Patent ID: 11918214
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A shipping wedge for a staple cartridge comprising:
a body defining a central longitudinal axis and having a top surface, a bottom surface, a distal portion, and a proximal portion;
an elongate fin supported on the bottom surface of the body, the elongate fin extending along the central longitudinal axis and configured and dimensioned to be received within a knife bar slot of a staple cartridge;
teeth extending from the bottom surface of the proximal portion of the body, one of the teeth positioned on each side of the elongate fin entirely outwardly of the central longitudinal axis with the elongate fin positioned between the teeth, the teeth positioned to be received within recesses formed in the staple cartridge to prevent longitudinal movement of the shipping wedge in relation to the staple cartridge; and
a knife stop extending from the top surface of the proximal portion of the body, the knife stop being positioned to obstruct movement of a knife bar of the staple cartridge when the shipping wedge is attached to the staple cartridge.