US 12,274,446 B2
Surgical stapler with apparatus for adjusting staple height
Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US); and James J. Bedi, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/435,337.
Application 13/152,507 is a division of application No. 12/234,133, filed on Sep. 19, 2008, granted, now 7,954,686, issued on Jun. 7, 2011.
Application 18/435,337 is a continuation of application No. 17/473,052, filed on Sep. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,944,306.
Application 17/473,052 is a continuation of application No. 16/284,311, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,123,071, issued on Sep. 21, 2021.
Application 16/284,311 is a continuation of application No. 15/059,515, filed on Mar. 3, 2016, granted, now 10,258,336, issued on Apr. 16, 2019.
Application 15/059,515 is a continuation of application No. 13/476,265, filed on May 21, 2012, granted, now 9,289,210, issued on Mar. 22, 2016.
Application 13/476,265 is a continuation of application No. 13/152,507, filed on Jun. 3, 2011, granted, now 8,205,781, issued on Jun. 26, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2024/0225647 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/105 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00446 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07242 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0725 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 17/2909 (2013.01); A61B 17/32 (2013.01); A61B 2090/037 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0801 (2016.02); A61B 2090/08021 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0813 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0814 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical stapling device, comprising:
a staple cartridge channel; and
an anvil, comprising:
an anvil base; and
an anvil plate movably retained relative to the anvil base, wherein the anvil plate comprises:
a first surface positionable to face the staple cartridge channel, the first surface comprising a plurality of forming pockets; and
a second surface comprising an array of steps opposite the first surface, wherein the array of steps comprises:
a first step comprising a first height; and
a second step comprising a second height, wherein the second height is different than the first height.