Staple cartridge
View Patent ↗A staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staples positioned within a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body can comprise a tissue-contacting deck and a plurality of ridges extending from the tissue-contacting deck. The ridges can be configured to prevent, or reduce the possibility of, tissue from moving relative to the staple cartridge during use. The staple cartridge can further comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity can comprise an opening in the deck which is at least partially surrounded by a ridge. The ridges can comprise a uniform height or a height which varies along the length thereof. The height can vary relative to a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body and/or between the center of the cartridge body and the side.
1. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
tissue flow control means for controlling the flow of tissue relative to said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said tissue flow control means extends from said tissue-supporting deck intermediate adjacent openings;
wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein at least a portion of said tissue flow control means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening without extending over said opening.
2. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means extends from said tissue-supporting deck;
wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said gripping means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening without extending over said opening.
3. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means extends from said tissue-supporting deck;
wherein each said opening is uncovered by said gripping means and at least partially surrounded by a portion of said gripping means.
4. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple comprises a staple leg; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and
guide means for guiding said staple legs, wherein said guide means extends from said tissue-supporting deck and surrounds said proximal ends and said distal ends of at least one said opening without extending over said opening.
5. The staple cartridge of claim 4 , wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of ridges.
6. The staple cartridge of claim 4 , wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.
7. The staple cartridge of claim 6 , wherein said guide means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surface.
8. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a row of staple cavities, wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
a plurality of supporting means for supporting said staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said supporting means extends from said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein at least a portion of a said supporting means is positioned within said row of staple cavities without extending over said staple cavities.
9. The staple cartridge of claim 8 , wherein each said staple cavity is at least partially surrounded by a said supporting means.
10. The staple cartridge of claim 8 , wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.
11. The staple cartridge of claim 10 , wherein each said supporting means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surfaces.
12. The staple cartridge of claim 8 , wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein each said supporting means extends along one of said proximal end or said distal end of each said opening.
13. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
tissue compression means for compressing tissue;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staples are removably stored in said staple cavities; and
tissue pre-compression means for pre-compressing tissue, wherein said tissue pre-compression means is at least partially positioned intermediate said staple cavities without extending over said staple cavities.
14. The staple cartridge of claim 13 , wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue compression means, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said tissue pre-compression means extends around said proximal portion and said distal portion of at least one said opening.
15. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
tissue flow control means for controlling the flow of tissue relative to said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said tissue flow control means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck intermediate adjacent openings;
wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein at least a portion of said tissue flow control means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening.
16. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck;
wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said gripping means surrounds said proximal end and said distal end of each said opening.
17. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue supporting deck, and wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
gripping means for gripping tissue intermediate adjacent openings in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein said gripping means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck;
wherein each said opening is at least partially surrounded by a portion of said gripping means.
18. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple comprises a staple leg; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a said staple is positioned in each said staple cavity; and
guide means for guiding said staple legs, wherein said guide means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck and surrounds said proximal ends and said distal ends of at least one said opening.
19. The staple cartridge of claim 18 , wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of ridges.
20. The staple cartridge of claim 18 , wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.
21. The staple cartridge of claim 20 , wherein said guide means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surface.
22. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a row of staple cavities, wherein said staples are positioned in said staple cavities; and
a plurality of supporting means for supporting said staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said supporting means is integrally formed with and extends from said tissue-supporting deck, and wherein at least a portion of a said supporting means is positioned within said row of staple cavities.
23. The staple cartridge of claim 22 , wherein each said staple cavity is at least partially surrounded by a said supporting means.
24. The staple cartridge of claim 22 , wherein each said staple comprises at least one tip, and wherein said tips of said staples are positioned above said tissue-supporting deck.
25. The staple cartridge of claim 24 , wherein each said supporting means comprises a top surface, and wherein said tips are positioned below said top surfaces.
26. The staple cartridge of claim 22 , wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue-supporting deck, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein each said supporting means extends along one of said proximal end or said distal end of each said opening.
27. A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, the staple cartridge comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
tissue compression means for compressing tissue;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said staples are removably stored in said staple cavities; and
tissue pre-compression means for pre-compressing tissue, wherein said tissue pre-compression means is integrally formed with said tissue compression means and at least partially positioned intermediate said staple cavities.
28. The staple cartridge of claim 27 , wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said tissue compression means, wherein each said opening comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein said'tissue pre-compression means extends around said proximal portion and said distal portion of at least one said opening.