Ambush element for mounting on the nose part of a surgical clamping instrument

摘要

An anvil attachment for the nose portion of a surgical stapling instrument of the type utilizing a replaceable cartridge of surgical staples. The anvil attachment is generally "L-shaped". A first leg of the anvil attachment is adapted to lie along and to be affixed to the nose portion of the surgical instrument with the second leg of the anvil attachment extending laterally of the surgical instrument nose portion. Near the juncture of the first and second anvil attachment legs, the second anvil attachment leg is provided on its upper surface with an upstanding wedge-shaped lug which, in cooperation with an adjacent relief on the first anvil attachment leg, engages and maintains the lower end of the staple cartridge in proper position against the nose portion of the surgical stapling instrument. The second anvil attachment leg has a first anvil portion adjacent the wedge-shaped lug and providing a first anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a staple during a staple forming operation. The second anvil attachment leg may have one or more narrower anvil portions adjacent the first anvil portion and providing other anvil surfaces adapted to abut and support the crowns of staples of lesser inside crown dimension during the forming thereof, whereby the anvil may be used with two or more cartridges containing two or more different sizes of staples.