Stapling instrument comprising resettable staple drivers

摘要

A surgical stapling instrument can comprise a jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge, a plurality of staple drivers positioned within the jaw configured to eject staples from the staple cartridge, and a firing member configured to engage the staple drivers as the firing member is advanced from an unfired position to a fired position. As the firing member is advanced from its unfired position, the firing member can lift the staple drivers upwardly within a cartridge body of the staple cartridge. When the firing member is returned to its unfired position, the firing member can lower the staple drivers downwardly within the cartridge body thereby resetting the staple drivers prior to a new staple cartridge being positioned within the jaw.

主权项

1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a handle comprising a trigger; a shaft extending from said handle; a firing member operably coupled with said trigger such that a firing motion can be transferred from said trigger to said firing member to move said firing member along a firing path, wherein said firing member comprises at least one first inclined surface and at least one parallel inclined surface; a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within said shaft, wherein each said staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a plurality of staples; a first jaw comprising:
a proximal end extending from said shaft;a distal end;a channel configured to receive a said staple cartridge; anda plurality of staple drivers, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said staple drivers and move each said staple driver from an undeployed position into a deployed position as said firing member is moved from said proximal end to said distal end, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said staple drivers and move said staple drivers from said deployed position into said undeployed position as said firing member is moved from said distal end to said proximal end, wherein each said staple driver comprises:
a lifting surface configured to be contacted by said at least one first inclined surface when said firing member moves said staple drivers between said undeployed position and said deployed position; anda lowering surface configured to be contacted by said at least one parallel inclined surface when said firing member moves said staple drivers between said deployed position and said undeployed position; a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein said staples are configured to contact said anvil when said staples are deployed; and a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a said staple cartridge into said channel.