Staple cartridge assembly including features for controlling the rotation of staples when being ejected therefrom
A staple cartridge is disclosed which comprises a cartridge body, staples cavities defined in the cartridge body, and staples removably stored in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge comprises features for properly aligning and preventing the misalignment of the staples within the staple cavities.
1. A staple cartridge assembly for stapling tissue, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises:
a top opening;
a proximal wall; and
a distal wall;
a firing member; and
a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said staple comprises:
a base;
a proximal leg extending from said base;
a distal leg extending from said base; and
a center of mass defined in said base, wherein said distal wall provides a distal reaction force to said staple above said center of mass and said proximal wall provides a proximal reaction force to said staple below said center of mass wherein said staple is lifted toward said top opening by said firing member,
wherein said firing member is configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, and wherein said firing member is configured to contact a foot of any staple that is misoriented within its staple cavity prior to ejecting the misoriented staple from its staple cavity.
2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said base defines a drive plane, and wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are not in said drive plane.
3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2 , wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are offset laterally from said center of mass of said staple.
4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2 , wherein said distal wall applies said distal reaction force to said distal leg and said proximal wall applies said proximal reaction force to said proximal leg.
5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2 , wherein said proximal leg extends to a first side of said drive plane and said distal leg extends to a second side of said drive plane.
6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a notch defined therein configured to shift said center of mass of said staple toward a side of said staple cavity.
7. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said foot comprises a chamfered edge.
8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a concave tissue-facing surface.
9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg comprise chamfered corners.
10. A staple cartridge assembly for stapling tissue, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
a plurality of staple cavities;
a plurality of staples positioned in said staple cavities, wherein said staple comprises:
a base defining a drive plane; and
a leg extending from said base, wherein said leg extends to a side of said drive plane;
a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities; and
means for reducing the rotation of said staples within said staple cavities when said firing member is driving said staples out of said staple cavities.
11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 10 , wherein said base comprises a concave tissue-facing surface.
12. A fastener cartridge assembly for fastening tissue, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
a deck;
a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener cavity comprises:
a top opening defined in said deck;
a proximal wall extending from said top opening; and
a distal wall extending from said top opening;
a firing member; and
a plurality of fasteners positioned in said fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener comprises:
a foot;
a crown;
a proximal leg extending from said crown;
a distal leg extending from said crown; and
a center of mass defined in said crown, wherein said distal wall provides a distal reaction force to said fastener above said center of mass and said proximal wall provides a proximal reaction force to said fastener below said center of mass wherein said fastener is ejected toward said top opening by said firing member,
wherein said firing member configured to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities, and wherein said firing member is configured to contact said foot of any fastener that is misoriented within its fastener cavity prior to ejecting the misoriented fastener from its fastener cavity.
13. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said crown defines a drive plane, and wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are not in said drive plane.
14. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13 , wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are offset laterally from said center of mass of said fastener.
15. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13 , wherein said distal wall applies said distal reaction force to said distal leg and said proximal wall applies said proximal reaction force to said proximal leg.
16. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 13 , wherein said proximal leg extends to a first side of said drive plane and said distal leg extends to a second side of said drive plane.
17. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said crown comprises a notch defined therein configured to shift said center of mass of said fastener toward a side of said fastener cavity.
18. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said foot comprises a chamfered edge.
19. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said crown comprises a concave tissue-facing surface.
20. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg comprise chamfered corners.
21. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said crown comprises a tissue valley surface defined between said proximal leg and said distal leg.