Staple cartridges and arrangements of staples and staple cavities therein
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An end effector, comprising:
- a staple cartridge; and
an anvil comprising a longitudinal portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said longitudinal portion comprises a staple-forming surface and a longitudinal slot configured to receive a firing member, wherein a plurality of staple-forming pockets are defined in said staple-forming surface of said longitudinal portion, and wherein said plurality of staple-forming pockets comprises;
a first pocket forming a first opening in said staple-forming surface, wherein said first opening defines a first proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said first proximal-to-distal axis is obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said first pocket is positioned in an inner longitudinal row on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and
a second pocket forming a second opening in said staple-forming surface, wherein said second opening defines a second proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said second proximal-to-distal axis is obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis and said first proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said second pocket is positioned in an intermediate longitudinal row on the first side of said longitudinal slot; and
a third pocket forming a third opening in said staple-forming surface, wherein said third opening defines a third proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said third proximal-to-distal axis is obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, said first proximal-to-distal axis, and said second proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said third pocket is positioned in an outer longitudinal row on the first side of said longitudinal slot.
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Abstract
A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can include a cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities defined therein. The staple cavities can be obliquely oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge. The staple cavities can be arranged in a plurality of rows including an inner row, an intermediate row, and an outer row. The lateral and/or longitudinal spacing and/or overlap between the staples in adjacent rows can vary to optimize the flexibility and/or sealing properties of the staple line. The size and orientation of the staples can also vary row-to-row and/or longitudinally.
6889 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An end effector, comprising:
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a staple cartridge; and an anvil comprising a longitudinal portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said longitudinal portion comprises a staple-forming surface and a longitudinal slot configured to receive a firing member, wherein a plurality of staple-forming pockets are defined in said staple-forming surface of said longitudinal portion, and wherein said plurality of staple-forming pockets comprises; a first pocket forming a first opening in said staple-forming surface, wherein said first opening defines a first proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said first proximal-to-distal axis is obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said first pocket is positioned in an inner longitudinal row on a first side of said longitudinal slot; and a second pocket forming a second opening in said staple-forming surface, wherein said second opening defines a second proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said second proximal-to-distal axis is obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis and said first proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said second pocket is positioned in an intermediate longitudinal row on the first side of said longitudinal slot; and a third pocket forming a third opening in said staple-forming surface, wherein said third opening defines a third proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said third proximal-to-distal axis is obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, said first proximal-to-distal axis, and said second proximal-to-distal axis, wherein said third pocket is positioned in an outer longitudinal row on the first side of said longitudinal slot.
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2. An end effector, comprising:
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a staple cartridge; and an anvil comprising a longitudinal portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said longitudinal portion comprises a staple-forming surface, wherein a plurality of staple-forming pockets are defined in said staple-forming surface of said longitudinal portion, and wherein said plurality of staple-forming pockets comprises; a first pocket obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said first pocket is positioned in an inner longitudinal row; and a second pocket obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis and said first pocket, wherein said second pocket is positioned in an intermediate longitudinal row; and a third pocket obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, said first pocket, and said second pocket, wherein said third pocket is positioned in an outer longitudinal row; wherein a slot is defined at least partially through said anvil along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first pocket is spaced a first distance from said slot, wherein said second pocket is spaced a second distance from said slot, wherein said third pocket is spaced a third distance from said slot, and wherein said first distance, said second distance, and said third distance are different. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An end effector, comprising:
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a staple cartridge; and an anvil comprising a longitudinal portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said longitudinal portion comprises a staple-forming surface, wherein a plurality of staple-forming pockets are defined in said staple-forming surface of said longitudinal portion, and wherein said plurality of staple-forming pockets comprises; a first pocket obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said first pocket is positioned in an inner longitudinal row; and a second pocket obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis and said first pocket, wherein said second pocket is positioned in an intermediate longitudinal row; and a third pocket obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, said first pocket, and said second pocket, wherein said third pocket is positioned in an outer longitudinal row; wherein said staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples, comprising; a first staple positioned for forming contact with said first pocket; a second staple positioned for forming contact with said second pocket, wherein said second staple laterally overlaps said first staple by a first distance; and a third staple positioned for forming contact with said third pocket, wherein said third staple laterally overlaps said second staple by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance.
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6. A staple cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal portion comprising a longitudinal slot, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in said longitudinal portion of said cartridge body, wherein said staple cavities are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal slot, and wherein said staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows comprising; a first row positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; a second row positioned on the first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities in said first row laterally overlap said staple cavities in said second row by a first distance; and a third row positioned on the first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities in said second row laterally overlap said staple cavities in said third row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal portion comprising a longitudinal slot, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in said longitudinal portion of said cartridge body, wherein said staple cavities are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal slot, and wherein said staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows comprising; a first row positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot; a second row positioned on the first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities in said first row laterally overlap said staple cavities in said second row by a first distance; and a third row positioned on the first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities in said second row laterally overlap said staple cavities in said third row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance, wherein said staple cavities in said first row are oriented at a first angle relative to said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities in said second row are oriented at a second angle relative to said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities in said third row are oriented at a third angle relative to said longitudinal slot, and wherein said first angle, said second angle, and said third angle are different. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in said cartridge body; and a plurality of staples positioned in said plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staples are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal slot, and wherein said plurality of staples comprises; a first group of staples arranged in a first longitudinal row; a second group of staples arranged in a second longitudinal row, wherein said first group of staples in said first longitudinal row laterally overlap said second group of staples in said second longitudinal row by a first distance; and a third group of staples arranged in a third longitudinal row, wherein said second group of staples in said second longitudinal row laterally overlap said third group of staples in said third longitudinal row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a proximal end and a longitudinal slot extending distally from said proximal end, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in said cartridge body; and a plurality of staples positioned in said plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staples are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal slot, and wherein said plurality of staples comprises; a first group of staples arranged in an inner longitudinal row on a first side of the longitudinal slot; a second group of staples arranged in an intermediate longitudinal row on the first side of the longitudinal slot, wherein said inner longitudinal row is laterally offset from said intermediate longitudinal row by a first distance; and a third group of staples arranged in an outer longitudinal row on the first side of the longitudinal slot, wherein said outer longitudinal row is laterally offset from said intermediate longitudinal row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification