Patent ID: 8365971
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Surgical apparatus, comprising: an anvil assembly; a staple holder assembly detachably connected to said anvil assembly; a plurality of feeder belts positioned at least partially within said staple holder assembly, wherein at least one of said feeder belts includes a plurality of apertures defined therein; a plurality of staples separably attached to each of said feeder belts; a wedge assembly slidable within and along said staple holder assembly, said wedge assembly including an engagement feature comprising at least one latch bump configured to engage one of said apertures of said at least one feeder belt to advance said feeder belt during distal travel of said wedge assembly; and a deployment handle, wherein, upon closure of said anvil assembly and said staple holder assembly relative to one another, said deployment handle engages said engagement feature, wherein said deployment handle is movable along said anvil assembly to drive said wedge assembly relative to said staple holder assembly, said feeder belts and said staples in order to deform at least one of said staples to a closed state and separate at least one closed staple from one of said feeder belts.