# US 11,298,134 B2 · Fastener cartridge comprising non-uniform fasteners > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,134 B2 - Document ID: US11298134B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/389,077 - Filed: 2019-04-19 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-16 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Thomas W. Huitema; Kevin R. Doll; Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Emily A. Schellin; Jason L. Harris; Geoffrey C. Hueil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298134B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)} - A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position} - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/07292: {Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets} - A61B 90/03: {Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety} - G06F 11/1425: {by reconfiguration of node membership} - A61B 2017/00057: {Light} - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/07235: {containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials} - A61B 2017/07242: {achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07264: {characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B 2090/038: {during shipment} - A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking} - A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means} - A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument} - A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres} - A61B 2090/309: {using white LEDs} - A61B 2090/3945: {Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A fastener cartridge can comprise fastener cavities arranged in longitudinal rows. A first fastener having a first configuration and a second fastener having a second configuration can be stored within a longitudinal row. First fasteners having a first configuration can be stored within a first longitudinal row and second fasteners having a second configuration can be stored within a second longitudinal row. Each first fastener can have a proximal leg, or leg portion, extending at a first proximal angle and a distal leg, or leg portion, extending at a first distal angle and each second fastener can have a proximal leg, or leg portion, extending at a second proximal angle and a distal leg, or leg portion, extending at a second distal angle. The first proximal angle can be different than the second proximal angle and/or the first distal angle can be different than the second distal angle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck and a plurality of cavities forming a plurality of openings in said tissue-supporting deck, said plurality of cavities comprising a first cavity forming an opening; a firing member configured to move through said cartridge body during a firing stroke; and fasteners comprising a first fastener positioned in said first cavity in a ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said first fastener is configured to be ejected into tissue from said ready-to-eject configuration, said first fastener comprising: a base; a proximal leg, comprising: a first proximal segment extending from said base; and a second proximal segment extending from said first proximal segment, wherein a proximal angle is defined between said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment; and a distal leg, comprising: a first distal segment extending from said base; and a second distal segment extending from said first distal segment, wherein a distal angle is defined between said first distal segment and said second distal segment; wherein said first distal segment and said first proximal segment are different lengths, and wherein said proximal angle and said distal angle are different when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said second distal segment and said second proximal segment are different lengths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fastener cartridge of claim 2, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are the same height. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first proximal segment is oriented at a first angle relative to said base, wherein said first distal segment is oriented at a second angle relative to said base, and wherein said first angle is different than said second angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said proximal leg comprises a first tip, wherein said distal leg comprises a second tip, and wherein the longitudinal spread between said first tip and said second tip is different than the longitudinal length of said base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fastener cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cavities are arranged in a longitudinal row. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fastener cartridge of claim 6, wherein said firing member is movable distally along said longitudinal row during the firing stroke. ### Claim 8 A fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck and cavities defined in said tissue-supporting deck, said cavities comprising a first cavity; a firing member configured to move through said cartridge body during a firing stroke; and fasteners comprising a first fastener positioned in said first cavity in a ready-to-eject configuration, said first fastener comprising: a base; a proximal leg, comprising: a first proximal segment extending from said base; and a second proximal segment extending from said first proximal segment, wherein a proximal angle is defined between said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment; and a distal leg, comprising: a first distal segment extending from said base; and a second distal segment extending from said first distal segment, wherein a distal angle is defined between said first distal segment and said second distal segment; wherein said first distal segment and said first proximal segment are different lengths, wherein said proximal angle and said distal angle are different when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said proximal leg comprises a first tip, wherein said distal leg comprises a second tip, wherein the longitudinal spread between said first tip and said second tip is different than the longitudinal length of said base, and wherein said first cavity comprises: a proximal end wall; and a distal end wall, wherein said distal end wall and said proximal end wall are dimensioned apart to bias said proximal leg and said distal leg inwardly. ### Claim 9 A fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck and a plurality of cavities forming a plurality of openings in said tissue-supporting deck, said plurality of cavities comprising a first cavity forming an opening; a firing member configured to move through said cartridge body during a firing stroke; and fasteners comprising a first fastener positioned in said first cavity in a ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said first fastener is configured to be ejected into tissue from said ready-to-eject configuration, said first fastener comprising: a base; a proximal leg, comprising: a first proximal segment; and a second proximal segment, wherein said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment are not collinear; and a distal leg, comprising: a first distal segment; and a second distal segment, wherein said first distal segment and said second distal segment are not collinear; wherein said first distal segment and said first proximal segment are different lengths when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration, and wherein said second distal segment and said second proximal segment are different lengths when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fastener cartridge of claim 9, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are the same height. