Staple cartridge
A staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staples positioned within a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body can comprise a tissue-contacting deck and a plurality of ridges extending from the tissue-contacting deck. The ridges can be configured to prevent, or reduce the possibility of, tissue from moving relative to the staple cartridge during use. The staple cartridge can further comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity can comprise an opening in the deck which is at least partially surrounded by a ridge. The ridges can comprise a uniform height or a height which varies along the length thereof. The height can vary relative to a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body and/or between the center of the cartridge body and the side.
1. A fastener cartridge, comprising:
a plurality of fasteners; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck configured to support patient tissue;
a longitudinal slot defined in said deck extending from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said deck comprises a first deck side on a first side of said longitudinal slot and a second deck side on a second side of said longitudinal slot;
a first fastener cavity comprising a first opening defined in said first deck side, wherein a first fastener of said plurality of fasteners is removably stored in said first fastener cavity;
a second fastener cavity comprising a second opening defined in said first deck side, wherein said second fastener cavity is positioned distally with respect to said first fastener cavity, and wherein a second fastener of said plurality of fasteners is removably stored in said second fastener cavity;
a first projection extending from said deck, wherein said first opening is at least partially surrounded by said first projection; and
a second projection extending from said deck, wherein said second opening is at least partially surrounded by said second projection, and wherein at least a portion of said first projection is positioned intermediate said first opening and said second opening.
2. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said second projection is positioned intermediate said first opening and said second opening.
3. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first fastener cavity and said second fastener cavity are part of a longitudinal row of fastener cavities.
4. The fastener cartridge of claim 3 , wherein said first fastener cavity and said second fastener cavity are adjacent to one another in said longitudinal row of fastener cavities.
5. The fastener cartridge of claim 3 , wherein all of the fastener cavities in said longitudinal row of fastener cavities comprise an opening defined in said first deck side and are at least partially surrounded by a projection extending from said deck.
6. The fastener cartridge of claim 3 , wherein said first projection has a height that varies laterally with respect to said longitudinal row of fastener cavities.
7. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first opening comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, and wherein said first projection comprises:
a first portion at least partially surrounding said first lateral side of said first opening; and
a second portion at least partially surrounding said second lateral side of said first opening.
8. The fastener cartridge of claim 7 , wherein said first portion comprises a first height and a second height, wherein said first height is different from said second height.
9. The fastener cartridge of claim 7 , wherein said first portion comprises a first height, wherein said second portion comprises a second height, and wherein said first height is different from said second height.
10. A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:
a plurality of staples; and
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal slot defined in said deck extending from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said deck comprises a first deck side on a first side of said longitudinal slot and a second deck side on a second side of said longitudinal slot;
a first staple cavity defined in said first deck side, wherein a first staple of said plurality of staples is removably stored in said first staple cavity;
a second staple cavity defined in said first deck side, wherein a second staple of said plurality of staples is removably stored in said second staple cavity;
a first ridge extending from said deck, wherein said first staple cavity is at least partially surrounded by said first ridge; and
a second ridge extending from said deck, wherein said second staple cavity is at least partially surrounded by said second ridge, and wherein at least a portion of said first ridge is positioned intermediate said first staple cavity and said second staple cavity.
11. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of said second ridge is positioned intermediate said first staple cavity and said second staple cavity.
12. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 10 , wherein said first staple cavity and said second staple cavity are part of a longitudinal row of staple cavities.
13. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said first staple cavity and said second staple cavity are adjacent to one another in said longitudinal row of staple cavities.
14. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein all of the staple cavities in said longitudinal row of staple cavities are defined in said first deck side and are at least partially surrounded by a ridge extending from said deck.
15. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said first ridge has a height that varies laterally with respect to said longitudinal row of staple cavities.
16. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 10 , wherein said first staple cavity comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, and said first ridge comprises:
a first portion at least partially surrounding said first lateral side of said first staple cavity; and
a second portion at least partially surrounding said second lateral side of said first staple cavity.
17. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 16 , wherein said first portion comprises a first height and a second height, wherein said first height is different from said second height.
18. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 16 , wherein said first portion comprises a first height, wherein said second portion comprises a second height, and wherein said first height is different from said second height.