True multi-fire linear cutter

Abstract

One exemplary surgical apparatus may include an anvil assembly to which a staple holder assembly detachably connected; feeder belts positioned at least partially within the staple holder assembly; staples separably attached to each feeder belt; a wedge assembly slidable within and along the staple holder assembly, the wedge assembly including an engagement feature; and a deployment handle, where, upon closure of the anvil assembly and staple holder assembly relative to one another, the deployment handle engages the engagement feature; where the deployment handle is movable along the anvil assembly to drive the wedge assembly relative to the staple holder assembly, feeder belts and staples in order to deform at least one staple to a closed state and separate at least one closed staple from the corresponding feeder belt. One exemplary surgical method may include providing a surgical stapler having an anvil and a staple holder separably connected to the anvil, where the staple holder holds feeder belts and staples separably connected to each feeder belt; deploying, at least twice, a plurality of staples from the staple holder; and then removing the staple holder from the anvil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical method for treating tissue at a surgical site of a patient, comprising:
 placing at least a portion of a surgical stapler into the surgical site of the patient, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil and a staple holder, the anvil separably coupled to the staple holder, wherein the staple holder holds a feeder belt with a plurality of staples separably connected to said feeder belt;   deploying a number of staples from said plurality of staples;   decoupling said staple holder from said anvil; and   removing the decoupled staple holder from the surgical stapler.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , further comprising coupling a different staple holder to said anvil after removing said decoupled staple holder. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 placing the surgical stapler into the surgical site of the patient, wherein the surgical stapler has been reloaded with said different staple holder; and   deploying another number of staples from said different staple holder.   
     
     
         4 . The surgical method of  claim 2 , wherein the staple holders holds said plurality of staples comprising of a first size, and wherein the different staple holder holds a different plurality of staples comprising of a second size. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein deploying the number of staples comprises:
 clampling said staple holder and said anvil substantially together; and   transmitting a force from said anvil to said staple holder, wherein said transmitted force causes said staple holder to deploy at least one of said plurality of staples.