DISPOSABLE LOADING UNIT WITH USER FEEDBACK FEATURES AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR USE THEREWITH
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
- a tool assembly comprising;
a carrier;
an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said carrier;
a staple cartridge supported in said carrier, said staple cartridge operably supporting a plurality of staples therein; and
an actuator member movably supported within said tool assembly and configured to drive said plurality of staples out of said staple cartridge as said actuator member is driven from a starting position to an end position within said tool assembly;
an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion constructed to move through said tool assembly and drive said actuator member from said starting to end position in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus; and
a spent cartridge indication system operably supported in said tool assembly and cooperating with said actuator member to provide an indication when at least some of the staples have been driven out of said staple cartridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable loading unit for operable attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may have a spent cartridge indication system for providing an indication of whether the loading unit has been previously fired. Other embodiments are disclosed that employ a blade monitoring system for providing feedback to the user concerning the amount of strain being experienced by the blade during cutting and stapling.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
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a tool assembly comprising; a carrier; an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said carrier; a staple cartridge supported in said carrier, said staple cartridge operably supporting a plurality of staples therein; and an actuator member movably supported within said tool assembly and configured to drive said plurality of staples out of said staple cartridge as said actuator member is driven from a starting position to an end position within said tool assembly; an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion constructed to move through said tool assembly and drive said actuator member from said starting to end position in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus; and a spent cartridge indication system operably supported in said tool assembly and cooperating with said actuator member to provide an indication when at least some of the staples have been driven out of said staple cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A disposable loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
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a carrier; a housing coupled to said carrier and configured for operable attachment to the surgical stapling apparatus; a staple cartridge supported in said carrier; an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge; an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion supporting a blade, said distal end portion constructed to move in a distal direction through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus; and a blade monitoring system operably associated with said axial drive assembly and configured to transmit data relating to strain experienced by said blade to the surgical instrument to which said disposable loading unit is attached. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A surgical cutting and stapling apparatus, comprising:
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a handle assembly; a drive system supported in said handle assembly for selectively generating drive motions; a processor operably supported in said handle assembly; and an elongated body protruding from said handle assembly and constructed to transmit said drive motions to a disposable loading unit coupled thereto and to transmit strain data from the disposable loading unit relating to strain on a blade within the disposable loading unit to said processor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification