CN111012421A

CN111012421A - Suturing nail forming part, suturing mechanism and surgical anastomat

Info

Publication number: CN111012421A
Application number: CN201910084142.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 孙宝峰; 周小朋
Original assignee: Jiangsu Fengh Medical Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Jiangsu Fengh Medical Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2019-01-28
Publication date: 2020-04-17

Abstract

The invention provides a suturing nail forming piece and a suturing mechanism with the same. The suturing mechanism is used for a surgical anastomat and comprises a nail bin and suturing nail forming pieces, each suturing nail forming piece comprises a body extending along the longitudinal direction, each body is provided with a forming surface, a plurality of forming parts are formed by downwards sinking from the forming surfaces respectively, and each forming part comprises a forming groove; the molding groove comprises a first molding groove, and the first molding groove comprises a first side wall and a second side wall; the lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall tapers in a direction of staple leg travel. The invention realizes the control of the bending forming process of the suturing nail through the first forming groove so as to improve the forming effect and overcome the poor forming caused by the shaking of the suturing nail.

Description

Suturing nail forming part, suturing mechanism and surgical anastomat

Technical Field

The invention relates to a surgical operation device, in particular to a suturing nail forming part, a suturing mechanism and a surgical anastomat, and belongs to the field of medical instruments.

Background

Various surgical anastomats and endoscopic surgical anastomats are used for replacing the needle-thread freehand suture operation in the surgical operation, are widely used for suturing human digestive tract organs, respiratory tract organs and urogenital organs in the surgical operation, can reduce the operation time and improve the operation quality.

The components of the stapling mechanism of the surgical stapler include: a nail bin component and a nail anvil component. The nail bin assembly comprises a nail bin, a nail bin frame for containing the nail bin, a nail pushing block, a suturing nail and a cutting knife, wherein the nail pushing block, the suturing nail and the cutting knife are installed in the nail bin, and the cutting knife can be installed according to the use requirement. The nail anvil component comprises a nail anvil and a nail anvil frame for accommodating the nail anvil, and the suturing nail forming grooves are arranged on the end surface of the nail anvil and correspond to the suturing nail positions in the nail bin. In use of the surgical stapler, the closure mechanism is operated to achieve a desired clamping thickness between the anvil and the staple cartridge in order to clamp tissue to be stapled between the anvil and the staple cartridge. After the sutured tissue is clamped, the firing mechanism can be operated to push out the suturing nails in the nail bin, so that the purpose of suturing the tissue is achieved. For the operation needing to cut the sutured tissue, the cutting knife can be pushed out to cut the clamped tissue to be sutured while the firing mechanism is operated to push out the suturing nails in the nail bin, and the surgical knife can also be used for cutting the sutured tissue. Upon completion of the stapling operation, the closure mechanism is operated to release the stapled tissue for withdrawal of the surgical stapler. The suturing mechanism of the surgical stapler has the following functions in the using process of the surgical stapler: the tissue to be sutured is clamped between the nail anvil and the nail bin, and then the suturing nail is pushed out from the nail bin and penetrates through the clamped tissue to be sutured to directly abut against the suturing nail forming groove on the nail anvil, so that the U-shaped suturing nail is bent into a B shape, and the purpose of suturing the tissue is achieved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art anvil. As shown in fig. 1, the anvil 10 has a body 11, the body 11 has a forming surface 12, a plurality of forming portions 13 are disposed on the forming surface 12, each forming portion 13 includes two forming recesses 14, a spacing portion 15 is disposed between the two forming recesses 14, and the spacing portion 15 makes the two forming recesses 14 independent from each other. The molding recess 14 has an opening 141, the opening 141 having a uniform width W1, W1 being about 0.9 mm; the staples (not shown) are inserted into the forming recess 14 from the opening 141 and bent. However, the conventional staple has a leg diameter of 0.2 mm, and since the difference in size between the two is significant, the staple tends to shake and is not formed well when it is bent and formed in the forming dented portion 14.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a new staple forming member (or anvil) and a corresponding stapling mechanism to solve the problem of poor staple forming in the forming recess.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a novel suturing nail forming member, a suturing mechanism and a surgical stapler, wherein the forming portion of the suturing nail forming member is set to have two large ends and a small middle, so as to solve the problem of poor forming caused by shaking during the bending forming of the suturing nail in the forming groove.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention is realized by the following technical scheme: a suturing nail forming piece comprises a body extending along the longitudinal direction, wherein the body is provided with a forming surface, a plurality of forming parts are formed by respectively sinking downwards from the forming surface, and each forming part comprises a forming groove; the molding groove comprises a first molding groove, and the first molding groove comprises a first side wall and a second side wall; the lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall tapers in a direction of staple leg travel.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall gradually decreases in a downward direction.

