STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN
First Claim
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1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in said cartridge body, and wherein said staple cavities are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal slot; and
a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities;
wherein said staple cavities in said cartridge body are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein said plurality of rows comprises;
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 staples positioned in said staple cavities in said first row are longitudinally spaced from said staples positioned in 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 staples positioned in said staple cavities in said third row are longitudinally spaced from said staples positioned in said staple cavities in said second row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance.
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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.
431 Citations
20 Claims
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1. 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 wherein said staple cavities are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal slot; and a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities; wherein said staple cavities in said cartridge body are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein said plurality of rows comprises; 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 staples positioned in said staple cavities in said first row are longitudinally spaced from said staples positioned in 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 staples positioned in said staple cavities in said third row are longitudinally spaced from said staples positioned in said staple cavities in said second row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A staple cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in said cartridge body, wherein said staple cavities are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein said plurality of rows comprises; 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 proximal and distal ends of said staple cavities in said second row are longitudinally offset relative to said proximal and distal ends of said staple cavities in said first row; and a third row positioned on the first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said proximal and distal ends of said staple cavities in said third row are longitudinally offset relative to said proximal and distal ends of said staple cavities in said first row and said second row. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. 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, wherein said staple cavities are angularly oriented relative to said longitudinal slot, wherein said staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein said plurality of rows comprises; 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 staples in said first row longitudinally overlap said staples in said second row by a first distance; and a third row positioned on the first side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said staples in said third row longitudinally overlap said staples in said second row by a second distance, and wherein said second distance is different than said first distance; and a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities.
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Specification