US 11,839,375 B2
Fastener cartridge assembly comprising an anvil and different staple heights
Jeffrey S. Swayze, West Chester, OH (US); Joseph C. Hueil, Loveland, OH (US); Jerome R. Morgan, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/478,318.
Application 17/478,318 is a continuation of application No. 17/032,013, filed on Sep. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,399,828.
Application 17/032,013 is a continuation of application No. 14/848,591, filed on Sep. 9, 2015, granted, now 10,842,488, issued on Nov. 24, 2020.
Application 14/848,591 is a continuation of application No. 13/967,449, filed on Aug. 15, 2013, granted, now 10,159,482, issued on Dec. 25, 2018.
Application 13/967,449 is a continuation of application No. 13/020,263, filed on Feb. 3, 2011, granted, now 8,636,187, issued on Jan. 28, 2014.
Application 13/020,263 is a continuation of application No. 11/711,979, filed on Feb. 28, 2007, granted, now 8,317,070, issued on Nov. 27, 2012.
Application 11/711,979 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/216,562, filed on Aug. 31, 2005, granted, now 7,669,746, issued on Mar. 2, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0071630 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01); A61B 17/3205 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/072 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/0682 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 17/105 (2013.01); A61B 17/1155 (2013.01); A61B 17/32053 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07235 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07242 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07264 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320052 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end effector for a surgical fastening instrument, said end effector comprising:
a frame defining a longitudinal axis;
a first jaw, comprising:
a cartridge body;
a plurality of fastener cavities defined in said cartridge body;
an arcuate row of first fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein each said first fastener comprises:
a first base; and
a first pair of legs extending from said first base, wherein a first unfired height is defined by said first base and said first pair of legs; and
an arcuate row of second fasteners removably stored in said cartridge body, wherein said arcuate row of second fasteners extends alongside said arcuate row of first fasteners, and wherein each said second fastener comprises:
a second base; and
a second pair of legs extending from said second base, wherein a second unfired height is defined by said second base and said second pair of legs;
a second jaw comprising an arcuate anvil configured to deform said first fasteners to a first fired height and said second fasteners to a second fired height, wherein said first fired height is different than said second fired height, wherein said arcuate anvil comprises a tissue-compression surface extending transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said tissue-compression surface defines a plurality of fastener-forming pockets;
first fastener-supporting surfaces configured to advance said first fasteners toward said arcuate anvil during a fastener firing stroke; and
second fastener-supporting surfaces configured to advance said second fasteners toward said arcuate anvil during said fastener firing stroke.