Wide handle for true multi-fire surgical stapler

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

at least one feeder belt;

a plurality of staples frangibly affixed to each said feeder belt, wherein each said staple includes two ends, a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding said feeder belt and a second, free end; and

a handle within which at least part of at least one said feeder belt is received, wherein said feeder belt extends along a path within said handle that is nonlinear at least in part, and wherein at least part of said path moves away from a longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said path includes at least a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment and said second segment are nonparallel to one another.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said path includes at least a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment forms a nonzero angle with said second segment.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first segment and said second segment are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the length of the path.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one said feeder belt is slidable along said path.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mandrel located within said handle, said mandrel including a surface, wherein at least part of at least one said feeder belt wraps around at least part of said surface of said mandrel, such that said surface of said mandrel defines at least part of said path.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said mandrel includes a convex proximal surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said mandrel includes two surfaces angled relative to one another at a location distal to said convex proximal surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft connected to said handle, wherein at least part of at least one feeder belt is received within said shaft, and wherein said path includes at least two segments within said shaft that are substantially parallel to one another.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said path within said handle extends further from a longitudinal centerline of said shaft than a radius of said shaft.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one said feeder belt is a continuous loop.

12. A method for operating a surgical apparatus, comprising:

providing a surgical stapler comprising an end effector, a shaft connected to said end effector, a handle connected to said shaft, and at least one feeder belt extending through said end effector, said shaft and said handle, wherein a plurality of staples are frangibly affixed to each said feeder belt;

deploying a plurality of said staples from said end effector; and

advancing at least one said feeder belt along a nonlinear path after said deploying, whereby a plurality of staples are moved into said end effector into position for deployment, and wherein at least part of said nonlinear path moves away from a longitudinal axis of the handle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein, during said advancing, a portion of said feeder belt moving proximally into said handle from said shaft moves away from a portion of said feeder belt that is moving distally out of said handle into said shaft.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein, during said advancing, a portion of said feeder belt moving distally out of said handle into said shaft moves away from a portion of said feeder belt that is moving proximally into said handle from said shaft.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein, during said advancing, a portion of said feeder belt slides against a mandrel located within said handle.