Surgical staple and staple drive member

Abstract

A surgical staple is provided which includes a bridge portion having at least two adjacent arcuate sections, each defining a constant radius of curvature along the arc length thereof. Transition portions are disposed at opposed end portions of the bridge portion, each having a curved profile. The surgical staple is further provided with legs having first end portions connected to the transition portions and second end portions extending therefrom. The surgical staple is constructed such that the legs move between an undeformed position substantially transverse to the bridge portion and a deformed position in which at least a portion of each of the legs is in approximation with the bridge portion. A drive member is also disclosed which is configured to urge a plurality of surgical staples from a staple cartridge when acted upon by an applied actuating force. The drive member has a support portion which complements the geometry of the bridge portion of the staple.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.