Anvil having a knife slot width
A surgical instrument comprising an anvil and a firing member is disclosed. The anvil comprises longitudinal rows of staple forming pockets including inner rows of forming pockets, outer rows of forming pockets, and intermediate rows of forming pockets positioned between the inner rows of forming pockets and the outer rows of forming pockets. The firing member comprises cams configured to position the anvil which do not extend laterally beyond the inner rows of forming pockets. In other embodiments, the cams of the firing member do not extend laterally to the inner rows of forming pockets.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a firing member, comprising:
a longitudinal drive portion; and
a cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion, wherein said cam comprises an outer edge comprising a first rounded profile;
a cartridge jaw, comprising:
a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member;
an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities adjacent said longitudinal cartridge slot;
a lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned intermediate said longitudinal cartridge slot and said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
staples removably stored in said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities, wherein said firing member is movable through said cartridge jaw to eject said staples from said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities; and
an anvil jaw, comprising:
an inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a lateral longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
a longitudinal anvil slot, comprising:
a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and
a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion, wherein said lateral opening comprises an outer wall comprising a second rounded profile which corresponds to said first rounded profile, wherein said outer wall is configured to receive said outer edge of said cam, and wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said cam does not extend laterally beyond said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said cam does not extend laterally to said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets comprises a centerline, and wherein said cam does not extend laterally beyond said centerline.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets comprises a centerline, and wherein said cam does not extend laterally to said centerline.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said firing member further comprises a second cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion, and wherein said longitudinal anvil slot further comprises a second lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion configured to receive said second cam.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein said cartridge jaw further comprises a second inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities and said second inner longitudinal row of staple cavities are positioned on opposite sides of said longitudinal cartridge slot, wherein said anvil jaw further comprises a second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said second inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, and wherein said second lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said second cam does not extend laterally beyond said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said second cam does not extend laterally to said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets comprises a centerline, and wherein said second cam does not extend laterally beyond said centerline.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets comprises a centerline, and wherein said second cam does not extend laterally to said centerline.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said anvil jaw is rotatable relative to said cartridge jaw between an open position and a closed position.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge jaw is rotatable relative to said anvil jaw between an open position and a closed position.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said cartridge jaw is replaceable.
15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a firing member, comprising:
a longitudinal drive portion; and
a cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion, wherein said cam comprises a rounded outer end;
a cartridge jaw, comprising:
a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member;
an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities adjacent said longitudinal cartridge slot;
a lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned intermediate said longitudinal cartridge slot and said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
staples removably stored in said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities, wherein said firing member is movable through said cartridge jaw to eject said staples from said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities; and
an anvil jaw, comprising:
an inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets defines a centerline;
a lateral longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
a longitudinal anvil slot, comprising:
a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and
a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion, wherein said lateral opening comprises a rounded outer wall configured to receive said outer rounded end of said cam, and wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said centerline.
16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said cam does not extend laterally to said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said cam does not extend laterally to said centerline.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said firing member further comprises a second cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion, and wherein said longitudinal anvil slot further comprises a second lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion configured to receive said second cam.
19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein said cartridge jaw further comprises a second inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities and said second inner longitudinal row of staple cavities are positioned on opposite sides of said longitudinal cartridge slot, wherein said anvil jaw further comprises a second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said second inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets defines a second centerline, and wherein said second lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said second centerline.
20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein said second cam does not extend laterally to said second inner longitudinal row of forming pockets.
21. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein said second cam does not extend laterally to said second centerline.
22. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said anvil jaw is rotatable relative to said cartridge jaw between an open position and a closed position.
23. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said cartridge jaw is rotatable relative to said anvil jaw between an open position and a closed position.
24. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of said cartridge jaw is replaceable.
25. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a firing member, comprising:
a longitudinal drive portion; and
a cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion, wherein said cam comprises an outer edge comprising a first rounded outer profile;
a cartridge jaw, comprising:
a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member;
an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities adjacent said longitudinal cartridge slot;
a lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned intermediate said longitudinal cartridge slot and said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
staples removably stored in said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities, wherein said firing member is movable through said cartridge jaw to eject said staples from said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities; and
an anvil jaw, comprising:
an inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets defines a centerline;
a lateral longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
a longitudinal anvil slot, comprising:
a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and
a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion, wherein said lateral opening comprises an outer wall comprising a second rounded outer profile, wherein said outer wall is configured to receive said outer edge of said cam, and wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally to said centerline.
26. The surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein said anvil jaw is rotatable relative to said cartridge jaw between an open position and a closed position.
27. The surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein said cartridge jaw is rotatable relative to said anvil jaw between an open position and a closed position.
28. The surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of said cartridge jaw is replaceable.