SURGICAL STAPLES COMPRISING HARDNESS VARIATIONS FOR IMPROVED FASTENING OF TISSUE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body;
a plurality of staple cavities; and
a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises;
a staple base; and
a pair of staple legs extending from said staple base, wherein each said staple leg comprises a staple tip, wherein said staple legs comprise a first zone comprising a first hardness, and wherein said staple tips comprise a second zone comprising a second hardness which is different that said first hardness.
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Abstract
A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.
159 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body; a plurality of staple cavities; and a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises; a staple base; and a pair of staple legs extending from said staple base, wherein each said staple leg comprises a staple tip, wherein said staple legs comprise a first zone comprising a first hardness, and wherein said staple tips comprise a second zone comprising a second hardness which is different that said first hardness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14)
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8. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body; a plurality of staple cavities; and a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises; a staple base; a pair of staple legs extending from said staple base; a first zone comprising a first hardness; and a second zone comprising a second hardness which is different that said first hardness. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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15. A surgical staple configured to be removably stored within a surgical staple cartridge in an unfired configuration, said surgical staple comprising a non-uniform hardness profile, wherein said staple comprises a first zone having a first hardness and a second zone having a second hardness, wherein said first zone is hardened to said first hardness when said staple is in a pre-load configuration, and wherein said second zone is hardened to said second hardness when said staple is in the pre-load configuration.
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16. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body; a plurality of staple cavities; and a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises; a staple base, wherein said staple base defines a first zone comprising a first hardness; a plurality of bend portions extending from said staple base, wherein said bend portions define a second zone comprising a second hardness; and staple legs extending from said bend portions, wherein each said staple leg defines a third zone comprising a third hardness different than said first hardness. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification