Patent ID: RE39841

Claim:
A surgical stapling instrument having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said instrument comprising: a flame having a body portion and a handle, a staple fastening assembly ( 1 ) in the distal region of said instrument, the staple fastening assembly ( 1 ) including a cartridge device ( 2 ), said cartridge having a distal surface having a stepped configuration comprising a series of alternating gaps and protrusions such that said protrusions are distal to said gaps, said cartridge device further comprising at least one closed row ( 10 , 12 ) of staples disposed along said series of alternating gaps and protrusions, and an anvil ( 4 ) which is movable relative to the cartridge device ( 2 ) and is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device ( 2 ) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device ( 2 ), a moving device adapted to move the anvil ( 4 ) relative to the cartridge device ( 2 ), a staple driving device adapted to drive the staples out of the cartridge device ( 2 ) towards the anvil ( 4 ), a knife, which has a closed cutting edge, is contained within the cartridge device ( 2 ) and is positioned such that there is at least one closed row ( 10 , 12 ) of staples on the outside of the cutting edge, and a knife actuating device adapted to move the knife towards the anvil ( 4 ).