Apparatus for closing a curved anvil of a surgical stapling device
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler for stapling tissue, comprising:
- a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein;
an anvil configured to deform the staples, said anvil having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said anvil is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to hold said tissue therebetween when said anvil is in said second position, and wherein said proximal portion and said distal portion of said anvil are closer to the staple cartridge than said middle portion when said anvil is in said second position; and
a hinge connecting said anvil to said channel, wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to pivot toward said channel, and wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to tilt relative to said channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil is movable between an open position and a partially-closed position. When the anvil is in its partially-closed position, the anvil and the staple cartridge can be configured to capture tissue therebetween without fully compressing the tissue. In at least one embodiment, the anvil includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate the proximal portion and the distal portion. In these embodiments, the tissue can be captured between the proximal and distal portions of the anvil before the middle portion of the anvil is brought into contact with the tissue.
2320 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical stapler for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein; an anvil configured to deform the staples, said anvil having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said anvil is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to hold said tissue therebetween when said anvil is in said second position, and wherein said proximal portion and said distal portion of said anvil are closer to the staple cartridge than said middle portion when said anvil is in said second position; and a hinge connecting said anvil to said channel, wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to pivot toward said channel, and wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to tilt relative to said channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical stapler for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein; an anvil configured to deform the staples, said anvil having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said anvil is movable between an open position, a partially-closed position, and a closed position, wherein said anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to hold the tissue therebetween when said anvil is in said partially-closed position, and wherein said proximal portion and said distal portion of said anvil are closer to the staple cartridge than said middle portion when said anvil is in said partially-closed position; and a hinge connecting said anvil to said channel, wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to pivot toward said channel, and wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to tilt relative to said channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A surgical stapler for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein; an anvil configured to deform the staples, said anvil having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said anvil is movable between an open position, a partially-closed position, and a closed position, wherein said anvil and the staple cartridge are movably connected such that, when said anvil is in said partially-closed position, said middle portion and said staple cartridge are separated by a first distance and said distal portion and said staple cartridge are separated by a second distance, wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance; and a hinge connecting said anvil to said channel, wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to pivot toward said channel, and wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to tilt relative to said channel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification