Surgical stapling device with a curved end effector
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
- a handle portion;
a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and
an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising;
a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;
an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and
a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a linear portion, and a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein said linear portion defines an axis that is not parallel to or collinear with said shaft axis.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
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a handle portion; a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising; a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein; an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a linear portion, and a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, and wherein said linear portion defines an axis that is not parallel to or collinear with said shaft axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical stapler, comprising:
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a handle portion; a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines an axis; and an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising; a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein; an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein at least one of said anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot; and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein said path includes a linear portion, and a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, wherein said linear portion has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is positioned closer to said axis than said distal end, wherein said curved portion includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is closer to said shaft than said second portion, and wherein said second portion is closer to said axis than said first portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification