Importance

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Abstract

The process, stapler and stapler cartridge described herein comprise those suitable for stapling a patient's mesentery and omentum with two, three or four rows of staples, the rows being substantially parallel to each other, the staples in all the rows having the same crown size with alternate rows staggered one-fourth of the length of each crown with respect to the adjacent crown in the adjacent row or rows of staples. Advantageously the prong lengths in at least one row differ from the pront lengths in the other row or rows. Advantageously the longer prongs are 30-100 percent larger, preferably about 33-75 percent larger than the smaller prongs. This arrangement is capable of satisfactorily sealing off the variety of sizes of blood vessels and holding firmly the fatty tissue found in the mesentery and in the omentum. Other arrangements of staples have been designed to effect similar results in the mesentery in which the staples having smaller and larger prongs are arranged alternately in the same row so that the gaps between staples are covered by staples staggered one-fourth of the crown length with respect to staples in an adjacent row of staples.

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First Claim