US Patent 11497494 Surgical stapler cartridge retainer with ejector feature

An apparatus includes an elongate body, at least one latch member, and a cartridge removal feature. The elongate body is sized and shaped to correspond with a deck of a surgical staple cartridge such that the elongate body is configured to cover a plurality of staple apertures of the surgical staple cartridge. The at least one latch member is configured to removably secure the elongate body to the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is integral with the elongate body. The cartridge removal feature defines a gap that is configured to receive a portion of the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is further operable to remove the surgical staple cartridge from a surgical stapler.