Pallet for surgical stapling cartridge
First Claim
1. A moveable pallet for firmly holding a surgical stapling cartridge as drivers are inserted therein, the pallet comprising:
- (a) a base having a lower surface for seating on a conveyor, and an upper surface having an elongated cartridge region;
(b) a first cartridge-retaining lip member movably mounted to the base on a first side of the cartridge region, said first lip member being biased toward the cartridge region and having a lip extending from the lip member into the cartridge region; and
(c) a second cartridge-retaining lip member mounted to the base on a second side of the cartridge region, said lip member having a lip extending from the lip member into the cartridge region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.
186 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A moveable pallet for firmly holding a surgical stapling cartridge as drivers are inserted therein, the pallet comprising:
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(a) a base having a lower surface for seating on a conveyor, and an upper surface having an elongated cartridge region; (b) a first cartridge-retaining lip member movably mounted to the base on a first side of the cartridge region, said first lip member being biased toward the cartridge region and having a lip extending from the lip member into the cartridge region; and (c) a second cartridge-retaining lip member mounted to the base on a second side of the cartridge region, said lip member having a lip extending from the lip member into the cartridge region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A moveable pallet for firmly holding a surgical stapling cartridge as drivers are inserted therein, the pallet comprising:
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(a) a base having a lower surface for searing on a conveyor; (b) an elongated slot formed in an upper surface of the base for holding the cartridge; (c) a first cartridge-retaining lip member movably mounted to the base on a first side of the slot, said first lip member being biased toward the slot and having a lip extending into the slot; (d) a second cartridge-retaining lip member movably mounted to the base on a second side of the slot, said second lip member being biased toward the slot and having a lip extending into the slot; (e) a gap formed between the first and second lip members and adapted to receive a tongue inserted upwardly through an aperture in the base, for seating against opposing surfaces of the lip members and displacing the lip members away from the slot; and (f) a finger mounted to the base near a first longitudinal end of the slot, said finger extending upwardly from the base for seating within a recess of said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification