Fastener cartridge assembly comprising a cam and driver arrangement
View Patent ↗A fastener cartridge assembly that comprises a cartridge body, a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of fastener cavities, a slot configured to receive a cutting member, a row of first fasteners, a row of second fasteners, a first fastener driver, a second fastener driver, and a sled is disclosed. The sled comprises a first ramp configured to lift said first fastener driver and said first fastener toward an anvil. The anvil and said first fastener driver are configured to cooperatively deform said first fastener to a first fired height. The sled further comprises a second ramp configured to lift said second fastener driver and said second fastener toward the anvil. The anvil and said second fastener driver are configured to cooperatively deform said second fastener to a second fired height. The second fired height is different than said first fired height.
1. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
a cartridge body;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a plurality of fastener cavities;
a slot configured to receive a cutting member;
a row of first fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of first fasteners extends between said proximal end and said distal end along a first side of said slot;
a row of second fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of second fasteners extends between said proximal end and said distal end;
a first fastener driver configured to support a first fastener;
a second fastener driver configured to support a second fastener; and
a sled movable toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises:
a first ramp configured to lift said first fastener driver and said first fastener toward an anvil, wherein the anvil and said first fastener driver are configured to cooperatively deform said first fastener to a first fired height; and
a second ramp configured to lift said second fastener driver and said second fastener toward the anvil, wherein the anvil and said second fastener driver are configured to cooperatively deform said second fastener to a second fired height, wherein said second fired height is different than said first fired height, and wherein said first ramp is positioned distally with respect to said second ramp.
2. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.
3. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , further comprising said cutting member.
4. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 3 , wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal end and said distal end.
5. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.
6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said fastener cartridge assembly further comprises an opposing planar anvil.
7. An end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:
an anvil;
a cartridge body;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a plurality of fastener cavities;
a slot configured to receive a cutting member;
a row of first fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of first fasteners extends between said proximal end and said distal end along a first side of said slot;
a row of second fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of second fasteners extends between said proximal end and said distal end along a second side of said slot;
a first fastener driver configured to support a first fastener;
a second fastener driver configured to support a second fastener; and
a sled movable toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises:
a first ramp configured to lift said first fastener driver and said first fastener toward said anvil, wherein said anvil and said first fastener driver are configured to cooperatively deform said first fastener to a first fired height; and
a second ramp configured to lift said second fastener driver and said second fastener toward said anvil, wherein said anvil and said second fastener driver are configured to cooperatively deform said second fastener to a second fired height, wherein said second fired height is different than said first fired height, and wherein said first ramp is positioned distally with respect to said second ramp.
8. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.
9. The end effector of claim 7 , further comprising said cutting member.
10. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal end and said distal end.
11. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein said row of first fasteners includes a first distal-most fastener, wherein said row of second fasteners includes a second distal-most fastener, and wherein said first distal-most fastener is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most fastener.
12. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein said anvil comprises a planar tissue-engagement surface.
13. An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:
an anvil;
a cartridge body;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a plurality of staple cavities;
a slot configured to receive a cutting member;
a row of first staples removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of first staples extends between said proximal end and said distal end along a first side of said slot;
a row of second staples removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said row of second staples extends between said proximal end and said distal end along a second side of said slot;
a first staple driver configured to support a first staple;
a second staple driver configured to support a second staple; and
a sled movable toward said distal end, wherein said sled comprises:
a first ramp configured to lift said first staple driver and said first staple toward said anvil, wherein said anvil and said first staple driver are configured to cooperatively deform said first staple to a first fired height; and
a second ramp configured to lift said second staple driver and said second staple toward said anvil, wherein said anvil and said second staple driver are configured to cooperatively deform said second staple to a second fired height, wherein said second fired height is different than said first fired height, and wherein said first ramp is staggered with respect to said second ramp.
14. The end effector of claim 13 , wherein said first fired height is shorter than said second fired height.
15. The end effector of claim 14 , further comprising said cutting member.
16. The end effector of claim 15 , wherein said cutting member is slidable longitudinally between said proximal end and said distal end.
17. The end effector of claim 13 , wherein said row of first staples includes a first distal-most staple, wherein said row of second staples includes a second distal-most staple, and wherein said first distal-most staple is positioned distally with respect to said second distal-most staple.
18. The end effector of claim 13 , wherein said anvil comprises a non-stepped tissue-engagement surface.