Further, each forming part comprises a spacing part and two forming grooves, and the spacing part is located between the two forming grooves.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall gradually decreases in a direction toward the spacer.

Furthermore, each forming groove further comprises a second forming groove, the second forming groove is communicated with the first forming groove, and the second forming groove is arranged between the first forming groove and the spacing part; wherein the second forming groove comprises a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is less than or equal to a minimum of a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is equal in a direction toward the spacer.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall gradually decreases in a direction toward the spacer.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall is less than or equal to 0.9 millimeters and greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters.

Further, a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters.

Further, in the longitudinal direction, the first forming groove has a first length, and the second forming groove has a second length, and the second length is greater than or equal to the first length.

Further, the two molding grooves are in mirror symmetry with the spacing part as a center.

Furthermore, the first forming groove and the second forming groove are provided with bottom walls, the bottom wall of the first forming groove extends downwards in an inclined mode towards the direction of the spacing portion, the bottom wall of the second forming groove extends downwards in an inclined mode towards the direction far away from the spacing portion, and the bottom wall of the first forming groove and the bottom wall of the second forming groove are smoothly connected at the position where the first forming groove and the second forming groove are communicated with each other.

Further, the body comprises two side portions and a groove located between the two side portions, the molding surface of the side portion comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is closer to the groove relative to the second surface, and the first surface protrudes out of the second surface.

The invention also provides a surgical stapler, which comprises a staple forming part and a staple box, wherein the staple box is used for accommodating staples, the staple forming part is used for bending and forming the staples pushed out from the staple box, and the staple forming part is the staple forming part as described in any one of the above items.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention is also realized by the following technical scheme: a suturing mechanism for a surgical stapler, the suturing mechanism comprising a nail cartridge and a suturing nail former, the nail cartridge accommodating a suturing nail, the suturing nail former bending and forming the suturing nail pushed out from the nail cartridge, the suturing nail former comprising a body extending along a longitudinal direction, the body being provided with a forming surface, a plurality of forming parts respectively formed by downwards sinking from the forming surface, and each forming part comprising a forming groove; the molding groove comprises a first molding groove, and the first molding groove comprises a first side wall and a second side wall; the lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall tapers in a direction of staple leg travel.

Further, the nail bin is provided with a nail outlet, and the nail outlet is aligned with the forming part.

The invention also provides a surgical anastomat which comprises a handle assembly, a rod body assembly and an end effector, wherein the handle assembly is connected to one end of the rod body assembly, the end effector is connected to the other end of the rod body assembly, the end effector comprises a suturing mechanism, the suturing mechanism comprises a suturing nail forming piece and a nail bin, the nail bin is used for accommodating suturing nails, the suturing nail forming piece enables the suturing nails pushed out from the nail bin to be bent and formed, and the suturing mechanism is the suturing mechanism.

