Surgical stapler

Abstract

A cartridge for a surgical stapler has an elongated body having a first side with a tissue clamping interface and a second side. The elongated body is configured to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base and a leg. The elongated body has a first slot shaped to receive a translating cutting mechanism, the first slot passing through the first side and the second side. The elongated body has a second slot shaped to house at least a first one of the plurality of staples; and a third slot shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for a surgical stapler, comprising:
 an elongated body having a first side with a tissue clamping interface and a second side, the elongated body configured to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base and a leg; wherein the elongated body further comprises   a first slot shaped to receive a translating cutting mechanism, the first slot passing through the first side and the second side;   a second slot shaped to house at least a first one of the plurality of staples; and a third slot shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the tissue clamping interface is a curved tissue clamping interface; and wherein the oblique angle is between 4 degrees and 30 degrees.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second slot is shaped to translatably house at least a first staple pusher;   the third slot is shaped to translatably house at least a second staple pusher; and   the second slot and the third slot are configured to limit the first staple pusher to translation at an angle oblique to translation of the second staple pusher.   
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second slot houses at least a first staple pusher and the first one of the plurality of staples; and   the first staple pusher is shaped to position the base of the first one of the plurality of staples in contact with the elongated body.   
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the elongated body is coupled to a support jaw; and one of   at least one of the plurality of staples has a leg length of 3.42 mm or greater, and the cartridge is shaped to fit within an envelope diameter of 5.6 mm or less   at least one of the plurality of staples has a leg length of 4.72 mm or greater, and the cartridge is shaped to fit within an envelope diameter of 8.6 mm or less.   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the second slot is shaped to slidably receive a first longitudinally translating cam to effectuate a sliding motion of the first staple pusher; and   the third slot is shaped to slidably receive a second longitudinally translating cam to effectuate a sliding motion of a second staple pusher oblique to the sliding motion of the first staple pusher.   
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cartridge comprises a curved tissue clamping interface; and   the cartridge is configured to position at least one of the plurality of staples at an angle normal to the curved tissue clamping interface.   
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the curved tissue clamping interface is curved about a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongated body.   
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the elongated body is coupled to a support jaw, the elongated body and the support jaw having an envelope diameter;   the envelope diameter is 5.6 mm or less; and   at least the first one of the plurality of staples has a leg length of 3.42 mm or greater.   
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongated body is coupled to a support jaw; and one of:   at least the first one of the plurality of staples has a leg length of 3.42 mm or greater, and the cartridge has an envelope diameter of 5.6 mm or less; or   at least the first one of the plurality of staples has a leg length of 4.72 mm or greater, and the cartridge has an envelope diameter of 8.6 mm or less.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second slot houses a first staple pusher having a cupped portion, and the first one of the plurality of staples; wherein   the cupped portion and a wall of the second slot guide the base of the first one of the plurality of staples as the first one of the plurality of staples is translated relative to the elongated body.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a recess for coupling to a cartridge support jaw; and wherein   the cartridge and the support jaw are shaped to fit within an envelope diameter of 5.6 mm or less.   
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a curved tissue clamping interface.