Surgical stapling instrument
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
- a curved anvil assembly, comprising;
a tissue contacting surface;
a plurality of staple pockets formed in said tissue contacting surface, wherein said staple pockets are positioned along a curve, and wherein each said staple pocket comprises;
a staple pocket centerline, wherein a said staple pocket centerline of a first staple pocket is neither parallel to nor collinear with a said staple pocket centerline of a second staple pocket;
a first forming cup, comprising;
a first inside portion;
a first outside portion; and
a first interior sidewall extending between said first outside portion and said first inside portion, wherein said first interior sidewall comprises a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface; and
a second forming cup, comprising;
a second inside portion;
a second outside portion, wherein said first inside portion is positioned in close relation to said second inside portion, wherein said first inside portion and said second inside portion are positioned offset with respect to said staple pocket centerline, wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are positioned on opposite sides of said first inside portion and said second inside portion, and wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are oriented in a direction which is transverse to said staple pocket centerline; and
a second interior sidewall extending between said second outside portion and said second inside portion, wherein said second interior sidewall comprises a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapler can comprise an anvil comprising a staple pocket formed in a tissue contacting surface. The staple pocket can comprise a midline or centerline, a first forming cup, and a second forming cup. The first forming cup can comprise a first interior sidewall comprising a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The second forming cup can comprise a second interior sidewall comprising a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The first vertical portion and the second vertical portion can extend through the centerline, wherein the first interior sidewall and the second interior sidewall can comprise a trap for deforming a first staple leg of a staple to a first side of the centerline and for deforming a second staple leg of the staple to a second side of the centerline.
2665 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
a curved anvil assembly, comprising; a tissue contacting surface; a plurality of staple pockets formed in said tissue contacting surface, wherein said staple pockets are positioned along a curve, and wherein each said staple pocket comprises; a staple pocket centerline, wherein a said staple pocket centerline of a first staple pocket is neither parallel to nor collinear with a said staple pocket centerline of a second staple pocket; a first forming cup, comprising; a first inside portion; a first outside portion; and a first interior sidewall extending between said first outside portion and said first inside portion, wherein said first interior sidewall comprises a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface; and a second forming cup, comprising; a second inside portion; a second outside portion, wherein said first inside portion is positioned in close relation to said second inside portion, wherein said first inside portion and said second inside portion are positioned offset with respect to said staple pocket centerline, wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are positioned on opposite sides of said first inside portion and said second inside portion, and wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are oriented in a direction which is transverse to said staple pocket centerline; and a second interior sidewall extending between said second outside portion and said second inside portion, wherein said second interior sidewall comprises a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. A surgical stapler, comprising:
a curved anvil assembly, comprising; a tissue contacting surface; a plurality of staple pockets formed in said tissue contacting surface, wherein said staple pockets are positioned along a curved path, wherein each said staple pocket comprises; a staple pocket midline, wherein a said staple pocket midline of a first staple pocket is neither parallel to nor collinear with a said staple pocket midline of a second staple pocket; a first forming cup, comprising; a first inside portion; a first outside portion; and a first interior sidewall extending between said first outside portion and said first inside portion, wherein said first interior sidewall comprises a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface; and a second forming cup, comprising; a second inside portion; a second outside portion, wherein said first inside portion is positioned in close relation to said second inside portion, wherein said first inside portion and said second inside portion are positioned offset with respect to said staple pocket midline, and wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are positioned on opposite sides of said first inside portion and said second inside portion; and a second interior sidewall extending between said second outside portion and said second inside portion, wherein said second interior sidewall comprises a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface, wherein said first vertical portion and said second vertical portion extend through said staple pocket midline, and wherein said first interior surface and said second interior surface comprise a trap for deforming a first staple leg of a staple to a first side of said staple pocket midline and for deforming a second staple leg of the staple to a second side of said staple pocket midline. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification