SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED CUTTING MEMBER
First Claim
1. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
- a first jaw;
a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction;
a curved path extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved path curves in the first direction; and
a cutting element structured to travel along said curved path, wherein said cutting element comprises a pre-biased cutting edge, and wherein said pre-biased cutting edge is structured to lead said cutting element in the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a curved end-effector which is configured to deploy staples in at least one curved staple line. The surgical stapler can include a staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein, an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cutting member having a cutting surface. The staple cartridge and/or anvil can include a curved slot configured for receiving and guiding the cutting member wherein at least a portion of the cutting member can be defined by a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of the slot. In these embodiments, the curved cutting member can be easily moved within the curved slot thereby reducing the possibility that the cutting member will become stuck within the slot.
395 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
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a first jaw; a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction; a curved path extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved path curves in the first direction; and a cutting element structured to travel along said curved path, wherein said cutting element comprises a pre-biased cutting edge, and wherein said pre-biased cutting edge is structured to lead said cutting element in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
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a first jaw; a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction; a curved slot extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved slot curves in the first direction; and a cutting element structured to travel along said curved slot, wherein said cutting element comprises a pre-biased cutting edge, and wherein said pre-biased cutting edge guides said cutting element toward the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
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a first jaw; a second jaw moveable relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, and wherein said curved staple cavity rows curve in a first direction; a curved path extending between two curved staple cavity rows of said plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein said curved path curves in the first direction; and a cutting element structured to travel along said curved path, wherein said cutting element comprises means for leading said cutting element in a predisposed direction, and wherein the predisposed direction corresponds to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification