# US 11,109,861 B2 · Surgical stapler cartridge loading and unloading > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,109,861 B2 - Document ID: US11109861B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/544,156 - Filed: 2019-08-19 - Published: 2019-12-05 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-11 - Assignees: Aesculap AG - Applicants: Aesculap AG - Inventors: Benjamin J. Matthias; Kevin L. Hudelson; Nicholas J. Terzulli; Thomas J. Palermo; Julian N. Nikolchev - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109861B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position} - A61B 34/30: Surgical robots - A61B 50/00: Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers (drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10) - A61B 50/22: Racks - A61B 2017/0053: {Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools} - A61B 2017/0688: {Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers} - A61B 2017/07221: {curved} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An exemplary surgical method includes possessing a loader that holds a curved-tip cartridge, and a surgical stapler that includes an anvil and channel at a distal end thereof; causing at least one of the loader and the channel to move toward the other; as a result of the causing, engaging the loader and the curved-tip cartridge with the channel; and causing at least one of the loader and the channel to move away from the other, such that the curved-tip cartridge remains engaged with the channel. That method further may include actuating the surgical stapler; grasping the unloader; sliding the unloader toward the channel; disengaging the curved-tip cartridge from the channel with the unloader; and withdrawing the unloader away from said channel, wherein the withdrawing causes the curved-tip cartridge to disengage from the channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An unloader engageable with a stapler channel and a curved-tip cartridge held by the stapler channel, the unloader comprising: a proximal body; an aperture defined through said proximal body, said aperture including a perimeter having at least two side walls facing each other, the aperture shaped and sized to correspond to an outer surface of the stapler channel and the cartridge held by the stapler channel; a cavity distal to said aperture, said cavity including a lower surface; and two side ramps distal to a portion of said lower surface, said side ramps extending upward in a distal direction from said lower surface, and said side ramps being spaced apart from said aperture and spaced laterally apart from each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The unloader of claim 1, further comprising: a stop extending upward from said lower surface; and a center ramp extending upward in the distal direction from a top of said stop, said center ramp positioned laterally between said side ramps. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The unloader of claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a vertical wall extending upward from the lower surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The unloader of claim 2, wherein the side ramps define a trough that extends between the side ramps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The unloader of claim 4, wherein the stop is located at a distal end of the trough. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The unloader of claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the aperture includes two horizontal planes in addition to the at least two side walls facing each other, the horizontal planes spaced laterally apart on opposite sides of said perimeter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The unloader of claim 6, wherein the two horizontal planes define a keying element to ensure that the stapler channel is correctly inserted into the unloader. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The unloader of claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the cavity has a concave curvature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The unloader of claim 8, wherein the concave curvature of the lower surface is a constant curvature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The unloader of claim 2, wherein the center ramp is planar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The unloader of claim 1, wherein the at least two side walls facing each other comprise a first side wall that is flat and a second side wall that is rounded. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The unloader of claim 11, wherein the first side wall has a polygonal shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The unloader of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface that forms part of a perimeter of the cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The unloader of claim 13, wherein the side ramps extend upward toward the upper surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The unloader of claim 13, wherein the upper surface defines an opening above the side ramps. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The unloader of claim 15, wherein the opening is sized to allow passage of the curved-tip cartridge during unloading of the curved-tip cartridge from the stapler channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The unloader of claim 2, wherein the two side ramps comprise top portions that merge with a top edge of the center ramp. ### Claim 18 An unloader engageable with a stapler channel and a curved-tip cartridge held by the stapler channel, the unloader comprising: a proximal body; an aperture defined through said proximal body, said aperture including a perimeter having at least two side walls facing each other, the aperture shaped and sized to correspond to an outer surface of the stapler channel and the cartridge held by the stapler channel; a cavity distal to said aperture, said cavity including a lower surface; and a ramp that is distal to a portion of said lower surface, said ramp extending upward in a distal direction from said lower surface, and said ramp being spaced apart from said aperture. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The unloader of claim 18, further comprising an upper surface that forms part of a perimeter of the cavity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The unloader of claim 19, wherein the ramp extends upward toward the upper surface.