FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CAM AND DRIVER ARRANGEMENT
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling device that comprises an end effector. According to various embodiments, the end effector comprises a circular anvil having a staple forming surface and a plurality of staples facing the staple forming surface of the anvil. The end effector also comprises a staple driver assembly comprising a plurality of staple drivers. Each staple driver supports one of the plurality of staples and is configured such that, when the staple driver assembly is actuated, each staple driver drives the staple into the staple forming surface of the anvil. A first quantity of the plurality of staple drivers has a first height and a second quantity of the plurality of staple drivers has a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height.
694 Citations
18 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A staple cartridge configured to be contained within a channel of a stapling device that has a sled that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions to produce a different opening between the anvil and said staple cartridge in the open and closed positions, said staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body supportable within the stapling device for selective confronting relationship with the anvil portion thereof when in a closed position; a first staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body for contact by the sled such that, as the sled is axially advanced through said cartridge body, said first staple driver is configured to be driven in a direction toward the anvil portion when the anvil portion is in the closed position, and wherein said first staple driver defines more than one staple forming distance; and a second staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body for contact by the sled such that, as the sled is advanced through said cartridge body, said second staple driver is configured to be driven in said direction toward the anvil portion when the anvil portion is in the closed position, wherein said second staple driver defines more than one staple forming distance, and wherein at least one of said staple forming distances of said second staple driver is different than any of said staple forming distances of said first staple driver.
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17. A stapling assembly, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; and an end effector extending from said elongate shaft, wherein said end effector is responsive to a closing motion transmitted through said elongate shaft to transition said end effector toward a closed configuration, and wherein said end effector comprises; a sled; an anvil portion; a channel; and a staple cartridge, comprising; a cartridge body supported within said channel for a confronting relationship with said anvil portion in said closed configuration; a first staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body for contact by said sled such that, as said sled is axially advanced through said cartridge body, said first staple driver is configured to be driven in a direction toward said anvil portion when said anvil portion is in said closed configuration, and wherein said first staple driver defines more than one staple forming distance; and a second staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body for contact by said sled such that, as said sled is advanced through said cartridge body, said second staple driver is configured to be driven in said direction toward said anvil portion when said anvil portion is in said closed configuration, wherein said second staple driver defines more than one staple forming distance, and wherein at least one of said staple forming distances of said second staple driver is different than said staple forming distances of said first staple driver.
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18. A stapling assembly, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; and an end effector extending from said elongate shaft, wherein said end effector is responsive to a closing motion transmitted through said elongate shaft to transition said end effector toward a closed configuration, and wherein said end effector comprises; an anvil portion; a staple cartridge, comprising; a cartridge body supportable within said end effector for an opposing relationship with said anvil portion in said closed configuration; a first staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body, wherein said first staple driver is configured to be driven in a direction toward said anvil portion when said anvil portion is in said closed configuration, and wherein said first staple driver defines more than one staple forming distance; and a second staple driver movably supported within said cartridge body, wherein said second staple driver is configured to be driven in said direction toward said anvil portion when said anvil portion is in said closed configuration, wherein said second staple driver defines more than one staple forming distance, and wherein at least one of said staple forming distances of said second staple driver is different than said staple forming distances of said first staple driver.
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Specification