HANDLING OF FASTENERS WITHIN A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

摘要

Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle (4) and an elongated shaft assembly (6) extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system (15) for deploying fasteners (30) from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft (26) disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface (136) shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower (34) disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.