Importance

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Abstract

A surgical apparatus may include an end effector comprising a staple holder including a housing therein, and an anvil connected to the staple holder, where the end effector is movable between an open configuration and a clamped configuration; a feeder belt having two lateral edges, at least part of which is held within the housing; a plurality of staples, where each staple has a first end frangibly connected to the feeder belt and a second, free end; where at least one staple is oriented relative to the corresponding feeder belt in a direction angled relative to the transverse direction; and wherein the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples; and an overtube movable relative to the staple holder and anvil, where motion of the overtube relative to the staple holder and anvil both clamps the staple holder and anvil together and clamps the feeder belt in place relative to the housing. Such an end effector may be utilized by inserting it into the body of a patient through an opening; clamping the end effector; closing a plurality of staples into a closed configuration; and separating each closed staples from the corresponding feeder belt.

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First Claim