STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLE PORTION
First Claim
1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body, comprising;
a support portion;
a plurality of staple cavities defined within said support portion, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said support portion;
a plurality of guide cleats extending from said support portion, wherein each said guide cleat comprises at least one guide groove; and
an implantable compressible portion positioned adjacent to said support portion, wherein said guide cleats are at least partially embedded in said compressible portion; and
a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein each said staple comprises at least one deformable leg removably positioned in a said guide groove when said staple is in said unfired position, and wherein said compressible portion is configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.
313 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a support portion; a plurality of staple cavities defined within said support portion, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said support portion; a plurality of guide cleats extending from said support portion, wherein each said guide cleat comprises at least one guide groove; and an implantable compressible portion positioned adjacent to said support portion, wherein said guide cleats are at least partially embedded in said compressible portion; and a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein each said staple comprises at least one deformable leg removably positioned in a said guide groove when said staple is in said unfired position, and wherein said compressible portion is configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a support portion; and a plurality of staple cavities defined within said support portion, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said support portion; an implantable compressible portion positioned adjacent to said support portion; and a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, and wherein said compressible portion is configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration; and a plurality of discrete holding members positioned adjacent to said staple cavity openings, wherein said discrete holding members are configured to releasably hold said compressible portion to said support portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a support portion; and a plurality of staple cavities defined within said support portion, wherein said staple cavities are positioned along a staple forming path defined between said proximal end and said distal end, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said support portion; an implantable compressible portion positioned adjacent to said support portion; and a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, and wherein said compressible portion is configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration; a plurality of holding members configured to releasably hold said compressible portion to said support portion; and
a plurality of staple drivers, wherein said staple drivers are configured to move said staples between said unfired position and said fired position, and wherein said staple drivers are configured to be sequentially fired along said staple forming path andcontact said compressible portion in order to progressively detach said compressible portion from said support portion.
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Specification