ARTICULATABLE LOADING UNITS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING AND CUTTING INSTRUMENTS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An articulatable disposable loading unit for attachment to a stapling apparatus, said articulatable disposable loading unit comprising:
- a staple cartridge supported in a carrier;
an anvil pivotally coupled to said carrier for selective pivotal travel relative to said staple cartridge;
a housing portion having a proximal end configured for operable attachment to the stapling apparatus;
an elongated flexible articulation member attached to said carrier and said housing portion, said flexible articulation member facilitating articulation of said carrier relative to said housing portion; and
an axial drive assembly at least a portion of which is movably supported within said housing portion and said flexible articulation member, said axial drive assembly having a portion constructed to move axially through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from a portion of the stapling apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulatable disposable loading unit for attachment to a stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may include a staple cartridge that is supported in a carrier that has an anvil coupled thereto. An elongated flexible articulation member may be coupled between the carrier a housing portion to facilitate articulation of the carrier relative to the housing portion. The loading unit may further have an axial drive assembly constructed to move axially through the staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted thereto from a portion of the stapling apparatus.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An articulatable disposable loading unit for attachment to a stapling apparatus, said articulatable disposable loading unit comprising:
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a staple cartridge supported in a carrier; an anvil pivotally coupled to said carrier for selective pivotal travel relative to said staple cartridge; a housing portion having a proximal end configured for operable attachment to the stapling apparatus; an elongated flexible articulation member attached to said carrier and said housing portion, said flexible articulation member facilitating articulation of said carrier relative to said housing portion; and an axial drive assembly at least a portion of which is movably supported within said housing portion and said flexible articulation member, said axial drive assembly having a portion constructed to move axially through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from a portion of the stapling apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An articulatable disposable loading unit for attachment to a stapling apparatus, said articulatable disposable loading unit comprising:
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a staple cartridge non-removably supported in a carrier; an anvil pivotally coupled to said carrier for selective pivotal travel relative to said staple cartridge; a housing portion having a proximal end configured for operable attachment to the stapling apparatus; a passive articulation member attached to said carrier and said housing portion, said passive articulation member comprising; a body portion having a longitudinal spine and defining a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs; a central slot in said longitudinal spine; a first side slot through said first plurality of ribs; a first articulation plate extending through said first side slot, said first articulation plate fabricated form relatively inelastic material; a second side slot through said second plurality of ribs; and a second articulation plate extending through said second side slot, said second articulation plate fabricated from relatively inelastic material; and an axial drive assembly at least a portion of which extends through said central slot in said body portion of said passive articulation member and is movably supported within said housing portion, said axial drive assembly having a portion constructed to move axially through said staple cartridge to close the anvil and fire the staples within the cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from a portion of the stapling apparatus when said housing portion is coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An articulatable disposable loading unit for attachment to a stapling apparatus, said articulatable disposable loading unit comprising:
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a staple cartridge non-removably supported in a carrier; an anvil pivotally coupled to said carrier for selective pivotal travel relative to said staple cartridge; a housing portion having a proximal end configured for operable attachment to the stapling apparatus; a flexible articulation member attached to said carrier and said housing portion, said flexible articulation member comprising; a body portion having a longitudinal spine and defining a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs; a central slot in said longitudinal spine; a first side slot through said first plurality of ribs; and a second side slot through said second plurality of ribs; a first articulation link having a first plate portion extending through said first side slot, said first articulation link having a first portion configured for operable engagement with an articulation system of the stapling apparatus when the housing portion is coupled thereto; a second articulation link having a second plate portion extending through said second side slot, said second articulation link having a second portion configured for operable engagement with the articulation system of the stapling apparatus when the housing portion is coupled thereto; and an axial drive assembly at least a portion of which extends through said central slot in said body portion of said passive articulation member and is movably supported within said housing portion, said axial drive assembly having a portion constructed to move axially through said staple cartridge to close the anvil and fire the staples within the cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from a portion of the stapling apparatus when said housing portion is coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification