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US 2017/0290586 A1Published application
Stapling cartridge
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorAshley Lynn Wellman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stapling cartridge having an elongated rail that provides support to a moveable clamping element and resists pulling or spreading forces caused by compressing and cutting tissue. The elongated rail can directly connect the stapling cartridge to the lower jaw and completely carry the moveable clamping element, which can couple and decouple to an anvil of an upper jaw.
Claims20
A stapling cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body elongated from a proximal end to a distal end, the cartridge body contained within a lower jaw of an end effector, the cartridge body comprising a plurality of openings;
- a plurality of staples held within the cartridge body and arranged to be driven out of the plurality of openings;
- a shuttle assembly held by the cartridge body and configured to be driven by the end effector, the shuttle assembly having a drive portion arranged to drive a shuttle from the proximal end of the cartridge body to the distal end of the cartridge body;
- an elongated rail contained within the cartridge body, the elongated rail having an elongated track, the elongated rail having at least one feature to removably attach to the lower jaw of the end effector;
- a clamping element carried by the shuttle to travel along the elongated track of the elongated rail, the clamping element having a first retaining feature configured to moveably constrain against the elongated rail and a second retaining feature configured to moveably constrain an upper jaw of the end effector.
2 more elements
A stapling system comprising:
- an elongated arm portion;
- a 2-axis joint coupled to the elongated arm portion;
- an end effector coupled to the 2-axis joint, the end effector comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw;
- the lower jaw comprising:
- a cartridge body elongated from a proximal end to a distal end, the cartridge body configured to removably couple to a lower jaw, the cartridge body comprising a plurality of openings;
- a plurality of staples held within the cartridge body and arranged to be driven out of the plurality of openings;
- a shuttle assembly held by the cartridge body and configured to be driven by the end effector, the shuttle assembly having a drive portion arranged to drive a shuttle from the proximal end of the cartridge body to the distal end of the cartridge body;
- an elongated rail held by the cartridge body, the elongated rail having an elongated track, the elongated rail having at least one feature to removably attach to the lower jaw;
- a clamping element carried by the shuttle to travel along the elongated track of the elongated rail, the clamping element having a first retaining feature configured to moveably constrain against the elongated rail and a second retaining feature configured to moveably constrain the upper jaw.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.