Patent ID: 11963681
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft extending along a shaft axis; and
(b) an end effector extending distally from the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a first jaw defining a cartridge channel,
(ii) a second jaw having an anvil, wherein the first and second jaws are movable relative to one another in a vertical direction between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the anvil comprises an underside defining a plurality of staple forming pockets,
(iii) a replaceable cartridge configured to selectively couple with the first jaw via the cartridge channel, wherein the replaceable cartridge comprises:
(A) a cartridge deck defining a slot and a plurality of staple openings, wherein the cartridge deck and the underside of the anvil are configured to engage tissue while the first and second jaws are in the closed configuration, and
(B) a plurality of staples each housed within a respective staple opening,

(iv) a firing assembly configured to actuate through the slot of the cartridge deck to fire the plurality of staples against respective staple forming pockets of the underside of the anvil, and
(v) a cartridge seating protrusion located proximally relative to the plurality of staple openings, wherein the cartridge seating protrusion is configured to exert a compressive force on the replaceable cartridge to seat the replaceable cartridge within the cartridge channel and thereby align the replaceable cartridge with the first jaw in response to the first and second jaws moving toward the closed configuration.