Surgical stapling device with a curved end effector

Abstract

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A stapling assembly, comprising:
 a handle portion;   a shaft extending from said handle portion, said shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines a shaft axis; and   an end effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising:
 a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein; 
 a channel supporting said staple cartridge; 
 an anvil configured to deform said staples; 
 a slot defined by at least one of said anvil and said staple cartridge, wherein said slot comprises:
 a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, wherein said shaft axis is tangent to said curved portion; and 
 a straight portion extending proximally from said curved portion; 
 
 a curved sled comprising an initial position within said curved portion; and 
 a cutting member including a cutting surface, wherein said cutting member is relatively movable with respect to said anvil and said staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as said cutting member is moved relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge, and wherein said cutting member is proximal to said curved sled. 
   
     
     
         22 . A stapling assembly, comprising:
 a shaft, comprising:
 a proximal portion; and 
 a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines a shaft axis; and 
   an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising:
 a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein; 
 an anvil configured to deform said staples; 
 a slot defined by at least one of said anvil and said staple cartridge, wherein said slot comprises:
 a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, wherein said shaft axis is tangent to said curved portion; and 
 a straight portion extending proximally from said curved portion; 
 
 a curved sled comprising an initial position within said curved portion; and 
 a cutting member movable relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member and define a path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge, and wherein said cutting member is proximal to said curved sled. 
   
     
     
         23 . A stapling assembly, comprising:
 a shaft, comprising:
 a proximal portion; and 
 a distal portion, wherein said distal portion defines a shaft axis; and 
   an end-effector extending from said distal portion, said end-effector comprising:
 a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein; 
 an anvil configured to deform said staples; 
 a cutting member movable relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge; 
 a curved sled distal to said cutting member, wherein said curved sled is movable to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge; and 
 a slot defined by at least one of said anvil and said staple cartridge, wherein said slot is configured to define a predetermined path for said cutting member as it is moved relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge, and wherein said predetermined path comprises:
 a curved portion defined by at least one radius of curvature, wherein said shaft axis is tangent to said curved portion; and 
 a straight portion extending proximally from said curved portion, wherein said cutting member comprises an initial position within said straight portion.