Layer comprising deployable attachment members
First Claim
1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, and wherein the anvil includes a slot, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
- a staple cartridge body, comprising;
a plurality of staple cavities; and
a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;
a layer, comprising;
a body that is arrangeable relative to a surface of the anvil of the surgical stapler; and
a deployable attachment member formed in said body, wherein said deployable attachment member is movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position, said attachment member is substantially in a plane defined by said body when said attachment member is in said undeployed position, wherein when said deployable attachment member is in said deployed position, said attachment member extends from said plane of said body, and wherein in said deployed position said deployable attachment member is configured to engage the slot in the anvil of the surgical stapler;
a retainer that is releasably engaged with said staple cartridge body and is positioned intermediate said staple cartridge body and said layer, said retainer comprising;
a surface configured to support at least a portion of said body of said layer against the anvil; and
a deployment member configured to deploy said deployable attachment member of said layer into the slot of the anvil after said layer is supported against the anvil.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An anvil-attachable layer and a retainer for aligning and attaching the layer to an anvil of a surgical stapler. Embodiments of the anvil-attachable layer can include one or more attachment features extending from the layer. A retainer can push the attachment features into a knife slot in the anvil so that the fit between the attachment features and the slot hold the anvil-attachable layer in place. Other embodiments of the anvil-attachable layer can include deployable attachment features formed in the layer. The deployable attachment features can be deployed from an undeployed position substantially in a plane defined by the layer to a deployed position extending out of the plane. In the deployed position, the deployable attachment features can extend into a slot in an anvil. A retainer can include features to push the deployable attachment features into the deployed position.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, and wherein the anvil includes a slot, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
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a staple cartridge body, comprising; a plurality of staple cavities; and a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities; a layer, comprising; a body that is arrangeable relative to a surface of the anvil of the surgical stapler; and a deployable attachment member formed in said body, wherein said deployable attachment member is movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position, said attachment member is substantially in a plane defined by said body when said attachment member is in said undeployed position, wherein when said deployable attachment member is in said deployed position, said attachment member extends from said plane of said body, and wherein in said deployed position said deployable attachment member is configured to engage the slot in the anvil of the surgical stapler; a retainer that is releasably engaged with said staple cartridge body and is positioned intermediate said staple cartridge body and said layer, said retainer comprising;
a surface configured to support at least a portion of said body of said layer against the anvil; anda deployment member configured to deploy said deployable attachment member of said layer into the slot of the anvil after said layer is supported against the anvil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
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a cartridge body; a layer, comprising; a layer body configured to be arranged relative to a surface of an anvil of the surgical stapler; and deployable attachment means for attaching said layer body to the anvil; and deployment means for deploying said deployable attachment means, wherein said deployment means activate a hinge connecting said deployable attachment means to said layer body.
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11. A layer for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with a staple cartridge, wherein the anvil includes a slot, said layer comprising:
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a body configured to be arranged relative to a surface of the anvil of the surgical stapler; and a deployable attachment member formed in said body, wherein said deployable attachment member is movable between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein when said deployable attachment member is in the undeployed configuration, said deployable attachment member is substantially in a plane defined by said body, wherein said deployable attachment member does not substantially extend from said body of said layer when said deployable attachment member is in the undeployed configuration, wherein when said deployable attachment member is in the deployed configuration said deployable attachment member extends from the plane of said body, and wherein in the deployed configuration said deployable attachment member is configured to engage the slot of the anvil of the surgical stapler. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, wherein the anvil includes a slot, and wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a plurality of staple cavities; and a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities; a layer, comprising; a layer body that is arrangeable relative to a surface of the anvil; and an attachment member protruding from said layer body toward the anvil; a retainer that is releasably engaged with said cartridge body, said retainer comprising; a surface facing said layer and, when said staple cartridge assembly is arranged in the surgical stapler, facing the surface of the anvil; a deployment member extending from said surface; and at least one holder extending from said surface and holding said layer relative to said surface such that said attachment member of said layer is aligned with said deployment member; wherein, when said staple cartridge assembly is arranged in the surgical stapler and the anvil is closed on the surgical stapler, said deployment member pushes said attachment member into the slot of the anvil and deforms said attachment member into an interference fit within the slot of the anvil, and said at least one holder releases said layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
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a staple cartridge body; a layer, comprising; a layer body that is arrangeable relative to a surface of an anvil of the surgical stapler; and attachment means for attaching said layer to the anvil; retaining means for retaining said layer relative to said staple cartridge body until said layer is attached to the anvil, wherein said retaining means comprises a tab configured to releasably engage with said staple cartridge body; and deployment means for attaching said attachment means of said layer to the anvil.
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25. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
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a staple cartridge body; a layer comprising a layer body that is arrangeable relative to a surface of an anvil of the surgical stapler; and a retainer that is releasably engaged with said staple cartridge body, comprising; at least one displaceable member that is displaceable between a first position and a second position, wherein said at least one displaceable member is configured to releasably engage said layer in said first position, wherein said at least one displaceable member disengages said layer when moved to said second position, wherein in said first position, said at least one displaceable member aligns said layer with the anvil of the surgical stapler when said staple cartridge assembly is installed in the surgical stapler, and wherein said at least one displaceable member engages a surface of the anvil to move from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification