US Patent 8007513 Partially reusable surgical stapler

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for performing a surgical stapling procedure by providing a stapler comprising a handle and a staple cartridge with an opposing anvil. The staple cartridge contains a plurality of surgical staples. The stapler also has an actuator module for deploying staples, wherein the actuator has a longitudinally movable member for sequentially ejecting staples towards the anvil. The method involves operating the actuator module so as to eject the plurality of staples, and removing the actuator module from the body and discarding the actuator module. The method also involves sterilizing the body.