Compared with the prior art, the wider first forming grooves are formed in the two ends of the forming part of the suturing nail forming part, the narrower second forming grooves are formed in the middle of the forming part, the wider first forming grooves are convenient for suturing nails to enter the forming part, and the narrower second forming grooves limit the swinging of the suturing nails during bending forming, so that the problem that the existing forming part is poor in forming due to the fact that the suturing nails swing in the forming part due to the fact that openings of the forming part are too large is solved, the bending process of the suturing nails is controlled, and the forming effect is improved.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art anvil construction;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a suturing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of the staple former of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the staple former of FIG. 2 shown in another perspective;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the staple former of FIG. 2 shown in another perspective;

fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled portion in fig. 7.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the description of the present invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying any number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means at least two, e.g., two, three, etc., unless specifically limited otherwise. The meaning of "a number" is at least one.

The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative and intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

As shown in fig. 2 to 3, the suturing mechanism provided by the invention is used for a surgical anastomat, and comprises a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, wherein the cartridge assembly comprises a cartridge 30, the anvil assembly comprises a suturing nail shaped piece 20, and the cartridge 30 and the suturing nail shaped piece 20 are matched with each other to suture tissues. The staple forming member 20 includes a body 21 extending in a longitudinal direction, the body 21 having a forming surface 22, and a plurality of forming portions 23 formed by being depressed downward from the forming surface 22, respectively. The body 21 includes two side portions 211 and a groove 212 located between the two side portions 211, the molding surface 22 of the side portion 211 includes a first surface 221 and a second surface 222, the first surface 221 is closer to the groove 212 than the second surface 222, and the first surface 221 protrudes from the second surface 222. The staple forming members 20 are adapted to cooperate with the cartridge 30 which is provided with a knife slot for a cutting knife to travel within, and the recesses 212 of the staple forming members 20 are adapted to receive the tops of the cutting knife which travel within the recesses 212 of the staple forming members 20 as the cutting knife travels within the knife slot. Before suturing and cutting, the tissue needs to be clamped and squeezed to discharge tissue fluid of the tissue to be sutured; the first surface 221 protrudes from the second surface 222 such that the distance between the first surface 221 and the cartridge is less than the distance between the second surface 222 and the cartridge, the pressing force at the first surface 221 being greater than the pressing force at the second surface 222, thereby creating a fluid gradient from the first surface 221 towards the second surface 222, causing interstitial fluid to drain within the tissue from the first surface 221 towards the second surface 222 and from the second surface 222 towards the tissue not being pressed. The plurality of forming portions 23 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of forming portions 23 are arranged in a plurality of rows in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Staple former 20 mates with the cartridge. The number of profiles 23 of the staple profiles 20 is greater than or equal to the number of staples contained in the cartridge. When the staple forming member 20 is suitable for the staple cartridges with various specifications, the number of the staples accommodated in the staple cartridges with different specifications is different, and the number of the forming parts 23 of the staple forming member 20 is larger than or equal to the number of the staples accommodated in the staple cartridge with any specification.

The nail bin 30 is provided with a nail outlet 301, and the nail outlet 301 is aligned with the forming part 23. The sewing mechanism has the following functions: the tissue to be sutured is clamped between the suturing nail forming member 20 and the nail bin 30, and the suturing nails are pushed out from the nail outlet 301 of the nail bin 30 to penetrate through the clamped tissue to be sutured and abut against the forming part 23 on the suturing nail forming member 20, so that the U-shaped suturing nails are bent into a B shape, and the purpose of suturing the tissue is achieved.

Each forming portion 23 has a spacer portion 28 and two forming grooves 231. The spacing portion 28 is located between the two forming grooves 231, the spacing portion 28 makes the two forming grooves 231 not communicated with each other, that is, the two forming grooves 231 are independent from each other, and the two forming grooves 231 are mirror-symmetrical with the spacing portion 28 as a center.

The forming groove 231, the first forming groove 24 and the second forming groove 25 each include a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end is defined as the end far away from the spacer 28, and the second end is defined as the end close to the spacer 28; the body 21 has a molding surface 22 and a bottom surface opposite to the molding surface, and defines a downward direction as a direction from the molding surface 22 to the bottom surface; the body 21 extends in a longitudinal direction, a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is defined as a transverse direction, and a transverse distance is defined as a distance between two portions of the body 21 in the transverse direction.

With continued reference to fig. 4 to 8, the forming groove 231 includes a first forming groove 24 and a second forming groove 25 which are communicated with each other, one end of the second forming groove 25 is connected to the spacing portion 28, and the other opposite end of the second forming groove 25 is communicated with the first forming groove 24, that is, the second forming groove 25 is disposed between the spacing portion 28 and the first forming groove 24. The first forming groove 24 includes a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The first guide part and the second guide part guide the suturing nail to enter the first forming groove 24 from the outside of the forming groove 231, and then enter the second forming groove 25 from the first forming groove 24. The first forming groove 24 includes opposing first and

second sidewalls

243 and 244. The lateral distance between at least a portion of first sidewall 243 and at least a portion of second sidewall 244 gradually decreases in the direction of staple leg travel. The direction of travel of the legs of the staples is: either forward or reverse in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction of the first profiled groove 24 towards the second profiled groove 25. The forward direction of the longitudinal direction refers to a direction from the end of the body 21 to the front end, and the backward direction of the longitudinal direction refers to a direction from the front end of the body 21 to the end. As shown in fig. 4, the right end of the body 21 is the tail end, and the left end of the body 21 is the front end. Specifically, the transverse distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall 243 and at least a portion of the second sidewall 244 gradually decreases in the downward direction, i.e., the first sidewall 243 forms a first guide surface in the downward direction, and the second sidewall 244 forms a second guide surface in the downward direction, so that the first guide surface and the second guide surface form a first guide portion which guides the staples into the first forming groove 24 in the downward direction. The lateral distance between at least a portion of first sidewall 243 and at least a portion of second sidewall 244 decreases in a direction toward spacer 28, i.e., first sidewall 243 forms a third guide surface in a direction toward spacer 28 and second sidewall 244 forms a fourth guide surface in a direction toward spacer 28, whereby the third and fourth guide surfaces form a second guide that guides the staples into first shaped grooves 24 in a direction toward spacer 28 and continues to guide the staples into second shaped grooves 25. The staple is guided by the first guide and the second guide together into the first forming groove 24 and then into the second forming groove 25, and is formed in the forming groove 231. In the above embodiment, the first guide surface and the third guide surface are substantially the same guide surface, the second guide surface and the fourth guide surface are substantially the same guide surface, and the first guide portion and the second guide portion are substantially the same guide portion. In other embodiments, the first forming groove 24 may be provided with only the second guide portion (i.e., the first forming groove 24 includes only the second guide portion and not the first guide portion). The second forming groove 25 includes opposing third and fourth sidewalls 253,254. The lateral distance between the third and

fourth sidewalls

253, 254 is equal to the lateral distance between the first and

second sidewalls

243, 244 at the intersection of the first and second forming

grooves

24, 25, where the lateral distance between the first and

second sidewalls

243, 244 is at a minimum. The lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall 253 and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall 254 is equal or gradually decreases in a direction toward the spacer 28. The first forming groove 24 has a first opening portion having a first edge 241 and a second edge 242 opposite to the first edge 241, wherein the first edge 241 is an upper edge of the first sidewall 243, and the second edge 242 is an upper edge of the second sidewall 244. The second forming groove 25 has a second opening portion having a third edge 251 and a fourth edge 252 opposite to each other, wherein the third edge 251 is an upper edge of a third sidewall 253, and the fourth edge 252 is an upper edge of a fourth sidewall 254. The first edge 241 and the second edge 242 have a first distance W2 therebetween in the transverse direction, and the third edge 251 and the fourth edge 252 have a second distance W3 therebetween in the transverse direction, preferably, the second distance W3 is smaller than or equal to the first distance W2, wherein the first distance W2 can be regarded as a first width of the first opening portion, and the second distance W3 can be regarded as a second width of the second opening portion, that is, the second width is smaller than or equal to the first width. Fig. 5 shows the maximum value of the first spacing W2. The first distance W2 decreases from the first end of the first profiled groove 24 toward the second end opposite the first profiled groove 24 until it equals the second distance W3 at the second end, the first profiled groove 24 has a smaller first distance W2 between the first edge 241 and the second edge 242 close to the second profiled groove 25, the first profiled groove 24 has a larger first distance W2 between the first edge 241 and the second edge 242 far from the second profiled groove 25, wherein the first distance W2 is less than or equal to 0.9 mm, and the first distance W2 is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm. In other words, the first width is less than or equal to 0.9 millimeters and the first width is greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters. In the present embodiment, the second forming groove 25 is, for example, a straight groove, that is, the second forming groove 25 has a uniform second distance W3 between the third edge 251 and the fourth edge 252, and the second distance W3 is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm; in other words, the second width is greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters. 0.2 millimeters is the diameter of the legs of the staple, i.e., the minimum of the second spacing W3 is the diameter of the legs of the staple. Because the second forming groove 25 is a straight line groove, the second forming groove 25 is ensured to have a uniform forming area, the moving range of the suturing nail during bending can be better limited, the suturing nail is more stable during bending in the second forming groove 25, and the forming effect is better. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the first forming groove 24 has a first bottom wall 245, the second forming groove 25 has a second bottom wall 255, and the first bottom wall 245 and the second bottom wall 255 are both a guiding surface extending obliquely downward, and the guiding surface is a curved surface. The first bottom wall 245 adjoins the molding surface 22 at a first end thereof, the first bottom wall 245 extending obliquely downward from the first end thereof toward a second end, i.e., the first bottom wall 245 extending obliquely downward in a direction toward the partition 28. The second bottom wall 255 is adjacent to the top surface of the partition portion 28 at the second end thereof, and the second bottom wall 255 extends obliquely downward from the second end thereof toward the first end, i.e., the second bottom wall 255 extends obliquely downward in a direction away from the partition portion 28. The first bottom wall 245 and the second bottom wall 255 are smoothly connected at a place where the first forming groove 24 and the second forming groove 25 communicate with each other. The term "at least a part" in the present invention includes a part and all of them.

The first open part of the first profiled groove 24 has, for example, a trapezoidal structure and the second open part of the second profiled groove 25 has, for example, a rectangular structure, wherein the top side of the trapezoidal structure adjoins the short side of the rectangular structure. The first edge 241, the second edge 242, the third edge 251, and the fourth edge 252 are, for example, straight-line structures, but not limited thereto.

As can be seen from the above, in the molding groove 231 of the present invention, a first width of the first opening portion of the first molding groove 24 except for the second end is different from a second width of the second opening portion of the second molding groove 25, and the first width except for the second end is greater than the second width. When a staple (not shown) enters the forming groove 231, the leg end of the staple can enter the first forming groove 24 from the first opening portion with the larger first width; the first forming groove 24 is a guide groove, the first opening part with larger width is beneficial to the entering of the leg end part of the suturing nail, and the first width of the first opening part of the first forming groove 24 is gradually reduced until the first width is the same as the second width of the second opening part of the second forming groove 25, so that the leg end part of the suturing nail is guided to enter the second forming groove 25 from the first forming groove 24; in the process of suturing the nail in the bending and forming process, the limit function of the second opening part with the smaller second width reduces the moving freedom degree of the suturing nail leg in the second forming groove 25 in the bending and forming process, and further can effectively avoid the abnormal forming problem caused by the rocking of the suturing nail. Therefore, the staple forming member 20 provided by the present invention not only can make the staples easily enter the forming grooves 231, but also can prevent abnormal forming caused by the staples shaking (or excessive staple displacement) in the larger forming concave parts 14 (as shown in fig. 1) during the staple forming process.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second distance W3 between the third edge 251 and the fourth edge 252 of the second opening of the second forming groove 25 may also be gradually changed similar to the first distance W2. Specifically, a second spacing W3 between the third edge 251 and the fourth edge 252 of the second shaped groove 25 proximate to the first shaped groove 24 is greater than a second spacing W3 between the third edge 251 and the fourth edge 252 of the second shaped groove 25 distal from the first shaped groove 24, wherein the second spacing W3 is less than or equal to 0.9 mm and the second spacing W3 is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm. At this time, the opening width of the opening portion of the molding groove 231 formed by the first molding groove 24 and the second molding groove 25 gradually decreases from the first end of the molding groove 231 toward the second end of the molding groove 231, the second end of the molding groove 231 is connected to the spacer 28, and the first end of the molding groove 231 is far away from the spacer 28; that is, the forming groove 231 has an opening portion, a distance between both sides of the opening portion gradually decreases from the first end toward the second end, the distance between both sides of the opening portion can be regarded as an opening width of the opening portion, the opening width gradually decreases from the first end toward the second end, the opening width is less than or equal to 0.9 mm, and the opening width is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm.

In order to obtain a better shaping effect, in the longitudinal extension direction of the staple former 20, the first opening of the first shaping groove 24 has a first length h1, and the second opening of the second shaping groove 25 has a second length h2, wherein the second length h2 is greater than or equal to the first length h 1. The first profiled groove 24 provides for initial bending and profiling of the legs of the staple and guides the legs into the second profiled groove 25, the second profiled groove 25 providing for sufficient bending and profiling of the legs. Thus, the longer length of the second profiled groove 25 provides a more fully profiled area, which may provide better profiling of the staple legs.

The invention also provides a surgical anastomat which comprises a handle assembly, a rod body assembly and an end effector, wherein the handle assembly is connected to one end of the rod body assembly, the end effector is connected to the other end of the rod body assembly, the end effector comprises a stitching mechanism, the stitching mechanism comprises a stitching nail forming piece and a nail bin, the nail bin contains stitching nails, the stitching nail forming piece enables the stitching nails pushed out from the nail bin to be bent and formed, the stitching mechanism is the stitching mechanism, and the stitching nail forming piece is the stitching nail forming piece.

In summary, the suturing mechanism of the present invention includes a suturing nail forming member, the suturing nail forming member has a forming portion 23, the forming portion 23 includes two forming grooves 231 and a spacing portion 28 located between the two forming grooves 231, the forming grooves 231 include a first forming groove 24 and a second forming groove 25 which are communicated with each other, the first forming groove 24 has a first opening portion, the second forming groove 25 has a second opening portion, the width of the first opening portion is larger than that of the second opening portion, the larger first opening portion facilitates the legs of the suturing nail to enter the first forming groove 24 from the outside of the forming grooves 231, and the smaller second opening portion facilitates the bending forming of the suturing nail in the second forming groove 25, so as to improve the forming effect.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is understood that the above embodiment is illustrative and not restrictive, and that those skilled in the art may make changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations to the above embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A suturing nail former comprising a body extending in a lengthwise direction, the body having a profiled surface from which a plurality of profiled portions are respectively formed by downwardly recessing, the forming surface characterized in that:

each forming part comprises a forming groove; the molding groove comprises a first molding groove, and the first molding groove comprises a first side wall and a second side wall; the lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall tapers in a direction of staple leg travel.

2. The staple former of claim 1, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall tapers in a downward direction.

3. The staple former of claim 1, wherein each of said forming portions includes a spacer portion and two of said forming grooves, said spacer portion being located between two of said forming grooves.

4. The staple former of claim 3, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall tapers in a direction toward the spacer.

5. The staple former of claim 3, wherein each of the forming grooves further comprises a second forming groove, the second forming groove being in communication with the first forming groove, and the second forming groove being disposed between the first forming groove and the spacer; wherein the second forming groove comprises a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall.

6. The staple former of claim 5, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is less than or equal to a minimum of a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall.

7. The staple former of any one of claims 5-6, wherein the lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is equal in a direction toward the spacer.

8. The staple former of any one of claims 5-6, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall tapers in a direction toward the spacer.

9. The staple former of claim 1, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall is less than or equal to 0.9 millimeters and greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters.

