Patent ID: 8496156
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument, comprising: an anvil including an anvil tissue contacting surface; and a cartridge adapted to connect to a jaw member of the surgical instrument including a first section having a first cartridge tissue contacting surface and a second section having a second cartridge tissue contacting surface, each of the first and second cartridge tissue contacting surfaces including retention slots for the retention of surgical fasteners therein, the first section and the second section being removably couplable to the cartridge, wherein the anvil and the cartridge define a first gap between the first cartridge tissue contacting surface of the cartridge and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil and a second gap between the second cartridge tissue contacting surface of the cartridge and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil, the first gap defining a first distance between the first cartridge tissue contacting surface of the cartridge and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil, the second gap defining a second distance between the second cartridge tissue contacting surface of the cartridge and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil, the first distance being different than the second distance, the first gap and the second gap being spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the end effector.