Wide handle for true multi-fire surgical stapler
First Claim
1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:
- at least one feeder belt;
a plurality of staples frangibly affixed to each said feeder belt, wherein each said staple includes two ends, a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding said feeder belt and a second, free end; and
a handle within which at least part of at least one said feeder belt is received, wherein said feeder belt extends along a path within said handle that is nonlinear at least in part, and wherein at least part of said path moves away from a longitudinal axis of the handle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical apparatus may include at least one feeder belt; a plurality of staples frangibly affixed to each feeder belt, where each staple includes two ends, a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second, free end; and a handle within which at least part of at least one feeder belt is received, where that feeder belt extends along a path within that handle that is at least partially nonlinear. A method for operating a surgical apparatus, including providing a surgical stapler including an end effector, a shaft, a handle and at least one feeder belt, where staples are frangibly affixed to each feeder belt; deploying a plurality of staples from the end effector; and advancing at least one feeder belt along a nonlinear path after deploying the staples, whereby fresh staples are moved into the end effector into position for deployment.
964 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:
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at least one feeder belt; a plurality of staples frangibly affixed to each said feeder belt, wherein each said staple includes two ends, a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding said feeder belt and a second, free end; and a handle within which at least part of at least one said feeder belt is received, wherein said feeder belt extends along a path within said handle that is nonlinear at least in part, and wherein at least part of said path moves away from a longitudinal axis of the handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a surgical apparatus, comprising:
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providing a surgical stapler comprising an end effector, a shaft connected to said end effector, a handle connected to said shaft, and at least one feeder belt extending through said end effector, said shaft and said handle, wherein a plurality of staples are frangibly affixed to each said feeder belt; deploying a plurality of said staples from said end effector; and advancing at least one said feeder belt along a nonlinear path after said deploying, whereby a plurality of staples are moved into said end effector into position for deployment, and wherein at least part of said nonlinear path moves away from a longitudinal axis of the handle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification