| CPC A61B 17/115 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1114 (2013.01); A61B 17/3209 (2013.01); A61B 2017/1142 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

|
1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end;
an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft and comprising first and second jaws configured to move between open and closed positions;
a first row of staples in each of the first and second jaws;
a second row of staples in the second jaw on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis from the first row of staples;
a suture extending through the first row of staples; and
a drive member configured to translate distally through the end effector to drive the first and second row of staples into tissue such that the suture is disposed between the first row of staples and the tissue.
|