EP0156774A2 — Multiple-Load cartridge assembly for a linear sur…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 127 words

A surgical stapling instrument for implanting staples in tissue, comprising: anvil means; means for driving staples against said anvil means; a first array of staples located in a first position within said instrument aligned between said driving means and said anvil means; a second array of staples located in a second position within said instrument out of alignment with said driving means and said anvil means; means for actuating said driving means to move an array of staples from said first position and clinch said array of staples against said anvil means; and means for transferring said second array of staples from said second position to said first position after a first operation of said actuating means to enable a second operation of said actuating means. __

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 127 words

A surgical stapling instrument for implanting staples in tissue, comprising: anvil means; means for driving staples against said anvil means; a first array of staples located in a first position within said instrument aligned between said driving means and said anvil means; a second array of staples located in a second position within said instrument out of alignment with said driving means and said anvil means; means for actuating said driving means to move an array of staples from said first position and clinch said array of staples against said anvil means; and means for transferring said second array of staples from said second position to said first position after a first operation of said actuating means to enable a second operation of said actuating means. __

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The instrument of claim 1, further comprising first storage means for storing an array of staples at said first position and second storage means for storing an array of staples at said second position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The instrument of claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises means for individually shifting each of the staples contained in said second array from said second position to said first position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The instrument of claim 2, wherein said transfer means includes means for indexing said first storage means out of said first position while indexing said second storage means from said second position to said first position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The instrument of claim 2, wherein said first storage means comprises a plurality of forming pockets and said second storage means comprises a plurality of storage pockets.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The instrument of claim 5, wherein each of said storage pockets corresponds to a forming pocket and is located adjacent thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The instrument of claim 6, wherein said first array of staples includes one staple in each of said forming pockets and said second array of staples includes at least one staple in each of said storage pockets.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The instrument of claim 7, wherein said transfer means includes means for indexing a staple from each of said storage pockets to its corresponding forming pocket after each operation of said actuating means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The instrument of claim 1, further comprising safety means for preventing a second operation of said actuating means before operation of said transfer means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The instrument of claim 5, wherein said forming pockets are arranged in at least two rows which are longitudinally staggered.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The instrument of claim 4, further including . third storage means for storing a third array of staple's at a third position, and fourth storage means for storing a fourth array of staples at a fourth position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The instrument of claim 11, wherein said transfer means further includes means to ultimately index each of said storage means to said first position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The instrument of claim 12, further including means for indicating which of said storage means is in said first position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The instrument of claim 1, including means for indicating which of said array of staples is positioned in said first position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 126 words

A surgical stapling instrument for simultaneously implanting a plurality of staples in tissue, comprising: anvil means; means for driving staples against said anvil means; first cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples in a first position aligned between said driving means and said anvil means; second cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples in a second position out of alignment with said driving means and said anvil means; means for actuating said driving means to move said staples from said first cartridge means and clinch said staples against said anvil means; and means for indexing said second cartridge means from said second position to said first position, after a first operation of said actuating means, to enable a second operation of said actuating means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 126 words

A surgical stapling instrument for simultaneously implanting a plurality of staples in tissue, comprising: anvil means; means for driving staples against said anvil means; first cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples in a first position aligned between said driving means and said anvil means; second cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples in a second position out of alignment with said driving means and said anvil means; means for actuating said driving means to move said staples from said first cartridge means and clinch said staples against said anvil means; and means for indexing said second cartridge means from said second position to said first position, after a first operation of said actuating means, to enable a second operation of said actuating means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The instrument of claim 15, wherein said first and second cartridge means are contained within a unitary cartridge assembly.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The instrument of claim 16, wherein said cartridge assembly is removably mounted on said instrument.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 12 words

The instrument of claim 16, wherein said instrument comprises a disposable instrument.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 11 words

The instrument of claim 17, wherein said cartridge assembly is disposable.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The instrument of claim 17, wherein said cartridge assembly may be removed from said instrument, refilled with staples and replaced in said instrument, allowing said cartridge assembly to be reused.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The instrument of claim 15, further including means for indicating which of said cartridge means is located at said first position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 146 words

A surgical stapling instrument for forming and implanting at least one row of surgical staples in tissue, comprising: a frame terminating at its forward end in a fixed jaw; an anvil mounted on s.aid fixed jaw; a cartridge assembly, slidably supported by said frame and shiftable longitudinally thereon, containing at least one row of forming pockets, each of which contains a staple, and a plurality of staple-carrying staging pockets, each of which is coupled to a corresponding forming pocket; means slidably mounted within said cartridge assembly for driving said staples from said forming pockets against said anvil; means for actuating s.aid staple driving means between a retracted position and a staple driving position; and means for transferring a staple from each of said staging pockets to its corresponding forming pocket after a first operation of said actuating means, to enable another operation of said actuating means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 146 words

A surgical stapling instrument for forming and implanting at least one row of surgical staples in tissue, comprising: a frame terminating at its forward end in a fixed jaw; an anvil mounted on s.aid fixed jaw; a cartridge assembly, slidably supported by said frame and shiftable longitudinally thereon, containing at least one row of forming pockets, each of which contains a staple, and a plurality of staple-carrying staging pockets, each of which is coupled to a corresponding forming pocket; means slidably mounted within said cartridge assembly for driving said staples from said forming pockets against said anvil; means for actuating s.aid staple driving means between a retracted position and a staple driving position; and means for transferring a staple from each of said staging pockets to its corresponding forming pocket after a first operation of said actuating means, to enable another operation of said actuating means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The instrument of claim 22, wherein said cartridge means further includes a plurality of storage pockets, coupled to each of said staging pockets, for storing at least one staple in each pccket thereof.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

The instrument of claim 23, further including second transfer means for moving a staple from each of said storage pockets to its ccrresponding staging pocket upon operation of said first transfer means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The instrument of claim 22, wherein said anvil, said staple driving means and said cartridge assembly comprise a disposable unit which is removably mounted on said frame.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The instrument of claim 22, wherein said cartridge assembly is removably mounted on said frame, and said pockets thereof are capable of being refilled with staples.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The instrument of claim 22, wherein said forming pockets are arranged in at least two rows which are longitudinally staggered.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The instrument of claim 24, wherein said first and second transfer means operate simultaneously.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

The instrument of claim 22, further comprising safety means for preventing operation of said indexing means when staples are present in said forming pockets.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 23 words

The instrument of claim 22, wherein said anvil and said cartridge assembly comprise a disposable unit which is removably mounted on said frame.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 16 words

The instrument of claim 22, further comprising means for indicating that said transfer means has operated.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 140 words

A linear surgical stapling instrument for simultaneously forming and implanting at least one row of surgical staples in tissue, comprising: anvil means; means for driving staples against said anvil means; cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples, said cartridge means containing a first set of pockets aligned between said driving means and said anvil means and a second set of pockets coupled to each of said first pockets, wherein each of said pockets contains a staple; means for actuating said driving means to move said staples from said first set of pockets of said cartridge means and clinch said staples against said anvil means; and means for transferring said staples from said second set of pockets to said first set of pockets, after a first operation of said actuating means, to enable a second operation of said actuating means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 140 words

A linear surgical stapling instrument for simultaneously forming and implanting at least one row of surgical staples in tissue, comprising: anvil means; means for driving staples against said anvil means; cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples, said cartridge means containing a first set of pockets aligned between said driving means and said anvil means and a second set of pockets coupled to each of said first pockets, wherein each of said pockets contains a staple; means for actuating said driving means to move said staples from said first set of pockets of said cartridge means and clinch said staples against said anvil means; and means for transferring said staples from said second set of pockets to said first set of pockets, after a first operation of said actuating means, to enable a second operation of said actuating means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 19 words

The instrument of claim 32, wherein said first set of pockets is arranged in at least two staggered rows.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 22 words

, 34. The instrument of claim 32, wherein said cartridge means comprises a disposable unit which is removably mounted on said instrument.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 172 words

A multiple load cartridge for use in a surgical stapling instrument having anvil means for simultaneously implanting a plurality of surgical staples in tissue, comprising: means for driving staples against said anvil means; cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples, said cartridge means containing a first set of pockets aligned between said driving means and said anvil means and a second set of pockets corresponding to each of said first pockets, wherein each of said pockets contains a staple; means for actuating said driving means to move said staples from said first set of pockets and clinch said staples against said anvil means to implant said staples in tissue; - first means for indexing said first set of pockets out of alignment with said driving means and said anvil means; and second means for indexing said second set of pockets into alignment between said driving means and said anvil means, after operation of said actuating means and said first indexing means, whereby a second operation of said actuating means is enabled.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 172 words

A multiple load cartridge for use in a surgical stapling instrument having anvil means for simultaneously implanting a plurality of surgical staples in tissue, comprising: means for driving staples against said anvil means; cartridge means for holding a plurality of staples, said cartridge means containing a first set of pockets aligned between said driving means and said anvil means and a second set of pockets corresponding to each of said first pockets, wherein each of said pockets contains a staple; means for actuating said driving means to move said staples from said first set of pockets and clinch said staples against said anvil means to implant said staples in tissue; - first means for indexing said first set of pockets out of alignment with said driving means and said anvil means; and second means for indexing said second set of pockets into alignment between said driving means and said anvil means, after operation of said actuating means and said first indexing means, whereby a second operation of said actuating means is enabled.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 35, wherein said driving means and said cartridge means are contained in a unitary cartridge assembly which is removably mounted on said surgical stapling instrument.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 12 words

The assembly of claim 36, wherein said unitary cartridge assembly is disposable.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 20 words

The assembly of claim 36, wherein said unitary cartridge assembly comprises a reusable unit which may be refilled with staples.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 205 words

A multiple-load cartridge assembly for use with a linear surgical stapling instrument of the type having an anvil and a staple driver actuator which, when actuated, simultaneously implants at least one row of surgical staples in the tissue of a patient and clinches said surgical staples of said at least one row against said anvil, said cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge having at least one row of staple-containing forming pockets, a driver mounted within said cartridge assembly and shiftable therein by said driver actuator between a retracted position and an extended position, said driver having a plurality of blades equal in number to the number of said forming pockets and configured to enter said forming pockets and drive said staples therein through said tissue and against said anvil when shifted from said retracted position to said extended position by operation of said staple driver actuator, said cartridge assembly having a plurality of storage pockets equal in number to said forming pockets and each containing at least one staple and an indexing means to shift said at least one staple in each storage pocket to the adjacent one of said forming pockets to reload said forming pockets after the first operation of said staple driver actuator.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 205 words

A multiple-load cartridge assembly for use with a linear surgical stapling instrument of the type having an anvil and a staple driver actuator which, when actuated, simultaneously implants at least one row of surgical staples in the tissue of a patient and clinches said surgical staples of said at least one row against said anvil, said cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge having at least one row of staple-containing forming pockets, a driver mounted within said cartridge assembly and shiftable therein by said driver actuator between a retracted position and an extended position, said driver having a plurality of blades equal in number to the number of said forming pockets and configured to enter said forming pockets and drive said staples therein through said tissue and against said anvil when shifted from said retracted position to said extended position by operation of said staple driver actuator, said cartridge assembly having a plurality of storage pockets equal in number to said forming pockets and each containing at least one staple and an indexing means to shift said at least one staple in each storage pocket to the adjacent one of said forming pockets to reload said forming pockets after the first operation of said staple driver actuator.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 25 words

The cartridge assembly claimed in claim 39, including a safety means to disable said indexing means until said forming pockets are emptied by said driver.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 28 words

The cartridge assembly claimed in claim 39, having at least two staggered rows of staple-containing forming pockets and a staple-containing storage pocket for each of said forming pockets.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 24 words

The cartridge assembly claimed in claim 39, including visual indicator means showing the number of the load of surgical staples in said forming pockets.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 88 words

The cartridge assembly claimed in claim 39, including an equal number of surgical staples, greater than one, in each of said storage pockets, and including a staging pocket between each storage pocket and its respective forming pocket, said indexing means comprising a first indexer to shift a staple from each storage pocket to its respective staging pocket when empty and a second indexer to shift a staple from each staging pocket to its respective forming pocket to reload said forming pocket after each operation of said driver actuator.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 57 words

The structure claimed in claim 39, including'an equal number of surgical staples, greater than one, in each of said storage pockets, said indexing means being capable of shifting a staple from each of said storage pockets to its respective forming pocket after each operation of said driver actuator to introduce a staple load into said forming pockets.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 58 words

The structure claimed in claim 41, including an equal number of surgical staples, greater than one, in each of said storage pockets, said indexing means being capable of shifting a staple from each of said storage pockets to its respective forming pocket after each operation of said driver actuator to introduce a staple load into said forming pockets.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 227 words

