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Surgical stapling instrument

  • US 6,978,922 B2
  • Filed: 11/04/2002
  • Issued: 12/27/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
  • Status: Expired
First Claim
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1. A surgical stapling instrument having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said instrument comprising:

  • a flame having a body portion and a handle,a staple fastening assembly (1) in the distal region of said instrument, the staple fastening assembly (1) including a cartridge device (2), said cartridge having a distal surface having a stepped configuration comprising a series of alternating gaps and protrusions such that said protrusions are distal to said gaps, said cartridge device further comprising at least one closed row (10, 12) of staples disposed along said series of alternating gaps and protrusions, and an anvil (4) which is movable relative to the cartridge device (2) and is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device (2) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device (2), a moving device adapted to move the anvil (4) relative to the cartridge device (2), a staple driving device adapted to drive the staples out of the cartridge device (2) towards the anvil (4), a knife, which has a closed cutting edge, is contained within the cartridge device (2) and is positioned such that there is at least one closed row (10, 12) of staples on the outside of the cutting edge, and a knife actuating device adapted to move the knife towards the anvil (4).

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