STAPLING ASSEMBLY FOR FORMING DIFFERENT FORMED STAPLE HEIGHTS
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling assembly can include a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a firing system configured to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The firing system can include a firing member configured to relatively position the anvil and the staple cartridge.
383 Citations
42 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. An end effector for fastening tissue, comprising:
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a cartridge comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal row of staple cavities and a second longitudinal row of staple cavities; a plurality of first staples removably stored within said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said first staple comprises; a first base comprising a first bottom surface; a pair of first legs extending from said first base, wherein said first legs extend in directions which are not parallel to each other, and wherein each said first leg comprises a first tip configured to pierce tissue; and a first preformed height measured between said first bottom surface and said first tip; a plurality of second staples removably stored within said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said second staple comprises; a second base comprising a second bottom surface; a pair of second legs extending from said second base, wherein said second legs extend in directions which are not parallel to each other, and wherein each said second leg comprises a second tip configured to pierce tissue; and a second preformed height measured between said second bottom surface and said second tip; an anvil configured to deform said first staples to a first deformed height and said second staples to a second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height; a plurality of staple drivers, wherein said staple drivers are configured to lift said first staples and said second staples toward said anvil; and a firing member configured to lift said staple drivers toward said anvil, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said anvil and a second portion configured to engage said cartridge, wherein said anvil comprises a first slot configured to receive said first portion of said firing member, wherein said cartridge comprises a second slot configured to receive said second portion of said firing member, and wherein said firing member is configured to relatively position said anvil and said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An end effector for fastening tissue, comprising:
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a cartridge comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal row of staple cavities and a second longitudinal row of staple cavities; a first staple removably stored within said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first staple comprises; a first base comprising a first bottom surface; a pair of first legs extending from said first base, wherein said first legs extend in directions which are not parallel to each other, and wherein each said first leg comprises a first tip configured to pierce tissue; and a first preformed height measured between said first bottom surface and said first tip; a second staple removably stored within said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second staple comprises; a second base comprising a second bottom surface; a pair of second legs extending from said second base, wherein said second legs extend in directions which are not parallel to each other, and wherein each said second leg comprises a second tip configured to pierce tissue; and a second preformed height measured between said second bottom surface and said second tip; an anvil configured to deform said first staple to a first deformed height and said second staple to a second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height comprises the overall height of the first staple in its fully deformed configuration, wherein said second deformed height comprises the height of the second staple in its fully deformed configuration; a staple driver system configured to lift said first staple and said second staple toward said anvil; and a firing member configured to lift said staple driver system toward said anvil, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said anvil and a second portion configured to engage said cartridge, and wherein said firing member is configured to relatively position said anvil and said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An end effector for fastening tissue, comprising:
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a cartridge comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal row of staple cavities, a second longitudinal row of staple cavities, and a deck configured to support tissue, and wherein said deck comprises; a first surface, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said first surface; a second surface, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said second surface; and a wall defined between said first surface and said second surface; a plurality of first staples removably stored within said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said first staple comprises; a first base comprising a first bottom surface; a pair of first legs extending from said first base, wherein said first legs extend in directions which are not parallel to each other, and wherein each said first leg comprises a first tip configured to pierce tissue; and a first preformed height measured between said first bottom surface and said first tip; a plurality of second staples removably stored within said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said second staple comprises; a second base comprising a second bottom surface; a pair of second legs extending from said second base, wherein said second legs extend in directions which are not parallel to each other, and wherein each said second leg comprises a second tip configured to pierce tissue; and a second preformed height measured between said second bottom surface and said second tip, wherein said second preformed height is different than said first preformed height; an anvil configured to deform said first staples to a first deformed height and said second staples to a second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height; a plurality of staple drivers, wherein said staple drivers are configured to lift said first staples and said second staples toward said anvil; and a firing member configured to lift said staple drivers toward said anvil, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said anvil and a second portion configured to engage said cartridge, and wherein said firing member is configured to relatively position said anvil and said cartridge.
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Specification