Patent ID: 11896225
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A staple cartridge seatable in a jaw of a surgical stapling instrument, the jaw comprising a bottom portion, a first lateral sidewall extending from the bottom portion, and a second lateral sidewall extending from the bottom portion, said staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a first lateral body portion configured to support patient tissue, wherein said first lateral body portion comprises a first deck portion that extends over a top edge of the first lateral sidewall when said staple cartridge is seated in the jaw;
a second lateral body portion configured to support patient tissue, wherein said second lateral body portion comprises a second deck portion that extends over a top edge of the second lateral sidewall when said staple cartridge is seated in the jaw;
a longitudinal slot extending between said first lateral body portion and said second lateral body portion;
a proximal end, wherein said first lateral body portion and said second lateral body portion are unconnected at said proximal end;
a distal end, wherein said longitudinal slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end, and wherein said distal end connects said first lateral body portion and said second lateral body portion, and;
longitudinal rows of staple cavities defined in said first lateral body portion and said second lateral body portion;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
drivers movable within said staple cavities;
a sled movable distally from a proximal position to a fired position during a staple firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises ramps that engage said drivers during said staple firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cavities; and
a pan attached to said cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal pan end;
a first bottom pan portion extending under said first lateral body portion;
a second bottom pan portion extending under said second lateral body portion, wherein said first bottom pan portion and said second bottom pan portion of said pan are unconnected at said proximal pan end;
a pan slot defined between said first bottom pan portion and said second bottom pan portion, wherein said pan slot is aligned with said longitudinal slot;
a first pan sidewall extending from said first bottom pan portion, wherein said first pan sidewall is attached to said cartridge body;
a second pan sidewall extending from said second bottom pan portion, wherein said second pan sidewall is attached to said cartridge body; and
a distal pan connector connecting said first bottom pan portion and said second bottom pan portion;

wherein said first lateral body portion of said cartridge body comprises a first inner deck portion intermediate said first deck portion and said longitudinal slot, wherein said cartridge body comprises a step intermediate said first inner deck portion and said first deck portion, and wherein said longitudinal rows of staple cavities comprise a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first inner deck portion.