TRUE MULTI-FIRE ENDOCUTTER
An exemplary surgical endocutter may include a staple holder; at least one feeder belt having two lateral edges, at least part of at least one feeder belt extending into the staple holder; and staples, wherein each said staple may include a first end frangibly affixed to a corresponding feeder belt, wherein each first end is affixed to the feeder belt at a location laterally spaced from the longitudinal centerline of the feeder belt, and a second free end; and wherein the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two said staples; wherein staples in least one row are staggered relative to said staples in at least one other row. Another exemplary surgical endocutter may include a feeder belt; staples frangibly connected to the feeder belt; and at least one wedge movable relative to the staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt; wherein at least one wedge both directly engages a plurality of staples and disconnects a plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the wedge.
1 . A surgical endocutter, comprising:
a feeder belt supporting a plurality of staples; and
at least one wedge movable relative to said plurality of staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to said feeder belt; wherein at least one said wedge both directly engages a staple of the plurality of staples and disconnects a staple of the plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the at least one wedge.
2 . The surgical endocutter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wedge serially engages the plurality of staples and serially disconnects the plurality of staples from said feeder belt.
3 . The surgical endocutter of claim 1 , wherein engagement between the at least one wedge and the staple causes the staple to deform plastically.
4 . The surgical endocutter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a staple holder supporting a portion of the feeder belt.
5 . The surgical endocutter of claim 4 , wherein the staple holder is coupled to an anvil.
6 . A surgical endocutter, comprising:
a feeder belt supporting a plurality of staples;
a sliding clamp configured to support a surface of the feeder belt; and
at least one wedge movable relative to the plurality of staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt; wherein the at least one wedge both directly engages a staple of the plurality of staples and disconnects a staple of the plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the at least one wedge.
7 . The endocutter of claim 6 , wherein the sliding clamp includes an upper sliding clamp and a lower sliding clamp wherein one of the upper sliding clamp or the lower sliding clamp is slidable in the direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt.
8 . The endocutter of claim 7 , wherein the upper sliding clamp is configured to support the surface of the feeder belt.
9 . The endocutter of claim 7 , wherein a surface of the upper sliding clamp and a surface of the lower sliding clamp that mates with the surface of the upper sliding clamp each define a cam surface.
10 . The endocutter of claim 7 , wherein the upper sliding clamp includes a tongue extending from a surface of the upper clamp.
11 . The endocutter of claim 10 , wherein the lower sliding clamp includes a slot configured to receive the tongue of the upper sliding clamp.
12 . The endocutter of claim 7 , wherein a width of the upper clamp is equivalent to a width of the feeder belt.
13 . The endocutter of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of staples extend outside of side surfaces of the upper sliding clamp and the lower sliding clamp.
14 . A surgical endocutter, comprising:
a feeder belt supporting a plurality of staples along a side surface of the feeder belt;
a sliding clamp configured to support an underside surface of the feeder belt; and
at least one wedge movable relative to the plurality of staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt, wherein the at least one wedge both directly engages a staple of the plurality of staples and disconnects a staple of the plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the at least one wedge, and wherein the at least one wedge moves in a plane parallel to a side surface of the sliding clamp.
15 . The endocutter of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of staples are organized as a plurality of spaced apart linear rows on each lateral edge of the feeder belt.
16 . The endocutter of claim 14 wherein each staple of the plurality of staples is frangibly connected to the feeder belt.
17 . The endocutter of claim 14 wherein a surface of the at least one wedge that contacts a staple is shaped as an upward curve.
18 . The endocutter of claim 14 wherein each staple of the plurality of staples is shaped as a continuous curve.
19 . The endocutter of claim 14 wherein a lateral edge of the feeder belt has a plurality of spaced apart notches defined therein.
20 . The endocutter of claim 14 wherein a surface of the upper clamp is operable to engage and disengage from an underside of the feeder belt.