Surgical stapling apparatus with locking mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a handle supported by the housing; and
a loading unit supportable on a distal end of the housing, the loading unit including;
a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end;
a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit; and
a locking mechanism pivotally supported on the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism being pivotable, in a plane substantially tangential to an outer surface of the housing portion, to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides for a loading unit for use with and/or supportable on a distal end of a surgical stapling apparatus. The loading unit includes a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end, a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit, and a locking mechanism supported on the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism has a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism is pivotable to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A surgical apparatus comprising:
-
a housing;
a handle supported by the housing; and
a loading unit supportable on a distal end of the housing, the loading unit including;
a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end;
a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit; and
a locking mechanism pivotally supported on the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism being pivotable, in a plane substantially tangential to an outer surface of the housing portion, to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A loading unit for use with and/or supportable on a distal end of a surgical stapling apparatus, the loading unit comprising:
-
a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end;
a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit; and
a locking mechanism pivotally supported on the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism being pivotable, in a plane substantially tangential to an outer surface of the housing portion, to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification