abstract |
An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; at least one staple including a crown fixed to and frangibly separable from the feeder belt, the crown having a first width, and a free end extending from the crown; and at least one pad wider than the first width, wherein each pad is associated with a corresponding crown. An exemplary surgical method using that exemplary apparatus may include placing the feeder belt in proximity to tissue; penetrating the free end of at least one staple into tissue, such that tissue is positioned between the free end and the crown; compressing the free end of at least one staple toward the crown, such that a compressive force is exerted toward the crown; distributing the compressive force across the pad of at least one staple; and shearing at least one staple from the feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one feeder belt having two lateral edges; staples, where each staple includes a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second free end; and where the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples; and at least one pad, where each pad is located along a corresponding free end of a corresponding staple. |