True multi-fire endocutter

Abstract

An exemplary surgical endocutter may include a staple holder; at least one feeder belt having two lateral edges, at least part of at least one feeder belt extending into the staple holder; and staples, wherein each said staple may include a first end frangibly affixed to a corresponding feeder belt, wherein each first end is affixed to the feeder belt at a location laterally spaced from the longitudinal centerline of the feeder belt, and a second free end; and wherein the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two said staples; wherein staples in least one row are staggered relative to said staples in at least one other row. Another exemplary surgical endocutter may include a feeder belt; staples frangibly connected to the feeder belt; and at least one wedge movable relative to the staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt; wherein at least one wedge both directly engages a plurality of staples and disconnects a plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the wedge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical endocutter, comprising:
 a feeder belt supporting a plurality of staples; and   at least one wedge movable relative to said plurality of staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to said feeder belt; wherein at least one said wedge both directly engages a staple of the plurality of staples and disconnects a staple of the plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the at least one wedge.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical endocutter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wedge serially engages the plurality of staples and serially disconnects the plurality of staples from said feeder belt. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical endocutter of  claim 1 , wherein engagement between the at least one wedge and the staple causes the staple to deform plastically. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical endocutter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a staple holder supporting a portion of the feeder belt.   
     
     
         5 . The surgical endocutter of  claim 4 , wherein the staple holder is coupled to an anvil. 
     
     
         6 . A surgical endocutter, comprising:
 a feeder belt supporting a plurality of staples;   a sliding clamp configured to support a surface of the feeder belt; and   at least one wedge movable relative to the plurality of staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt; wherein the at least one wedge both directly engages a staple of the plurality of staples and disconnects a staple of the plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the at least one wedge.   
     
     
         7 . The endocutter of  claim 6 , wherein the sliding clamp includes an upper sliding clamp and a lower sliding clamp wherein one of the upper sliding clamp or the lower sliding clamp is slidable in the direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt. 
     
     
         8 . The endocutter of  claim 7 , wherein the upper sliding clamp is configured to support the surface of the feeder belt. 
     
     
         9 . The endocutter of  claim 7 , wherein a surface of the upper sliding clamp and a surface of the lower sliding clamp that mates with the surface of the upper sliding clamp each define a cam surface. 
     
     
         10 . The endocutter of  claim 7 , wherein the upper sliding clamp includes a tongue extending from a surface of the upper clamp. 
     
     
         11 . The endocutter of  claim 10 , wherein the lower sliding clamp includes a slot configured to receive the tongue of the upper sliding clamp. 
     
     
         12 . The endocutter of  claim 7 , wherein a width of the upper clamp is equivalent to a width of the feeder belt. 
     
     
         13 . The endocutter of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of staples extend outside of side surfaces of the upper sliding clamp and the lower sliding clamp. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical endocutter, comprising:
 a feeder belt supporting a plurality of staples along a side surface of the feeder belt;   a sliding clamp configured to support an underside surface of the feeder belt; and   at least one wedge movable relative to the plurality of staples in a direction substantially longitudinal relative to the feeder belt, wherein the at least one wedge both directly engages a staple of the plurality of staples and disconnects a staple of the plurality of staples from the feeder belt in a single continuous motion of the at least one wedge, and wherein the at least one wedge moves in a plane parallel to a side surface of the sliding clamp.   
     
     
         15 . The endocutter of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of staples are organized as a plurality of spaced apart linear rows on each lateral edge of the feeder belt. 
     
     
         16 . The endocutter of  claim 14  wherein each staple of the plurality of staples is frangibly connected to the feeder belt. 
     
     
         17 . The endocutter of  claim 14  wherein a surface of the at least one wedge that contacts a staple is shaped as an upward curve. 
     
     
         18 . The endocutter of  claim 14  wherein each staple of the plurality of staples is shaped as a continuous curve. 
     
     
         19 . The endocutter of  claim 14  wherein a lateral edge of the feeder belt has a plurality of spaced apart notches defined therein. 
     
     
         20 . The endocutter of  claim 14  wherein a surface of the upper clamp is operable to engage and disengage from an underside of the feeder belt.