SURGICAL STAPLES AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES
A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The surgical staple can comprise staple legs positioned in a staple leg plane and a staple base. An intermediate portion of the staple base can be laterally offset from the staple leg plane, and/or the center of mass of the staple can be laterally offset from the staple leg plane. The surgical staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material.
1 . A surgical staple, comprising:
a base comprising an intermediate portion;
a first leg extending from the base; and
a second leg extending from the base, wherein the first leg and the second leg define a plane;
wherein the intermediate portion of the base extends parallel to the plane, and wherein the intermediate portion of the base is laterally offset from the plane.
2 . The surgical staple of claim 1 , wherein a gusset extends between the first staple leg and the base.
3 . The surgical staple of claim 1 , further comprising a first discrete drive surface laterally aligned with the plane and a second discrete drive surface laterally offset from the plane.
4 . The surgical staple of claim 3 , wherein the first discrete drive surface and the second discrete drive surface are integrally formed in the base.
5 . The surgical staple of claim 1 , wherein the first leg extends from a proximal portion of the base, and wherein the second leg extends from a distal portion of the base.
6 . A surgical staple, comprising:
a base;
a pair of staple legs defining a leg plane; and
a center of mass offset from the leg plane.
7 . The surgical staple of claim 6 , wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the staple legs, and wherein the base is asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis.
8 . The surgical staple of claim 6 , wherein the base further comprises a first discrete drive surface that is aligned with the leg plane.
9 . The surgical staple of claim 8 , wherein the base further comprises a second discrete drive surface that is laterally offset from the leg plane.
10 . The surgical staple of claim 9 , wherein the first discrete drive surface and the second discrete drive surface are integrally formed in the base.
11 . The surgical staple of claim 6 , wherein the base further comprises a drive surface comprising an inclined surface.
12 . The surgical staple of claim 6 , wherein the base further comprises a drive surface comprising a nub.
13 . The surgical staple of claim 6 , wherein a gusset extends between a first staple leg and the base.
14 . The surgical staple of claim 6 , wherein the base further defines a contour.
15 . A staple cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body;
a staple cavity defined in the cartridge body, wherein the staple cavity comprises a longitudinal sidewall; and
a staple comprising a metallic base, wherein the base comprises a longitudinal guide surface moveably positioned adjacent to the longitudinal sidewall of the staple cavity.
16 . The staple cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the staple comprises:
a first staple leg;
a second staple leg, wherein the first staple leg and the second staple leg define a leg plane; and
a center of mass positioned outside the leg plane.
17 . The staple cartridge of claim 16 , wherein the base comprises a drive surface that is laterally offset from the leg plane.
18 . The staple cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the staple cavity further comprises:
a proximal end configured to guide a first staple leg; and
a distal end configured to guide a second staple leg, wherein the longitudinal sidewall is intermediate the proximal end and the distal end.
19 . The staple cartridge of claim 15 , wherein a longitudinally-driven sled directly lifts the longitudinal guide surface of the staple along the longitudinal sidewall of the staple cavity.
20 . The staple cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the staple is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of the staple.
21 . A surgical staple, consisting of:
a base;
a first staple leg;
a second staple leg, wherein the first staple leg and the second staple leg define a leg plane; and
a center of mass offset from the leg plane.
22 . A surgical staple stamped from a sheet of material, the surgical staple comprising:
a first leg;
a second leg, wherein the first leg and the second leg define a leg plane; and
a base contiguously connecting the first leg and the second leg, wherein the base is bent out of the leg plane.