# US 2013/0240604 A1 · Surgical stapler with cartridge-adjustable clamp gap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0240604 A1 - Document ID: US20130240604A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/889,477 - Filed: 2013-05-08 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-20 - Assignees: Cardica, Inc. - Applicants: Cardica, Inc. - Inventors: Bryan D. Knodel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130240604A1 ## CPC - 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 90/92: coded with colour - A61B 2017/07214: {Stapler heads} - A61B 2017/07221: {curved} - A61B 2017/0725: {with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2017/2936: {Pins in guiding slots} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An exemplary surgical apparatus for treating tissue may include an anvil; a jaw pivotally connected to the anvil; and a first cartridge detachably connected to the anvil, holding staples of a first size; where a first clamp gap between the anvil and first cartridge is set by the connection between the first cartridge and jaw. An exemplary cartridge for a surgical stapler may include a cartridge housing; a plurality of staples held within the cartridge housing; and a sled slidable within, and retained by, the cartridge housing, including a central platform, at least one wedge connected to the central platform, and a knife rotatable relative to the central platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge for a surgical stapler, comprising: a cartridge housing; a plurality of staples held within the cartridge housing; a sled slidable within, and retained by, the cartridge housing, the sled comprising a central platform; at least one wedge connected to the central platform; and a knife rotatable relative to the central platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein: the cartridge includes a parking space defined in the distal end of the cartridge housing; and the sled is slidable in a distal direction from a position in which the knife extends upward out of the cartridge to a position in which the knife rotates downward and distally into the cartridge, and then to a position in which the knife is held within the parking space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises: at least one rail defined therein; a feeder belt affixed to an upper surface of the at least one rail; and a plurality of staples frangibly affixed to the feeder belt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one wedge includes two wedges angled relative to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a gap-setting feature at a location on the cartridge, wherein the location on the cartridge determines a setting of a gap between the cartridge and an anvil of a surgical stapler. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the gap is one of at least two discrete clamp gaps of the surgical stapler that are settable by gap-setting features of cartridges. ### Claim 7 A cartridge for a surgical stapler, comprising: a cartridge housing; a plurality of staples within the cartridge; a sled within the cartridge; a knife rotatable relative to the sled; and a gap-setting feature operable to engage with a jaw of a surgical stapler, to set a gap between the cartridge and an anvil of the surgical stapler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the sled is slidable out of the cartridge such that the sled and the knife can be reused with another cartridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the gap-setting feature includes an indentation inward toward a lateral center of the cartridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the gap-setting feature is located at a different location on the cartridge as compared with another cartridge having differing staples and fitting the jaw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the gap-setting feature is positioned differently on the cartridge as compared with another cartridge having differing staples and fitting the jaw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein a portion of a lateral edge of the cartridge immediately proximal to the gap-setting feature is located laterally inward relative to a portion of a lateral edge of another cartridge having differing staples and fitting the jaw. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the knife is operable to flip up to a cutting position in response to a force exerted by a tissue stop of the anvil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the knife is operable to rotate into a parking space defined within the cartridge in response to the knife contacting a distal end of a knife slot of the jaw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the gap is one of at least two discrete clamp gaps of the surgical stapler. ### Claim 16 A cartridge for a surgical stapler, comprising: a cartridge housing; a plurality of staples within the cartridge; a sled within the cartridge; the sled including a knife; and a gap-setting feature operable to control a vertical position of a pivot pin of an anvil relative to a jaw of a surgical stapler, to set a clamp gap between the cartridge and the anvil. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cartridge of claim 16, wherein: the gap-setting feature is operable to set a longitudinal position of a shuttle in the jaw; and the longitudinal position of the shuttle controls the vertical position of the pivot pin of the anvil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the gap-setting feature is such that engagement between the cartridge and a shuttle of the surgical stapler sets the vertical position of the pivot pin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the clamp gap is one of at least two discrete clamp gaps. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the gap-setting feature is located on one or both lateral sides of the cartridge, at a proximal end of the cartridge.