Patent ID: 6988649
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A staple cartridge for use in a surgical instrument having a pair of pivotally opposing upper and lower jaws, the lower jaw including a channel slot, and further having a firing device including a firing bar having a vertical cutting edge, the firing bar positioned for longitudinal movement between the opposing jaws and including a lower portion passing through the channel slot, the lower portion including a leterally projecting middle pin and a laterally projecting lower pin that opposingly engage the channel slot, the staple cartridge comprising: a plurality of drivers supporting the plurality of staples; a wedge device; a cartridge body sized to engage the lower jaw of the surgical instrument, comprising a longitudinal wedge cavity that communicates transversely with a plurality of staple apertures, a proximally open vertical slot registered to receive the vertical cutting edge of the firing bar, a firing drive slot registered to receive the middle pin of the firing bar, the wedge cavity and vertical slot and firing drive slot all in communication and open proximally to receive the firing bar of the firing device; a plurality of staples positioned in the staple apertures; a plurality of drives supporting the staples sized to translate from the wedge cavity into the staple apertures; the wedge device proximally positioned in the wedge cavity; and a lockout device coupled with the cartridge body and movable between a lockout recess defined in the cartridge body and a proximal portion for the wedge cavity traversed by both the wedge device and the middle pin of the firing bar, the lockout device comprising a pair of movable bodies positioned offset laterally from the vertical slot and for engaging the middle pin of the firing device.