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Surgical staple cartridge with enhanced knife clearance

  • US 9,498,215 B2
  • Filed: 12/31/2013
  • Issued: 11/22/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of articulating a cutting blade in a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

  • supporting a knife member having a cutting blade within a housing of the instrument, the housing having an upper surface with a plurality of staple openings, a proximal end, and a distal end;

    moving the knife member distally from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing such that the knife member is exposed and above the upper surface during moving the knife member distally, and wherein a plurality of staples exit the upper surface during moving the knife member distally; and

    placing the knife member into a predetermined parked position at the distal end of the housing by translating and rotating the knife member such that a first portion of the knife member displaces below the upper surface and a second portion remains displaced above the upper surface, the second portion being laterally faced by a garage that extends above the upper surface, wherein there is lateral clearance in the predetermined parked position between the garage and the second portion.

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