Surgical staple cartridge with improved staple driver configurations
A surgical staple driver array configured for operable use with a surgical staple cartridge. A distal staple driver is slidably supportable in the surgical staple cartridge and is configured to operably support a distal surgical staple thereon that is oriented in a distal direction. At least one intermediate staple driver is configured to be slidably supported in the surgical staple cartridge adjacent the distal staple driver. Each intermediate staple driver is configured to operably support a first surgical staple that is oriented in a first direction, a second surgical staple that is oriented in a second direction and a third surgical staple that is oriented in a third direction. A proximal staple driver is slidably supported adjacent a proximal most one of the intermediate staple drivers. The proximal staple driver is configured to operably support a proximal surgical staple thereon.
1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising an anvil, the staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a knife slot;
staple cavities defined in said cartridge body, wherein said staple cavities are arranged in an alternating pattern which extends past the knife slot; and
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a sled movable within said cartridge body from said proximal end toward said distal end during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a first camming member and a second camming member;
a proximal staple driver, wherein said proximal staple driver is configured to support a first number of staples;
an intermediate staple driver, wherein said intermediate staple driver is positioned distally to said proximal staple driver, and wherein said intermediate staple driver is configured to support a second number of staples; and
a distal staple driver, wherein said distal staple driver is configured to support a third number of staples, and wherein said first number of staples, said second number of staples, and said third number of staples are different.
2. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said proximal staple driver comprises a driver body, comprising:
a first staple support portion;
a second staple support portion;
a third staple support portion; and
a fourth staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, and said fourth staple support portion are configured to each support a staple oriented in a first direction, wherein said third staple support portion is configured to support a staple oriented in a second direction which is different than said first direction, and wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, said third staple support portion, and said fourth staple support portion are connected by a proximal attachment portion.
3. The staple cartridge of claim 2 , wherein said second direction is transverse to said first direction.
4. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate staple driver comprises:
a first staple support portion;
a second staple support portion; and
a third staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion and said third staple support portion are configured to each support a staple oriented in a first direction, wherein said second staple support portion is configured to support a staple oriented in a second direction, and wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, and said third staple support portion are connected by an intermediate attachment portion.
5. The staple cartridge of claim 4 , wherein said second direction is transverse to said first direction.
6. The staple cartridge of claim 4 , wherein said distal staple driver comprises a first staple support portion configured to support a staple oriented in a direction which is parallel to said first direction.
7. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising an anvil, the staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a knife slot;
staple cavities defined in said cartridge body, wherein said staple cavities are arranged in a varying pattern which extends past the knife slot; and
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a sled movable within said cartridge body from said proximal end toward said distal end during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a first camming member and a second camming member;
a proximal staple driver, wherein said proximal staple driver is configured to support a first arrangement of staples;
an intermediate staple driver, wherein said intermediate staple driver is positioned distally to said proximal staple driver, wherein said intermediate staple driver is configured to support a second arrangement of staples; and
a distal staple driver, wherein said distal staple driver is positioned distally to said intermediate staple driver, wherein said distal staple driver is configured to support a third arrangement of staples, and wherein said first arrangement of staples, said second arrangement of staples, and said third arrangement of staples are different.
8. The staple cartridge of claim 7 , wherein said proximal staple driver comprises a driver body, comprising:
a first staple support portion;
a second staple support portion;
a third staple support portion; and
a fourth staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, and said fourth staple support portion are configured to each support a staple oriented in a first direction, wherein said third staple support portion is configured to support a staple oriented in a second direction which is different than said first direction, and wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, said third staple support portion, and said fourth staple support portion are connected by a proximal attachment portion.
9. The staple cartridge of claim 8 , wherein said second direction is transverse to said first direction.
10. The staple cartridge of claim 7 , wherein said intermediate staple driver comprises:
a first staple support portion;
a second staple support portion; and
a third staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion and said third staple support portion are configured to each support a staple oriented in a first direction, wherein said second staple support portion is configured to support a staple oriented in a second direction, and wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, and said third staple support portion are connected by an intermediate attachment portion.
11. The staple cartridge of claim 10 , wherein said second direction is transverse to said first direction.
12. The staple cartridge of claim 10 , wherein said distal staple driver comprises a first staple support portion configured to support a staple oriented in a direction which is parallel to said first direction.
13. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising an anvil, the staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a knife slot;
staple cavities defined in said cartridge body, wherein said staple cavities are arranged in an alternating pattern which extends past the knife slot; and
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a sled movable within said cartridge body from said proximal end toward said distal end during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a first camming member and a second camming member;
a proximal staple driver, wherein said proximal staple driver is configured to support a first pattern of staples;
an intermediate staple driver, wherein said intermediate staple driver is positioned distally to said proximal staple driver, wherein said intermediate staple driver is configured to support a second pattern of staples; and
a distal staple driver, wherein said distal staple driver is positioned distally to said intermediate staple driver, wherein said distal staple driver is configured to support a third pattern of staples, wherein said first pattern of staples, said second pattern of staples, and said third pattern of staples are different and comprise different amounts of staples.
14. The staple cartridge of claim 13 , wherein said proximal staple driver comprises a driver body, comprising:
a first staple support portion;
a second staple support portion;
a third staple support portion; and
a fourth staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, and said fourth staple support portion are configured to each support a staple oriented in a first direction, wherein said third staple support portion is configured to support a staple oriented in a second direction which is different than said first direction, and wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, said third staple support portion, and said fourth staple support portion are connected by a proximal attachment portion.
15. The staple cartridge of claim 14 , wherein said second direction is transverse to said first direction.
16. The staple cartridge of claim 13 , wherein said intermediate staple driver comprises:
a first staple support portion;
a second staple support portion; and
a third staple support portion, wherein said first staple support portion and said third staple support portion are configured to each support a staple oriented in a first direction, wherein said second staple support portion is configured to support a staple oriented in a second direction, and wherein said first staple support portion, said second staple support portion, and said third staple support portion are connected by an intermediate attachment portion.
17. The staple cartridge of claim 16 , wherein said second direction is transverse to said first direction.
18. The staple cartridge of claim 16 , wherein said distal staple driver comprises a first staple support portion configured to support a staple oriented in a direction which is parallel to said first direction.