SURGICAL STAPLE AND DRIVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR STAPLE CARTRIDGES
First Claim
1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body;
a plurality of staples removably positioned in the cartridge body;
a driver movably positioned relative to the cartridge body, wherein the driver comprises a plurality of troughs, and wherein each of the troughs comprises;
a first end;
a second end; and
a trough axis extending between the first end and the second end; and
a sled configured to move along a firing path at least partially through the cartridge body, wherein the firing path crosses at least one of the trough axes.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A staple cartridge that includes a multi-staple driver is disclosed. The multi-staple driver is configured to drive multiple staples from the staple cartridge. The staples are arranged in a staple array in which at least one staple is angularly-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge. The multi-staple driver can drive staples at various angular orientations and/or from multiple rows of staple cavities. A driverless staple cartridge is also disclosed. A sled in the driverless cartridge is configured to directly engage and drive staples. The staples are arranged in a staple array in which at least one staple is angularly-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the driverless staple cartridge.
427 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in the cartridge body; a driver movably positioned relative to the cartridge body, wherein the driver comprises a plurality of troughs, and wherein each of the troughs comprises; a first end; a second end; and a trough axis extending between the first end and the second end; and a sled configured to move along a firing path at least partially through the cartridge body, wherein the firing path crosses at least one of the trough axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a deck, wherein a longitudinal slot is defined at least partially through the cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined into the cartridge body, and wherein the plurality of staple cavities comprises; a first staple cavity comprising a first opening in the deck on a first side of the longitudinal slot; and a second staple cavity comprising a second opening in the deck on the first side of the longitudinal slot; a plurality of staples, comprising; a first staple removably positioned in the first staple cavity, wherein the first staple comprises a first base; and a second staple removably positioned in the second staple cavity, wherein the second staple comprises a second base; and a driver movably positioned relative to the cartridge body, wherein the driver comprises; a first trough, wherein the first base is aligned with the first trough; and a second trough, wherein the second base is aligned with the second trough, and wherein the second trough is angularly-oriented relative to the first trough. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a deck, wherein a longitudinal slot is defined at least partially through the cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined into the cartridge body, wherein the plurality of staple cavities comprises a staple cavity comprising an opening in the deck on a first side of the longitudinal slot, and wherein the opening is angularly-oriented relative to the longitudinal slot; and a staple removably positioned in the staple cavity and comprising a sled-engagement surface, wherein the staple is configured to move from an unfired position to a fired position relative to the cartridge body; and a sled comprising a staple-engagement surface, wherein the sled is configured to move along the longitudinal slot at least partially through the cartridge body, and wherein the staple-engagement surface is configured to directly engage the sled-engagement surface to move the staple from the unfired position to the fired position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification