STAPLE CARTRIDGE
First Claim
1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
- a cartridge body, comprising;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface;
a slot defined in said deck, wherein said slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end;
a plurality of staple cavities;
a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities which are arranged in a staple pattern; and
a tissue stop positioned in said slot, wherein said tissue stop extends above said deck surface, wherein said tissue stop is positioned within said staple pattern, and wherein said tissue stop is configured to inhibit the distal flow of tissue relative to said deck.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises a tissue stop configured to inhibit tissue from flowing out of the distal end of the stapling instrument as the tissue is being stapled and/or incised. Also disclosed is a surgical stapling apparatus comprising one or more interruptions, or absent staple cavities, in the rows of staple cavities defined therein. Also disclosed is a surgical stapling apparatus comprising a channel configured to receive tissue and/or another surgical instrument therein. In at least one instance, such a stapling apparatus could comprise staple cavities on one side of a longitudinal knife slot and no staple cavities on the other side of the knife slot. Further disclosed are methods for using the surgical stapling devices disclosed herein.
344 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; a slot defined in said deck, wherein said slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end; a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities which are arranged in a staple pattern; and a tissue stop positioned in said slot, wherein said tissue stop extends above said deck surface, wherein said tissue stop is positioned within said staple pattern, and wherein said tissue stop is configured to inhibit the distal flow of tissue relative to said deck. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; a longitudinal slot defined in said deck, wherein said longitudinal slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end; a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a first longitudinal row, wherein said first longitudinal row is adjacent said longitudinal slot, wherein said first longitudinal row comprises; proximal staple cavities; distal staple cavities; and an interruption in staple cavities extending between said proximal staple cavities and said distal staple cavities, wherein said interruption comprises the absence of at least one staple cavity; and a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a second longitudinal row; and a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and a longitudinal slot defined in said deck, wherein said longitudinal slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end; a proximal cluster of staples removably stored adjacent said proximal end on a first side of said longitudinal slot; a distal cluster of staples removably stored adjacent said distal end on said first side of said longitudinal slot; and only one row of intermediate staples removably stored intermediate said proximal cluster of staples and said distal cluster of staples. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; a slot defined in said deck, wherein said slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end, and wherein said slot divides said deck into a first lateral side and a second lateral side; and a plurality of staple cavities defined in said first lateral side, wherein no staple cavities are defined in said second lateral side; a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and a longitudinal channel defined in said second lateral side. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification