Fastener cartridge comprising a sled including longitudinally-staggered ramps
A fastener cartridge comprising a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck, a longitudinal slot, cavities, and ridges protruding from the tissue-supporting deck is disclosed. The fastener cartridge further comprises fasteners positioned in the cavities, drivers supporting the fasteners, and a sled configured to engage the drivers to fire the fasteners from the cavities during a firing stroke. The sled comprises a central portion and ramps. The ramps comprise a first ramp on a first side of the central portion, a second ramp on the first side of the central portion, a third ramp on a second side of the central portion, and a fourth ramp on the second side of the central portion. The first ramp, the second ramp, and the third ramp are longitudinally-staggered. The central portion comprises a hump intermediate the first ramp and the third ramp, and a stabilizer extending from the hump distally beyond the ramps.
1. A fastener cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a longitudinal slot through at least a portion of said tissue-supporting deck;
cavities defined in said tissue-supporting deck; and
ridges protruding from said tissue-supporting deck;
fasteners positioned in said cavities;
drivers supporting said fasteners; and
a sled configured to engage said drivers to fire said fasteners from said cavities during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises:
a central portion; and
ramps, comprising:
a first ramp on a first side of said central portion;
a second ramp on the first side of said central portion;
a third ramp on a second side of said central portion, wherein said first ramp, said second ramp, and said third ramp are longitudinally-staggered; and
a fourth ramp on the second side of said central portion, wherein said fourth ramp and said first ramp are longitudinally-aligned;
wherein said central portion comprises:
a hump intermediate said first ramp and said third ramp; and
a stabilizer extending from said hump distally beyond said ramps.
2. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein longitudinal sidewalls in said cartridge body form said longitudinal slot, and wherein said stabilizer is configured to slidably engage at least a portion of said longitudinal sidewalls before said ramps engage said drivers.
3. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said hump comprises a maximum hump height, wherein said stabilizer comprises a maximum stabilizer height, and wherein said maximum stabilizer height is less than said maximum hump height.
4. The fastener cartridge of claim 3 , wherein said central portion further comprises a proximally-extending shoulder comprising a maximum shoulder height, and wherein said maximum shoulder height is less than said maximum hump height.
5. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said drivers comprise:
a first outer driver positioned for engagement by said first ramp;
a first inner driver positioned for engagement by said second ramp;
a second outer driver positioned for engagement by said third ramp; and
a second inner driver positioned for engagement by said fourth ramp.
6. The fastener cartridge of claim 5 , wherein said first inner driver and said second inner driver are each configured to support at least two discrete fasteners.
7. The fastener cartridge of claim 6 , wherein said first outer driver and said second outer driver are each configured to support a single fastener.
8. A fastener cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a longitudinal slot through at least a portion of said tissue-supporting deck;
cavities defined in said tissue-supporting deck; and
ridges protruding from said tissue-supporting deck;
fasteners positioned in said cavities;
drivers supporting said fasteners, wherein said drivers comprise:
a first double driver configured to support at least two fasteners;
a second double driver configured to support at least two fasteners; and
a single driver configured to support a single fastener; and
a sled configured to engage said drivers to fire said fasteners from said cavities during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises:
a first ramp configured to engage said single driver;
a second ramp configured to engage said first double driver;
a third ramp configured to engage said second double driver, wherein said first ramp, said second ramp, and said third ramp are longitudinally-staggered; and
a central portion, comprising:
a hump;
a shoulder extending proximally from said hump; and
a stabilizer extending from said hump distally beyond said first ramp, said second ramp, and said third ramp.
9. The fastener cartridge of claim 8 , wherein longitudinal sidewalls in said cartridge body form said longitudinal slot, and wherein said stabilizer is configured to slidably engage at least a portion of said longitudinal sidewalls before said first ramp, said second ramp, and said third ramp engage said drivers.
10. The fastener cartridge of claim 8 , wherein said hump comprises a maximum hump height, wherein said stabilizer comprises a maximum stabilizer height, and wherein said maximum stabilizer height is less than said maximum hump height.
11. The fastener cartridge of claim 10 , wherein said shoulder comprises a maximum shoulder height, and wherein said maximum shoulder height is less than said maximum hump height.
12. The fastener cartridge of claim 8 , wherein said first ramp comprises a first outer ramp.
13. The fastener cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said second ramp comprises a first inner ramp adjacent to said central portion.
14. The fastener cartridge of claim 13 , wherein said third ramp comprises a second inner ramp adjacent to said central portion.
15. The fastener cartridge of claim 14 , wherein said first ramp, said second ramp, and said third ramp extend along parallel axes.
16. The fastener cartridge of claim 14 , wherein said third ramp comprises the distal-most ramp.
17. The fastener cartridge of claim 14 , wherein said sled further comprises a second outer ramp adjacent to said second inner ramp.
18. The fastener cartridge of claim 17 , wherein said first outer ramp and said second outer ramp are longitudinally-aligned.
19. A fastener cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a tissue-supporting deck;
a longitudinal slot through at least a portion of said tissue-supporting deck; and
cavities defined in said tissue-supporting deck;
fasteners positioned in said cavities;
drivers supporting said fasteners; and
a sled configured to engage said drivers to fire said fasteners from said cavities during a firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises:
a central portion;
a first ramp on a first side of said central portion;
a second ramp on the first side of said central portion;
a third ramp on a second side of said central portion, wherein said first ramp, said second ramp, and said third ramp are longitudinally-staggered; and
a fourth ramp on the second side of said central portion;
wherein said central portion comprises:
a body intermediate said second ramp and said third ramp;
a stabilizer extending distally from said body beyond the distal ends of said first ramp, second ramp, third ramp, and fourth ramp; and
a shoulder extending proximally from said body, wherein the height of said central portion is greater along said body than along said stabilizer and along said shoulder.
20. The fastener cartridge of claim 19 , wherein said first ramp and said fourth ramp are longitudinally-aligned.