Staple trap for surgical stapler

Abstract

An exemplary staple holder of a surgical stapler may include a cavity defined therein, staples held within that cavity; an upper surface; apertures defined through the upper surface through which staples are deployable, at least one wedge movable within the cavity, and at least one staple trap including a strip and arms extending from and bent relative to the strip, where at least one arm resides in a neutral position directly underneath a corresponding aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical stapling method, comprising;
 actuating a surgical stapling device to deploy one or more surgical staples in a staple holder;   advancing a wedge member caused by actuating of the surgical stapling device to deploy the one or more surgical staples in the staple holder;   displacing a staple trap caused by advancing of the wedge member to displace said staple trap from a neutral position or neutral state to allow deployment of the one or more surgical staples through the staple holder;   further advancing the wedge member to deploy the one or more surgical staples or frangibly separate and deploy the one or more surgical staples until full deployment of the one or more surgical staples is complete; and   further displacing the staple trap caused by further advancing of the wedge member to return said staple trap back to its neutral position or neutral state to block deployed but unsecured staples from falling into the staple holder.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 1 , wherein the deployed but unsecured staples are staples that are not stapled into target tissue during staple deployment. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 additionally displacing the staple trap to dislodge and release the deployed but unsecured staples away from the surgical stapling device.   
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 1 , wherein the staple trap in its neutral position or neutral state blocks deployment of the one or more surgical staples through the staple holder. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 1 , wherein an arm member of the staple trap blocks deployment of the one or more surgical staples when the staple trap is in its neutral position or neutral state. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 1 , wherein displacing the staple trap comprises of deflecting the arm member of the staple trap to unblock deployment of the one or more surgical staples through the staple holder. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 6 , wherein displacing the staple trap comprises of deflecting the arm member of the staple trap without causing movement or substantial movement of the staple trap. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 3 , wherein additionally displacing the staple trap to dislodge and release the deployed but unsecured staples away from the surgical stapling device comprises of causing movement or substantial movement of the staple trap. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 8 , wherein movement or substantial movement of the staple trap comprises of lateral movement of the staple trap. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 8 , wherein movement of the staple strap causes an arm member to dislodge and release the deployed but unsecured staples away from the surgical stapling device. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical stapling method, comprising;
 actuating a surgical stapling device to deploy one or more surgical staples in a staple holder;   advancing a wedge member caused by actuating of the surgical stapling device to deploy the one or more surgical staples in the staple holder;   displacing an arm member of a staple trap caused by advancing of the wedge member to displace said arm member from a neutral position or neutral state to allow deployment of the one or more surgical staples through the staple holder;   further advancing the wedge member to deploy the one or more surgical staples or frangibly separate and further deploy the one or more surgical staples until full deployment of the one or more surgical staples is complete; and   further displacing the arm member caused by further advancing of the wedge member to return said arm member back to its neutral position or neutral state to block deployed but unsecured staples from falling into the staple holder.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 11 , wherein displacement of the arm member from its neutral position or neutral state causes no movement of the staple trap. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 displacing the staple trap to dislodge and release the deployed but unsecured staples away from the surgical stapling device.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling method of  claim 13 , wherein displacing of the staple strap causes the arm member to dislodge and release the deployed but unsecured staples away from the surgical stapling device.