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:
Apr. 22, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2007
Frederick E. Shelton, Iv, New Vienna, OH (US);
Jerome R. Morgan, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Stephen J. Balek, Miamisburg, OH (US);
Douglas J. Siebenaler, Maineville, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, New Vienna, OH (US);
Jerome R. Morgan, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Stephen J. Balek, Miamisburg, OH (US);
Douglas J. Siebenaler, Maineville, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a curved end-effector which is configured to deploy staples in at least one curved staple line. In various embodiments, the surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In one embodiment, the staple cartridge can be configured to deploy staples along different, non-parallel axes. As a result, the staples can be deployed in a significantly curved staple line. In various embodiments, the surgical stapler includes a flexible driver operably engaged with the cutting member to move the cutting member relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the driver can include an elongate cross-section defined by a width and a height wherein its width is greater, and in some cases, substantially greater, than its height.