Fastener cartridge assemblies and staple retainer cover arrangements
A cover member for a surgical staple cartridge. The cover member is configured to retain a wedge sled within the staple cartridge in a starting position when the cover member is attached to the body of the staple cartridge. The cover member includes a top portion that covers all of the fastener openings in the deck of the staple cartridge when the cover is attached to the cartridge.
1. A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument comprising a firing member including a tissue cutting knife, wherein the fastener cartridge assembly comprises:
a cartridge body including a deck with a longitudinal slot and a plurality of fastener cavities formed therein;
at least one fastener removably positioned in each said fastener cavity;
a sled configured to move along said longitudinal slot during a firing stroke in response to an actuation of the firing member, wherein said sled is contained within said fastener cartridge assembly and delivered to the surgical instrument when said fastener cartridge assembly is assembled to the surgical instrument, wherein said sled is positioned in a starting position prior to the firing stroke, wherein said sled abuts the firing member to defeat a lockout of the surgical instrument when said sled is in said starting position, wherein the firing member moves said sled through said firing stroke when the lockout is defeated and the firing member is actuated; and
a cover removably positioned over at least a portion of said deck, wherein said cover comprises a locating fin structured and dimensioned to fit within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said locating fin comprises a proximal portion positioned adjacent to said sled.
2. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion of said locating fin is positioned against said sled prior to the firing stroke.
3. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sled comprises a distal edge, and wherein said proximal portion of said locating fin comprises a holding surface configured to retainingly engage said distal edge when said sled is in said starting position.
4. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 3 , wherein said proximal portion of said locating fin comprises an engagement notch dimensioned to retainingly engage said distal edge of said sled.
5. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said locating fin comprises at least one rib dimensioned to be friction fit within said longitudinal slot.
6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment arm protruding from said cover for retainingly engaging the cartridge body.
7. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge body has a distal end and wherein said cover has a nose portion configured to retainingly engage said distal end.
8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein said distal end of said cartridge body includes a nose surface angularly oriented relative to said deck and wherein said nose portion covers said nose surface when said cover is attached to said cartridge body.
9. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 8 , wherein said nose portion is configured to hookingly engage said distal end of said cartridge body.
10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 9 , wherein said nose portion further comprises a distal retention tab configured to hookingly engage said distal end of said cartridge body.
11. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge body includes a laterally extending lip that protrudes from each lateral side of said cartridge body and wherein said cover further comprises a downwardly extending lateral side plate on each lateral side of said cover, each said lateral side plate being configured to engage a corresponding one of the laterally extending lips on the cartridge body.
12. A cover member for a surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising a firing member including a tissue cutting knife, the surgical staple cartridge including a cartridge body with a deck that includes a longitudinal slot and a plurality of fastener cavity openings in the deck, wherein surgical fasteners are operably supported in the fastener cavity openings, the surgical staple cartridge further including a wedge sled selectively movable from a starting position longitudinally through the cartridge body upon application of a firing motion thereto, wherein the wedge sled is contained within the surgical staple cartridge and delivered to the surgical instrument when the surgical staple cartridge is assembled to the surgical instrument, wherein the firing member abuts the wedge sled to defeat a firing member lockout of the surgical instrument when the wedge sled is in the starting position, wherein the firing member is configured to apply the firing motion to the wedge sled when the firing member lockout is defeated, and wherein said cover member comprises:
a top portion configured to be received on the deck;
means for locating the top portion on the deck in a covering position such that the top portion covers all of the fastener cavity openings in the deck;
means for removably fastening the cover member to the cartridge body in the covering position; and
means for retainingly engaging the wedge sled such that the wedge sled is retained in the starting position when the top portion is in the covering position.
13. The cover member of claim 12 , wherein the means for locating comprises a locating fin protruding downward from said top portion and located for insertion into the longitudinal slot in the cartridge body.
14. The cover member of claim 13 , wherein said means for retainingly engaging comprises an engagement notch in a proximal end of said locating fin, the engagement notch configured to retainingly engage the wedge sled when the locating fin is seated within the longitudinal slot.
15. The cover member of claim 13 , wherein the means for removably fastening comprises a frictional fit between the locating fin and portions of the cartridge body defining the longitudinal slot.
16. The cover member of claim 15 , further comprising at least one rib on said locating fin configured to frictionally engage said cartridge body.
17. The cover member of claim 12 , wherein said means for removably fastening comprises a pair of attachment arms protruding from said top portion for releasably engaging corresponding sides of the cartridge body.
18. The cover member of claim 17 , wherein said means for retainingly engaging further comprises a retention tab on a distal end of the cover member for hookingly engaging a distal end of the cartridge body.
19. The cover member of claim 12 , wherein the deck includes a pair of laterally extending lips and wherein said means for locating comprises a pair of lateral side plates formed on the cover member for locatingly engaging the laterally extending lips when the top portion is in the covering position.
20. A cover member for a surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising a firing member including a tissue cutting knife, the surgical staple cartridge including a cartridge body with a deck that includes a longitudinal slot and a plurality of fastener cavity openings in the deck, wherein surgical fasteners are operably supported in the fastener cavity openings, the surgical staple cartridge further including a wedge sled selectively movable from a starting position longitudinally through the cartridge body upon application of a firing motion thereto, wherein the wedge sled is contained within the surgical staple cartridge and delivered to the surgical instrument when the surgical staple cartridge is assembled to the surgical instrument, wherein the firing member abuts the wedge sled to defeat a firing member lockout of the surgical instrument when the wedge sled is in the starting position, wherein the firing member is configured to apply the firing motion to the wedge sled when the firing member lockout is defeated, and wherein said cover member comprises:
a top portion configured to be received on the deck;
a downwardly extending locating fin protruding from the top portion and configured to be received within the longitudinal slot, wherein a proximal portion of the locating fin is configured to retainingly engage the wedge sled when the wedge sled is in the starting position and the cover member is attached to the cartridge body;
a hook portion formed on the cover member to hookingly engage a distal end of the cartridge body; and
a pair of flexible attachment arms on said cover member for removably engaging the cartridge body.