Patent ID: 11944301
Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 8:
9. A surgical instrument comprising:
an end effector comprising first and second jaws configured to move relative to each other from an open position to a closed position, the second jaw having a cavity for receiving a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples, wherein the cavity comprises a bottom wall with first and second longitudinal slots and a substantially longitudinal reinforcing wall extending through the cavity of the second jaw between the first and second longitudinal slots; and
a drive member configured to translate longitudinally through the end effector to move the first and second jaws from the open position to the closed position, wherein the drive member comprises one or more inclined ramps configured to engage the staples and drive the staples in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the instrument as the drive member is translated longitudinally through the end effector.