The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 13, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2010
Zhifan F. Huang, Mason, OH (US);
Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Joseph C. Hueil, Loveland, OH (US);
Dean B. Bruewer, Fairfield, OH (US);
Aron O. Zingman, Cincinnati, OH (US);
David B. Smith, Mason, OH (US);
Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mason, OH (US);
Hector Chow, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Mark R. Shaw, Mason, OH (US);
Zhifan F. Huang, Mason, OH (US);
Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Joseph C. Hueil, Loveland, OH (US);
Dean B. Bruewer, Fairfield, OH (US);
Aron O. Zingman, Cincinnati, OH (US);
David B. Smith, Mason, OH (US);
Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mason, OH (US);
Hector Chow, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Mark R. Shaw, Mason, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument can comprise a channel configured to support a staple cartridge and, in addition, an anvil pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the channel. The surgical instrument can further comprise a cutting member configured to incise tissue positioned captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil and, in addition, means for stopping the cutting member prior to a distal end datum, wherein the distal end datum can be defined by the distal-most staple cavity in the staple cartridge. In such embodiments, the incision within the tissue may not extend beyond the portion of the tissue that has been stapled.