Patent ID: 11944302
Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A staple cartridge for a surgical instrument comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis, a sidewall and one or more openings in the sidewall spaced from each other substantially along the longitudinal axis; and
one or more staple assemblies each comprising a staple pusher and a staple,
wherein each of the staple pushers comprises a projection configured to cooperate with one of the openings in the housing such that the staple assemblies are retained to the housing, wherein each projection comprises an outer inclined surface, wherein at least a portion of the outer inclined surface extends through one of the one or more openings in the housing laterally outward, the outer inclined surface being configured to cam along an edge of the one or more openings when forced, the outer inclined surface tapering inward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and being sized to allow forced movement of the staple pusher in said direction.