CPC A61B 17/105 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0644 (2013.01); A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0814 (2016.02)] | 20 Claims |
1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft extending distally from the body along a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft has a distal end;
(c) an end effector positioned at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector includes:
(i) a jaw including:
(A) a laterally-opposed pair of sidewalls,
(B) an elongate channel defined between the pair of sidewalls, wherein the elongate channel is configured to removably receive a cartridge, and
(C) a plurality of retainers extending laterally inwardly from respective sidewalls of the pair of sidewalls, wherein each retainer of the plurality of retainers is configured to engage at least one alignment protrusion of the cartridge when the cartridge is removably received within the elongate channel, and
(ii) an anvil configured to cooperate with the jaw to clamp and staple tissue; and
(d) a translating knife configured to translate along a firing stroke, wherein the laterally-opposed pair of sidewalls of the jaw is configured to remain fixed relative to a cartridge body of the cartridge as the translating knife translates along the firing stroke;
wherein each retainer of the plurality of retainers is configured to be secured against longitudinal movement relative to the cartridge when the cartridge is removably received within the elongate channel of the jaw.
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