformable member;
a second base wherein said second deformable member extends from said second base; and
a second crown, wherein said second crown is attached to said second base, wherein said second crown includes a second tissue-contacting surface, and wherein, upon deployment, said second deformable member is configured to capture tissue intermediate said second deformable member and said second tissue-contracting surface; and
a bridge connecting said first crown to said second crown, wherein said bridge is configured to be deployed with at least one of said first staple and said second staple when said first and second staples are deployed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling system comprising a first staple, a second staple, and a bridge connecting the first staple and the second staple. In at least one embodiment, the first staple and the second staple are part of a strip of staples. For example, the first and second staples can be included in a strip of staples that includes several staples that are attached end-to-end and/or attached side-by side. In use, the strip, or strips, of staples are inserted into a stapler which can be used to insert the staples into soft tissue, for example, and deform at least a portion of the staples to hold the tissue, or several layers of tissue, together.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A surgical stapling system for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a first staple, wherein said first staple comprises; a first deformable member; a first base, wherein said first deformable member extends from said first base; and a first crown, wherein said first crown is attached to said first base, wherein said first crown includes a first tissue-contacting surface, and wherein, upon deployment of said first staple, said first deformable member is configured to capture tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said first tissue-contacting surface; a second stap1e, wherein said second staple comprises; a second deformable member; a second base wherein said second deformable member extends from said second base; and a second crown, wherein said second crown is attached to said second base, wherein said second crown includes a second tissue-contacting surface, and wherein, upon deployment, said second deformable member is configured to capture tissue intermediate said second deformable member and said second tissue-contracting surface; and a bridge connecting said first crown to said second crown, wherein said bridge is configured to be deployed with at least one of said first staple and said second staple when said first and second staples are deployed. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 24, 25)
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2. (canceled)
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6. A surgical stapling system for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a first staple, wherein said first staple comprises; a first deformable member; a first base, wherein said first deformable member extends from said first base; and a first crown, wherein said first crown is attached to said first base, wherein said first crown includes a first tissue-contacting surface, and wherein, upon deployment, said first deformable member is configured to capture tissue intermediate said first deformable member and said first tissue-contacting surface; a second staple, wherein said second staple comprises; a second deformable member; a second base, wherein said second deformable member extends from said second base; and a second crown, wherein said second crown is attached to said base, wherein said second crown includes a second tissue-contacting surface, and wherein, upon deployment, said second deformable member is configured to capture tissue intermediate said second deformable member and said second tissue-contracting and connection means for connecting said first crown and said second crown. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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7. (canceled)
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11. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
a stapler, said stapler including; an anvil, said anvil including a forming surface; and a staple cartridge, said staple cartridge configured for removably storing a first staple and a second staple therein, said first staple being connected to said second staple by a bridge, said staple cartridge including a top surface, said top surface having at least one recess therein for receiving said first staple and said second staple, said top surface further including an intermediate recess therein configured to releasably receive said bridge, said intermediate recess configured to allow said bridge to be released with at least one of said first staple and said second staple, and wherein said forming surface is disposed opposite said top surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 23)
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16. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
a stapler, said stapler including; an anvil, said anvil including a forming surface; and a staple cartridge, said staple cartridge configured for removably storing a first staple and a second staple therein, said first staple being connected to said second staple by a bridge, said staple cartridge including a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface disposed opposite said forming surface, said bottom surface having at least one recess therein for receiving said first staple, said second staple, and said bridge, and wherein said recess comprises a first portion configured to receive said first staple, a second portion configured to receive said second staple, and an intermediate portion positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion configured to receive said a bridge connecting said first staple and said second staple through said bottom surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
a stapler, said stapler including; an anvil, said anvil including a forming surface; and a staple cartridge, said staple cartridge configured for removably storing a first staple and a second staple therein, said first staple being connected to said second staple by a bridge, said staple cartridge including at least one recess therein for receiving said first staple and said second staple, said staple cartridge including an intermediate recess therein for releasably receiving said bridge in a press-fit manner such that said bridge can be deployed with at least one of said first and second staples when said first and second staples are deployed. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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26. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
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a first staple; a second staple; and a bridge connecting said first staple and said second staple, wherein at least a portion of said bridge is flexible such that said first staple is not detached from said second staple when said first staple is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification