REPLACEABLE STAPLE CARTRIDGE

• US 20120286021A1
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kostrzewski, Stanislaw
• Granted Patent: US 9,820,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53909 Means comprising hand manipulatable tool

Abstract

A stapling device including a replaceable loading unit is provided. The loading unit includes an elongated body and a stapling assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw of the stapling assembly includes an anvil assembly. The second jaw of the stapling assembly includes a releasably mounted cartridge assembly having a detent connection with the stapling assembly. Also provided is a tool for removing facilitating the separation of a replaceable cartridge assembly from a loading unit.

Claims

1. A loading unit comprising:

an elongated body; and

a stapling assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw including an anvil assembly, and the second jaw including a releasably mounted cartridge assembly having a detent connection with the stapling assembly.

2. The loading unit of claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly includes a carrier having a proximal end configured for selective engagement with the elongated body.

3. The loading unit of claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the carrier defines a pair of cut-outs.

4. The loading unit of claim 3, wherein each of the pair of cut-outs includes a recess and a pivot hole.

5. The loading unit of claim 4, wherein each recess is configured to receive a spring.

6. The loading unit of claim 5, wherein each pivot hole is configured to receive a pivot pin.

7. The loading unit of claim 6, wherein each spring includes a flange for selectively retaining a pivot pin within each of the pivot holes.

8. A surgical stapler comprsing:

an actuation assembly; and

a stapling assembly operably connected to the actuation assembly, the stapling assembly including a cartridge assembly removably mounted to the stapling assembly by a detent connection.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein the stapling assembly is mounted on a distal end of a loading unit, the loading unit being removably attached to the actuation assembly.

10. A replaceable cartridge assembly comprising:

a staple cartridge; and

a carrier configured to receive the staple cartridge, the carrier including a proximal end configured for selective engagement with a stapling assembly, the carrier having a resilient spring arranged to form a connection with a stapling assembly.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the carrier defines a pair of cut-outs.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the pair of cut-outs includes a recess and a pivot hole.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein each recess is configured to receive the spring.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein each pivot hole is configured to receive a pivot pin.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein each spring includes a flange for selectively retaining a pivot pin within each of the pivot holes.

16. A tool for separating a replaceable cartridge assembly from a loading unit, the tool comprising:

a base portion;

a handle portion extending proximally from the base portion; and

an engagement portion extending distally from the arcuate portion.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the base portion defines an opening configured to receive a proximal end of a cartridge assembly.

18. The tool of claim 16, further comprising an arcuate portion extending distally from the base portion.

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the arcuate portion is configured to engage an anvil assembly.

20. A surgical stapler, comprising:

an actuation assembly having an elongate shaft with a distal end and a flexible drive member advanceable in a distal direction;

a stapling assembly having a cartridge assembly with a staple cartridge and an anvil assembly with an anvil member; and

an interlocking assembly disposed in the cartridge assembly adjacent the flexible drive member and having at least one interlocking member, the interlocking member having an L-shaped surface and being biased toward the flexible drive member, the L-shaped surface being engaged by the flexible drive member as the flexible drive member is retracted in a proximal direction.

21. The surgical stapler of claim 20, wherein the at least one interlocking member is configured to prevent advance of the flexible drive member once the flexible drive member is retracted proximally out of engagement with the at least one interlocking member.