Surgical stapling instrument
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
- an anvil assembly, comprising;
a tissue contacting surface;
a first staple-forming pocket formed in said tissue contacting surface; and
a second staple-forming pocket formed in said tissue contacting surface, wherein said first staple-forming pocket and said second staple-forming pocket each comprise;
a longitudinal axis;
a staple pocket centerline, wherein a said staple pocket centerline of a first staple-forming pocket is neither parallel to nor collinear with a said staple pocket centerline of said second staple-forming pocket;
a first forming cup, comprising;
a first inside portion;
a first outside portion; and
a first interior sidewall extending between said first outside portion and said first inside portion; and
a second forming cup, comprising;
a second inside portion;
a second outside portion; and
a second interior sidewall extending between said second outside portion and said second inside portion, wherein said first forming cup and said second forming cup are laterally offset from said longitudinal axis.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapler can comprise an anvil comprising a staple pocket formed in a tissue contacting surface. The staple pocket can comprise a midline or centerline, a first forming cup, and a second forming cup. The first forming cup can comprise a first interior sidewall comprising a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The second forming cup can comprise a second interior sidewall comprising a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The first vertical portion and the second vertical portion can extend through the centerline, wherein the first interior sidewall and the second interior sidewall can comprise a trap for deforming a first staple leg of a staple to a first side of the centerline and for deforming a second staple leg of the staple to a second side of the centerline.
3529 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
an anvil assembly, comprising; a tissue contacting surface; a first staple-forming pocket formed in said tissue contacting surface; and a second staple-forming pocket formed in said tissue contacting surface, wherein said first staple-forming pocket and said second staple-forming pocket each comprise; a longitudinal axis; a staple pocket centerline, wherein a said staple pocket centerline of a first staple-forming pocket is neither parallel to nor collinear with a said staple pocket centerline of said second staple-forming pocket; a first forming cup, comprising; a first inside portion; a first outside portion; and a first interior sidewall extending between said first outside portion and said first inside portion; and a second forming cup, comprising; a second inside portion; a second outside portion; and a second interior sidewall extending between said second outside portion and said second inside portion, wherein said first forming cup and said second forming cup are laterally offset from said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification