Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An anvil attachment for the nose portion of a surgical stapling instrument of the type utilizing a replaceable cartridge of surgical staples, said anvil attachment having a first leg configured to lie along and to be attached to said surgical stapling instrument nose and a second leg extending from said first leg at an angle thereto, said second leg having two or more anvil portions about which said surgical staples are formed, each anvil portion being of a width equal to the inside crown dimension of a fully formed staple, and each of said anvil portions having an upper surface comprising a anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a surgical staple during a staple forming operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An anvil attachment for the nose portion of a surgical stapling instrument of the type utilizing a replaceable cartridge of surgical staples, said anvil attachment having a first leg configured to lie along and to be attached to said surgical stapling instrument nose and a second leg extending from said first leg at an angle thereto, said second leg having two or more anvil portions about which said surgical staples are formed, each anvil portion being of a width equal to the inside crown dimension of a fully formed staple, and each of said anvil portions having an upper surface comprising a anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a surgical staple during a staple forming operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
An anvil attachment for a surgical stapling instrument of the type utilizing an elongated replaceable cartridge of surgical staples having a staple discharging end, said anvil attachment having a first leg configured to be attached to said surgical stapling instrument and a second leg extending from said first leg at an angle thereto, said second leg having at least a first anvil portion about which said surgical staples are formed and being of a width equal to the inside crown dimension of a fully formed staple, said first anvil portion having an upper surface comprising a first anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a surgical staple during a staple forming operation, means on said second leg of said anvil attachment to engage said staple discharging end of said surgical staple cartridge to properly center said staple discharging end of said cartridge with respect to said first anvil surface and to hold said staple discharging cartridge end in position with respect to said surgical stapling instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
An anvil attachment for a surgical stapling instrument of the type utilizing an elongated replaceable cartridge of surgical staples having a staple discharging end, said anvil attachment having a first leg configured to be attached to said surgical stapling instrument and a second leg extending from said first leg at an angle thereto, said second leg having at least a first anvil portion about which said surgical staples are formed and being of a width equal to the inside crown dimension of a fully formed staple, said first anvil portion having an upper surface comprising a first anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a surgical staple during a staple forming operation, means on said second leg of said anvil attachment to engage said staple discharging end of said surgical staple cartridge to properly center said staple discharging end of said cartridge with respect to said first anvil surface and to hold said staple discharging cartridge end in position with respect to said surgical stapling instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said anvil attachment is formed of non-corrosive metal suitable for a surgical environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said second leg of said anvil attachment terminates in a second anvil portion adjacent said first anvil portion, and about which may be formed surgical staples of a different inside crown dimension as compared to said staples formed about said first anvil portion, said second anvil portion having a different width as compared to said first anvil portion and equal to the inside crown dimension of a fully formed staple having different inside crown dimension, said second anvil portion having an upper surface comprising a second anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a surgical staple having said different inside crown dimension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
The structure claimed in claim 4 including an upstanding lug located on and extending transversely of the upper surface of said second leg of said anvil attachment, said lug being located between said first anvil surface and the juncture of said first and second anvil attachment legs, said lug having a surface sloping downwardly toward said juncture of said first and second anvil attachment legs, whereby said second anvil attachment leg, at least at the position of said lug, is just nicely receivable in a notch in said surgical staple cartridge discharge end with portions at least of the lug sloping surface and a corresponding sloping surface at the upper end of said surgical staple cartridge notch being in abutment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said first leg of said anvil attachment adjacent said juncture of said first and second legs is relieved so as to slope downwardly and away from said lug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sturcture claimed in claim 6 wherein said anvil attachment is formed of non-corrosive metal suitable for a surgical environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
The structure claimed in claim 2 including an upstanding lug located on and extending transversely of the upper surface of said second leg of said anvil attachment, said lug being located between said first anvil surface and the juncture of said first and second anvil attachment legs, said lug having a surface sloping downwardly toward said juncture of said first and second anvil attachment legs, whereby said second anvil attachment leg, at least at the position of said lug, is just nicely receivable in a notch in said surgical staple cartridge discharge end with portions at least of the lug sloping surface and a corresponding sloping surface at the upper end of said surgical staple cartridge notch being in abutment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein said first leg of said anvil attachment adjacent said juncture of said first and second legs is relieved so as to slope downwardly and away from said lug.