Tissue stop for a surgical instrument

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising tissue stops is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
 a cartridge jaw, comprising:
 a cartridge tissue compression surface; 
 a first lateral cartridge side; 
 a second lateral cartridge side; 
 a first longitudinal row of staple cavities; 
 a second longitudinal row of staple cavities; 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
 a first cartridge tissue stop extending upwardly from said cartridge tissue compression surface along said first lateral cartridge side; 
 a second cartridge tissue stop extending upwardly from said cartridge tissue compression surface along said second lateral cartridge side; and 
   an anvil jaw rotatable relative to said cartridge jaw between an open position and a fully-clamped position, and wherein said anvil jaw comprises:
 an anvil tissue compression surface; 
 longitudinal rows of staple forming pockets that register with said staple cavities when said second jaw is in said fully-clamped position; 
 a first lateral anvil side; 
 a second lateral anvil side; 
 a first anvil tissue stop extending downwardly relative to said cartridge jaw from said first lateral anvil side, wherein said first anvil tissue stop comprises a first distal edge that extends below said cartridge tissue compression surface when said anvil jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position; and 
 a second anvil tissue stop extending downwardly relative to said cartridge jaw from said second lateral anvil side, wherein said second anvil tissue stop comprises 
 a second distal edge that extends below said cartridge tissue compression surface when said anvil jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said first anvil tissue stop is positioned laterally with respect to said first cartridge tissue stop, and wherein said second anvil tissue stop is positioned laterally with respect to said second cartridge tissue stop. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein said first distal edge extends below said first cartridge tissue stop when said anvil jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position, and wherein said second distal edge extends below said second cartridge tissue stop when said anvil jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said first anvil tissue stop comprises a first angled portion extending between said first distal edge and said anvil tissue compression surface, and wherein said second anvil tissue stop comprises a second angled portion extending between said second distal edge and said anvil tissue compression surface. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities comprises a first proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities comprises a second proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said first proximal-most staple cavity extends at least partially proximally relative to said first cartridge tissue stop, and wherein said second proximal-most staple cavity extends at least partially proximally relative to said second cartridge tissue stop. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities comprises a first proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities comprises a second proximal-most staple cavity, wherein said first proximal-most staple cavity extends at least partially proximally relative to said first anvil tissue stop, and wherein said second proximal-most staple cavity extends at least partially proximally relative to said second anvil tissue stop. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , wherein said first proximal-most staple cavity extends entirely proximally relative to said first anvil tissue stop, and wherein said second proximal-most staple cavity extends entirely proximally relative to said second anvil tissue stop. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 7 , wherein said first proximal-most staple cavity extends at least partially proximally relative to said second proximal-most staple cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a firing member movable distally from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cartridge, wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said staple cartridge jaw during said firing stroke, and wherein said firing member further comprises a second cam configured to engage said anvil jaw during said firing stroke. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 9 , wherein said anvil jaw comprises a clearance opening configured to receive said second cam when said firing member is in said unfired position. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 10 , wherein said anvil jaw comprises a stop configured to block the distal advancement of said firing member and hold said firing member in said unfired position when said anvil jaw is in said open position, and wherein said stop is configured to permit said firing member to perform said firing stroke when said anvil jaw is in said fully-clamped position. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein said stop is configured to move said firing member proximally into said unfired position when said anvil jaw is opened into said open position. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein said stop is positioned distally with respect to said clearance opening. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein said stop is positioned proximally with respect to said first distal edge and said second distal edge. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein said firing member comprises a tissue cutting edge, and wherein said tissue cutting edge is positioned proximally with respect to said first distal edge and said second distal edge when said firing member is in said unfired position. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said cartridge jaw is replaceable. 
     
     
         17 . A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
 a cartridge jaw, comprising:
 a cartridge tissue compression surface; 
 a first lateral cartridge side; 
 a second lateral cartridge side; 
 a first longitudinal row of staple cavities; 
 a second longitudinal row of staple cavities; 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
 a first cartridge tissue stop extending upwardly from said cartridge tissue compression surface along said first lateral cartridge side; 
 a second cartridge tissue stop extending upwardly from said cartridge tissue compression surface along said second lateral cartridge side; and 
   an anvil jaw rotatable relative to said cartridge jaw between an open position and a fully-clamped position, and wherein said anvil jaw comprises:
 an anvil tissue compression surface; 
 longitudinal rows of staple forming pockets that register with said staple cavities when said second jaw is in said fully-clamped position; 
 a first lateral anvil side; 
 a second lateral anvil side; 
 a first anvil tissue stop extending downwardly relative to said cartridge jaw from said first lateral anvil side, wherein said first anvil tissue stop comprises a first distal edge that extends below said first cartridge tissue stop when said anvil jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position; and 
 a second anvil tissue stop extending downwardly relative to said cartridge jaw from said second lateral anvil side, wherein said second anvil tissue stop comprises a second distal edge that extends below said second cartridge tissue stop when said anvil jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of said cartridge jaw is replaceable. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a first jaw, comprising:
 a first tissue compression surface; 
 a first lateral side; 
 a second lateral side; 
   a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a fully-clamped position, and wherein said second jaw comprises:
 a second tissue compression surface; 
 a first tissue stop extending downwardly relative to said first jaw, wherein said first tissue stop comprises a first distal edge that extends below said first tissue compression surface when said second jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position; and 
 a second tissue stop extending downwardly relative to said first jaw, wherein said second tissue stop comprises a second distal edge that extends below said first tissue compression surface when said second jaw is in said open position and said fully-clamped position.