US 12,290,259 B2
Firing drive arrangements for surgical systems
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/220,505.
Application 18/220,505 is a continuation of application No. 16/363,070, filed on Mar. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,696,761, issued on Jul. 11, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0008872 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/29 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 17/105 (2013.01); A61B 17/115 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2905 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2926 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said end effector assembly comprises:
a first jaw defining a channel therein;
a drive screw; and
a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in said channel, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge deck having a longitudinal slot defined in an upper surface of the cartridge deck, a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in the upper surface of the cartridge deck and located alongside the longitudinal slot, a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in the upper surface of the cartridge deck and located alongside the first longitudinal row of staple cavities, a third longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in the upper surface of the cartridge deck and located alongside the longitudinal slot on an opposite side from the first longitudinal row of staple cavities, and a fourth longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in the upper surface of the cartridge deck and located alongside the third longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of first staples positioned in the first longitudinal row of staple cavities, a plurality of second staples positioned in the second longitudinal row of staple cavities, a plurality of third staples positioned in the third longitudinal row of staple cavities, and a plurality of fourth staples positioned in the fourth longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a first staple driver in contact with a staple of the plurality of first staples and with a staple of the plurality of second staples;
a second staple driver in contact with a staple of the plurality of third staples and with a staple of the plurality of fourth staples, wherein each of the first staple driver and the second staple driver includes a first exterior wall and a second exterior wall located toward the drive screw relative to the corresponding first exterior wall, wherein each first exterior wall is planar when viewed in a cross-sectional plane and each second exterior wall is concave when viewed in the cross-sectional plane; and
a sled operably engaged with the drive screw and including a first arcuate wall and a second arcuate wall, wherein the first arcuate wall of the sled abuts the second exterior wall of the first staple driver and the second arcuate wall of the sled abuts the second exterior wall of the second staple driver.