US 12,349,905 B2
Staple cartridge for a surgical instrument
Ashley Wellman, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/406,333.
Application 18/406,333 is a continuation of application No. 17/605,230, granted, now 11,896,224, previously published as PCT/US2020/033481, filed on May 18, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/855,371, filed on May 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0138834 A1, May 2, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/064 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2034/302 (2016.02)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
an end effector having a longitudinal axis and comprising first and second jaws configured to move relative to each other between an open position and a closed position; and
a staple cartridge coupled to one of the first or second jaws and comprising one or more staple assemblies, wherein each staple assembly comprises:
a staple pusher having a body with upper and lower surfaces and a recess in the upper surface, wherein the recess forms a pocket in the staple pusher, wherein the pocket comprises first and second curved outer surfaces longitudinally spaced from each other and a substantially planar surface extending entirely between the curved outer surfaces; and
a staple having first and second legs and a backspan adjoining the first leg to the second leg, wherein the backspan of the staple is configured to reside entirely within the pocket and below the upper surface of the staple pusher.