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The fastener cartridge of claim 9, wherein said first proximal segment is obliquely-oriented at a first angle relative to said second proximal segment, wherein said first distal segment is obliquely-oriented at a second angle relative to said second distal segment, and wherein said first angle is different than said second angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The fastener cartridge of claim 9, wherein said first proximal segment is obliquely-oriented at a first angle relative to said base, wherein said first distal segment is obliquely-oriented at a second angle relative to said base, and wherein said first angle is different than said second angle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The fastener cartridge of claim 9, wherein said proximal leg comprises a first tip, wherein said distal leg comprises a second tip, and wherein the longitudinal spread between said first tip and said second tip is greater than the longitudinal length of said base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The fastener cartridge of claim 9, wherein said cavities are arranged in a longitudinal row. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fastener cartridge of claim 14, wherein said firing member is movable distally along said longitudinal row during the firing stroke. ### Claim 16 A fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck and cavities defined in said tissue-supporting deck, said cavities comprising a first cavity; a firing member configured to move through said cartridge body during a firing stroke; and fasteners comprising a first fastener positioned in said first cavity in a ready-to-eject configuration, said first fastener comprising: a base; a proximal leg, comprising: a first proximal segment; and a second proximal segment, wherein said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment are not collinear; and a distal leg, comprising: a first distal segment; and a second distal segment, wherein said first distal segment and said second distal segment are not collinear; wherein said first distal segment and said first proximal segment are different lengths when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said second distal segment and said second proximal segment are different lengths when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said proximal leg comprises a first tip, wherein said distal leg comprises a second tip, wherein the longitudinal spread between said first tip and said second tip is greater than the longitudinal length of said base, and wherein said first cavity comprises: a proximal end wall; and a distal end wall, wherein said distal end wall and said proximal end wall are dimensioned apart to bias said proximal leg and said distal leg inwardly. ### Claim 17 A fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck and a plurality of cavities forming a plurality of openings in said tissue-supporting deck, said plurality of cavities comprising a first cavity forming an opening; a firing member configured to move through said cartridge body during a firing stroke; and fasteners comprising a first fastener positioned in said first cavity in a ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said first fastener is configured to be ejected into tissue from said ready-to-eject configuration, said first fastener comprising: a base; a proximal leg, comprising: a first proximal segment; a second proximal segment, wherein said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment are not collinear; and a proximal joint between said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment, wherein said proximal joint is a first cantilevered distance from said base; and a distal leg, comprising: a first distal segment; a second distal segment, wherein said first distal segment and said second distal segment are not collinear; and a distal joint between said first distal segment and said second distal segment, wherein said distal joint is a second cantilevered distance from said base, and wherein said first cantilevered distance is different than said second cantilevered distance when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fastener cartridge of claim 17, wherein said proximal leg and said distal leg are the same height. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The fastener cartridge of claim 17, wherein said first proximal segment is obliquely-oriented at a first angle relative to said second proximal segment, wherein said first distal segment is obliquely-oriented at a second angle relative to said second distal segment, and wherein said first angle is different than said second angle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The fastener cartridge of claim 17, wherein said first proximal segment is obliquely-oriented at a first angle relative to said base, wherein said first distal segment is obliquely-oriented at a second angle relative to said base, and wherein said first angle is different than said second angle. ### Claim 21 A fastener cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck and cavities defined in said tissue-supporting deck, said cavities comprising a first cavity; a firing member configured to move through said cartridge body during a firing stroke; and fasteners comprising a first fastener positioned in said first cavity in a ready-to-eject configuration, said first fastener comprising: a base; a proximal leg, comprising: a first proximal segment; a second proximal segment, wherein said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment are not collinear; and a proximal joint between said first proximal segment and said second proximal segment, wherein said proximal joint is a first cantilevered distance from said base; and a distal leg, comprising: a first distal segment; a second distal segment, wherein said first distal segment and said second distal segment are not collinear; and a distal joint between said first distal segment and said second distal segment, wherein said distal joint is a second cantilevered distance from said base, wherein said first cantilevered distance is different than said second cantilevered distance when said first fastener is in said ready-to-eject configuration, wherein said proximal leg comprises a first tip, wherein said distal leg comprises a second tip, wherein the longitudinal distance between said first tip and said second tip is different than the longitudinal length of said base, and wherein said first cavity comprises a proximal end wall and a distal end wall dimensioned apart from said proximal end wall to bias said proximal leg and said distal leg inwardly.