10. The staple former of any one of claims 5-6, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm.

11. The staple former of either of claims 5-6, wherein the first shaped slot has a first length in the longitudinal direction and the second shaped slot has a second length, the second length being greater than or equal to the first length.

12. The staple former of claim 3, wherein two of the forming grooves are mirror images centered on the spacer.

13. The staple former of either of claims 5-6, wherein the first and second shaped grooves each have a bottom wall, the bottom wall of the first shaped groove extending obliquely downward toward the spacer, the bottom wall of the second shaped groove extending obliquely downward away from the spacer, the bottom wall of the first shaped groove and the bottom wall of the second shaped groove smoothly joining where the first and second shaped grooves communicate with each other.

14. The staple former of claim 1, wherein the body includes two sides and a recess between the two sides, the contoured surfaces of the sides including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being closer to the recess than the second surface, the first surface being raised from the second surface.

15. A surgical stapler comprising a staple former and a cartridge, said cartridge accommodating staples and said staple former bending-forming said staples pushed out from said cartridge, characterized in that said staple former is a staple former as claimed in any one of claims 1-14.

16. A suturing mechanism for a surgical stapler, the suturing mechanism including a cartridge housing staples and staple formers which bend, shape and form the staples ejected from the cartridge, the staple formers including a body extending in a lengthwise direction, the body having a shaped surface from which a plurality of shaped portions are respectively formed by a plurality of downwardly concave shaped portions, the suturing mechanism comprising:

17. The suturing mechanism of claim 16, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall gradually decreases in a downward direction.

18. The suturing mechanism of claim 16 wherein the cartridge defines a staple exit orifice that is aligned with the forming portion.

19. The suturing mechanism of claim 16 wherein each of the shaped portions includes a spacer portion and two of the shaped recesses, the spacer portion being positioned between the two shaped recesses.

20. The suturing mechanism of claim 19, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall decreases in a direction toward the spacer.

21. The suturing mechanism of claim 19 wherein each of the shaped grooves further includes a second shaped groove, the second shaped groove being in communication with the first shaped groove and the second shaped groove being disposed between the first shaped groove and the spacer; wherein the second forming groove comprises a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall.

22. The suturing mechanism of claim 21, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is less than or equal to a minimum of a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall.

23. The suturing mechanism of any one of claims 21-22, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is equal in a direction toward the spacer.

24. The suturing mechanism of any one of claims 21-22, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall decreases in a direction toward the spacer.

25. The suturing mechanism of claim 16, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the first sidewall and at least a portion of the second sidewall is less than or equal to 0.9 millimeters and greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters.

26. The suturing mechanism of any one of claims 21-22, wherein a lateral distance between at least a portion of the third sidewall and at least a portion of the fourth sidewall is greater than or equal to 0.2 millimeters.

27. The suturing mechanism of any one of claims 21-22, wherein the first shaped groove has a first length in the longitudinal direction and the second shaped groove has a second length, the second length being greater than or equal to the first length.

28. The suturing mechanism of claim 19 wherein two of the shaped grooves are mirror images of each other about the spacer.

29. The suturing mechanism of any one of claims 21-22, wherein each of the first and second shaped grooves has a bottom wall, the bottom wall of the first shaped groove extends obliquely downward toward the spacer portion, the bottom wall of the second shaped groove extends obliquely downward away from the spacer portion, and the bottom wall of the first shaped groove and the bottom wall of the second shaped groove are smoothly connected where the first shaped groove and the second shaped groove communicate with each other.

30. The staple former of claim 16, wherein the body includes two sides and a recess between the two sides, the contoured surfaces of the sides including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being closer to the recess than the second surface, the first surface being proud of the second surface.

31. A surgical stapler comprising a handle assembly connected to one end of a shaft assembly, a shaft assembly and an end effector connected to the other end of the shaft assembly, the end effector comprising a stapling mechanism including a staple former and a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge containing staples which form curved staples expelled from the staple cartridge, wherein the stapling mechanism is as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 30.