Surgical stapling instrument with curved end effector

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending from the handle assembly, and an end effector supported on a distal portion of the elongated body portion. The end effector includes a curved housing having a base portion and a jaw portion, a curved anvil assembly supported on the jaw portion, and a curved cartridge assembly supported on the base portion. The cartridge assembly defining first and second arrays of staples receiving slots, the first array of staple receiving slots includes three rows of staples and the second array of staple receiving slots includes two rows of staples. A height of the staples in each of the rows of three rows of staples of the first array of staple receiving slots is different.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
 an elongated body portion defining a first longitudinal axis; and   an end effector supported on a distal portion of the elongated body portion, the end effector including:
 a housing having a base portion and an L-shaped jaw portion, the base portion secured to the distal portion of the elongated body portion, the L-shaped jaw portion including a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion, the longitudinal portion defining a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the transverse portion defined by linear sections joined by curved sections; 
 an anvil assembly supported on the jaw portion, the anvil assembly having a configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the transverse portion of the L-shaped jaw portion of the housing; and 
 a cartridge assembly supported on the base portion of the housing, the cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the transverse portion of the L-shaped jaw portion of the housing. 
   
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the transverse portion of the housing has a hook-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge assembly defines first and second arrays of staple receiving slots and includes staples received within the first and second arrays of staple receiving slots, the first array of staple receiving slots including three rows of staple receiving slots and the second array of staple receiving slots including two rows of staple receiving slots, wherein a height of the staples received within each of the three rows of staple receiving slots of the first array of staple receiving slots is different. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge assembly includes a tissue guard that is extendable from the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the end effector includes a tissue guard assembly configured to advance the tissue guard into contact with the anvil assembly when the cartridge assembly is secured to the housing of the end effector. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the tissue guard assembly includes a pusher pin, a pusher member supported on the pusher pin, and a spring received about the pusher pin to urge the pusher pin distally, the pusher pin movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 7 , further including an interlock assembly positioned to engage the tissue guard assembly to retain the pusher pin in the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , further including an indicator feature on the housing for indicating to a clinician a position of the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , further including a handle assembly includes an indicator mechanism for indicating to a clinician a position of the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the indicator mechanism includes a wheel member that is rotatably supported on the handle assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the wheel member includes first, second, and third marks positioned to indicate the position of the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         13 . An end effector comprising:
 a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a body, the body having a cross-sectional configuration defined by linear sections joined by curved sections; and   an anvil assembly having a configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the staple cartridge.   
     
     
         14 . The end effector of  claim 13 , wherein the staple cartridge has a hook-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         15 . The end effector of  claim 13 , wherein the staple cartridge defines first and second arrays of staple receiving slots and includes staples received within the first and second arrays of staple receiving slots, the first array of staple receiving slots including three rows of staple receiving slots and the second array of staple receiving slots including two rows of staple receiving slots. 
     
     
         16 . The end effector of  claim 15 , wherein a height of the staples received within each of the three rows of staple receiving slots of the first array of staple receiving slots is different. 
     
     
         17 . The end effector of  claim 13 , wherein the cartridge assembly includes a tissue guard that is extendable from the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The end effector of  claim 17 , wherein the cartridge assembly includes a tissue guard assembly positioned to advance the tissue guard into contact with the anvil assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The end effector of  claim 18 , wherein the tissue guard assembly includes a pusher pin, a pusher member supported on the pusher pin, and a spring received about the pusher pin to urge the pusher pin distally, the pusher pin movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. 
     
     
         20 . A cartridge assembly comprising:
 a staple cartridge having a body, the body having a cross-sectional configuration defined by linear sections joined by curved sections, the staple cartridge defining first and second arrays of staple receiving slots and including staples received within the first and second arrays of staple receiving slots, the first array of staple receiving slots including three rows of staple receiving slots and the second array of staple receiving slots including two rows of staple receiving slots.   
     
     
         21 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the staple cartridge has a hook-shaped cross-section.