ATTACHMENT PORTIONS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLIES
First Claim
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1. A surgical stapler assembly, comprising:
- a disposable end effector comprising a distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion comprises;
a lock notch; and
a longitudinal guide rail; and
a surgical instrument, comprising;
a proximal attachment portion structured to receive said distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion is moveable between a non-inserted position and an inserted position relative to said proximal attachment portion, and wherein said proximal attachment portion comprises a longitudinal guide slot configured to receive said longitudinal guide rail as said distal attachment portion moves between said non-inserted position and said inserted position; and
a rotatable collar that is rotatable relative to said proximal attachment portion between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein said collar is biased toward said locked position and is structured to rotate from said locked position to said unlocked position when said distal attachment portion moves from said non-inserted position toward said inserted position, and wherein said collar comprises a detent structured to move into said lock notch when said collar rotates from said unlocked position to said locked position and when said distal attachment portion is in said inserted position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connection portion for attaching a disposable loading unit to the shaft of a surgical instrument. The connection portion can include a rotatable collar, which can be rotated relative to the disposable loading unit and the shaft. The connection can include a spring for biasing the collar and/or the disposable loading unit into a locked orientation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical stapler assembly, comprising:
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a disposable end effector comprising a distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion comprises; a lock notch; and a longitudinal guide rail; and a surgical instrument, comprising; a proximal attachment portion structured to receive said distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion is moveable between a non-inserted position and an inserted position relative to said proximal attachment portion, and wherein said proximal attachment portion comprises a longitudinal guide slot configured to receive said longitudinal guide rail as said distal attachment portion moves between said non-inserted position and said inserted position; and a rotatable collar that is rotatable relative to said proximal attachment portion between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein said collar is biased toward said locked position and is structured to rotate from said locked position to said unlocked position when said distal attachment portion moves from said non-inserted position toward said inserted position, and wherein said collar comprises a detent structured to move into said lock notch when said collar rotates from said unlocked position to said locked position and when said distal attachment portion is in said inserted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surgical stapler assembly, comprising:
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a disposable end effector comprising a distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion comprises; a key; and a lock notch; a surgical instrument, comprising; a proximal attachment portion structured to receive said distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion is moveable along a longitudinal axis relative to said proximal attachment portion between a non-inserted position and an inserted position; a firing rod comprising a rotator, and wherein said key is structured to engage said rotator as said distal attachment portion moves between said non-inserted position and said inserted position; and a rotatable collar that is rotatable relative to said longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein a spring is structured to bias said rotatable collar toward said locked position, and wherein said collar comprises; a groove engaged with said rotator, wherein said rotator is structured to rotate said collar to said unlocked position when said key is engaged with said rotator; and a detent structured to move into said lock notch when said collar rotates from said unlocked position to said locked position and when said distal attachment portion is in said inserted position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical stapler assembly, comprising:
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a disposable end effector comprising a distal attachment portion; and a surgical instrument, comprising; a proximal attachment portion structured to receive said distal attachment portion, wherein said distal attachment portion is structured to rotate between a unlocked position and a locked position within said proximal attachment portion, and wherein said proximal attachment portion comprises a spring structured to bias said distal attachment portion toward said locked position; and a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein said latch is biased toward said latched position, and wherein said latch is structured to hold a portion of said distal attachment portion when said distal attachment portion is in said locked position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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a surgical instrument comprising a shaft and a shaft axis; an end effector comprising a connection portion and an end effector axis, wherein said end effector is configured to be assembled to said shaft by aligning said shaft axis with said end effector axis and moving at least one of said shaft and said end effector toward the other without rotating said end effector about said end effector axis or said shaft about said shaft axis; and rotatable means for automatically coupling said end effector to said shaft when said connection portion is engaged with said shaft.
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Specification