US 12,433,595 B2
Staple driver and guide assembly for circular surgical stapler
Austin E. Wise, Cincinnati, OH (US); Shane R. Adams, Lebanon, OH (US); and John S. Kimsey, Walton, KY (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 6, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/596,739.
Application 18/596,739 is a continuation of application No. 17/489,877, filed on Sep. 30, 2021, granted, now 12,059,155.
Prior Publication US 2024/0245405 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/1155 (2013.01) [A61B 90/03 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 17/34 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets; and
(b) a stapling head, comprising:
(i) a body,
(ii) a coupling shaft configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby actuate the anvil relative to the body,
(iii) a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings and a plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is in communication with a respective staple opening of the plurality of staples opening, wherein the staple deck is fixed to the body, and
(iv) a firing assembly configured to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, wherein the firing assembly comprises:
(A) a proximal actuating body located proximal relative to the plurality of staple openings, and
(B) an array of staple driving segments slidably contained within the plurality of staple openings, wherein each staple driving segment in the array of staple driving segments comprises a proximal surface and a tab extending away from the proximal surface, wherein the proximal surface is configured to engage the proximal actuating body, wherein the tab is dimensioned to be slidably received within a respective channel of the plurality of channels defined by the staple deck.