A multiple load cartridge assembly for use with a linear surgical stapling instrument of the type having an anvil and a staple driver actuator which, when actuated, similtaneously implants at least one row of surgical staples in the tissue of a patient and clinches said surgical staples of said at least one row against said anvil, said cartridge assembly comprising a driver mounted within said cartridge assembly and shiftable therein by said driver actuator between a retracted position and an extended position, a cartridge having at least one row of staple-containing first pockets at a first position aligned between said driver and said anvil, said driver having a plurality of blades equal in number to the number of said first pockets and configured to enter said first pockets and drive said staples therein through said tissue and against said anvil when shifted from said retracted position to said extended position by operation of said staple driver actuator, said cartridge assembly having a plurality of second pockets at a second position equal in number to said first pockets and each containing at least one staple, and indexing means to shift said plurality of first pockets out of said first position and said plurality of said second pockets into said first position after the first operation of said staple driver actuator to enable a second operation of said actuator.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 227 words

A multiple load cartridge assembly for use with a linear surgical stapling instrument of the type having an anvil and a staple driver actuator which, when actuated, similtaneously implants at least one row of surgical staples in the tissue of a patient and clinches said surgical staples of said at least one row against said anvil, said cartridge assembly comprising a driver mounted within said cartridge assembly and shiftable therein by said driver actuator between a retracted position and an extended position, a cartridge having at least one row of staple-containing first pockets at a first position aligned between said driver and said anvil, said driver having a plurality of blades equal in number to the number of said first pockets and configured to enter said first pockets and drive said staples therein through said tissue and against said anvil when shifted from said retracted position to said extended position by operation of said staple driver actuator, said cartridge assembly having a plurality of second pockets at a second position equal in number to said first pockets and each containing at least one staple, and indexing means to shift said plurality of first pockets out of said first position and said plurality of said second pockets into said first position after the first operation of said staple driver actuator to enable a second operation of said actuator.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 25 words

The cartridge assembly claimed in claim 46, including a safety means to disable said indexing means until said first pockets are emptied by said driver.

Claim 55

Independent Claim 224 words

A method of applying a plurality of surgical staples to tissue with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having a fixed jaw supporting an anvil, a movable jaw, a multiple load staple cartridge coupled to said movable jaw, a staple driver, and means for actuating said staple driver, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said tissue to be stapled between said anvil and said staple cartridge located on said movable jaw, said cartridge containing a first array of staples located in a first position within said cartridge aligned between said anvil and said driver, and a second array of staples located in a second position within said cartridge out of alignment with said anvil and said staple driver; (b) adjusting said movable jaw toward said anvil so that said cartridge is spaced at a distance from said anvil such that said staples will be properly clinched against said anvil; (c) operating said staple driver to drive said first array of staples from said first position in said cartridge through said tissue and against said anvil; (d) adjusting said movable jaw away from said stapled tissue; (e) releasing said stapled tissue from between said jaws of said instrument; (f) operating an indexing means to transfer said second array of staples from said second position to said first position; (g) repeating steps (a) through (e).

Claim 56

Independent Claim 224 words

A method of applying a plurality of surgical staples to tissue with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having a fixed jaw supporting an anvil, a movable jaw, a multiple load staple cartridge coupled to said movable jaw, a staple driver, and means for actuating said staple driver, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said tissue to be stapled between said anvil and said staple cartridge located on said movable jaw, said cartridge containing a first array of staples located in a first position within said cartridge aligned between said anvil and said driver, and a second array of staples located in a second position within said cartridge out of alignment with said anvil and said staple driver; (b) adjusting said movable jaw toward said anvil so that said cartridge is spaced at a distance from said anvil such that said staples will be properly clinched against said anvil; (c) operating said staple driver to drive said first array of staples from said first position in said cartridge through said tissue and against said anvil; (d) adjusting said movable jaw away from said stapled tissue; (e) releasing said stapled tissue from between said jaws of said instrument; (f) operating an indexing means to transfer said second array of staples from said second position to said first position; (g) repeating steps (a) through (e).

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 48, wherein the indexing step further includes the step of individually shifting each of said staples contained in said second array from said second position to said first position.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 48, wherein the indexing step further includes the step of simultaneously shifting all of said staples contained in said second array from said second position to said first position.

Multiple-Load cartridge assembly for a linear surgical stapling instrument

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