Surgical stapling apparatus with locking mechanism

• US 7,143,924 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw, Scirica, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Slpos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US11/059,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.2, 227/175.4, 227/176.1, 227/182.1, 227/175.1
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus. The loading unit includes a housing portion having a distal end and a proximal end, a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit, and a locking member supported on the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking member is movable from a first position wherein the locking member engages the drive assembly and maintains the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position to a second position wherein the locking member permits movement of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion.

Claims

1. A surgical stapling 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 member supported on the housing portion of the loading unit and being independently rotatable relative to the housing of the surgical stapling apparatus while the loading unit is being coupled to said housing of said surgical stapling apparatus, the locking member including a locking portion extending through the housing portion, the locking member being rotatably movable from a first position wherein the locking portion engages the drive assembly and maintains the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position to a second position wherein the locking portion permits movement of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes a notch and the locking member includes:

a cuff-like body portion that at least partially surrounds the proximal end of the housing portion; and

a tooth extending radially inward from the body portion, wherein the tooth selectively engages the notch formed in the drive assembly such that when the locking member is in the first position the tooth engages the notch of the drive assembly and maintains the drive assembly in the ready-to-load position, and when the locking member is in the second position the tooth is disengaged from the notch of the drive assembly.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the housing portion includes an annular slot formed therein for receiving the tooth of the locking member therein.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the locking member further includes at least one finger extending axially from a proximal end thereof, wherein when the locking member is in the first position, the finger is axially aligned with a nub extending radially outward from the proximal end of the housing portion and when the locking member is in the second position the finger is out of axial alignment with the nub of the proximal end of the housing portion.

5. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a radially inwardly extending projection and the locking member is urged from the first position to the second position by the projection, the projection acting on a side surface of the finger as the loading unit is twisted into engagement in and with the housing.

6. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 5, wherein each finger of the locking member includes a detent projecting from an inner surface thereof for selective engagement with a complementary recess formed in an outer surface of the proximal end of the housing portion.

7. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the finger of the locking member is axially aligned with the tooth.

8. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locking member includes a pair of opposed fingers extending axially from a proximal end thereof, wherein when the locking member is in the first position, one of the pair of fingers is axially aligned with the nub extending radially outward from the proximal end of the housing portion and when the locking member is in the second position the finger is out of axial alignment with the nub of the proximal end of the housing portion.

9. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the surgical stapling apparatus is a laparoscopic or endoscopic stapler.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an elongate body extending from the housing.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the housing portion defines an insertion tip.

12. A loading unit selectively supportable on a distal end of an elongate body 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; and

a locking member for maintaining a drive assembly in a ready-to-load position while the loading unit is being coupled to the elongate body of the surgical stapling apparatus, the locking member being independently rotatable relative to the housing portion from a first position to a second position, the locking member comprising;

a cuff-like body portion that at least partially surrounds an insertion tip of the loading unit; and

a tooth extending radially inward from the body portion, wherein the tooth selectively engages a notch formed in the drive assembly such that when the locking member is in the first position the tooth engages the notch of the drive assembly and maintains the drive assembly in the ready-to-load position, and when the locking member is in the second position the tooth is disengaged from the notch of the drive assembly.

13. The loading unit according to claim 12, wherein the proximal end of the housing portion includes an annular slot formed therein for receiving the tooth of the locking member therein.

14. The loading unit according to claim 13, wherein the locking member further includes at least one finger extending axially from a proximal end thereof, wherein when the locking member is in the first position, the finger is axially aligned with a nub extending radially outward from the proximal end of the housing portion and when the locking member is in the second position the finger is out of axial alignment with the nub of the proximal end of the housing portion.

15. The loading unit according to claim 14, wherein the locking member is urged from the first position to the second position by a radially inward extending projection provided in the elongate body of the surgical stapling apparatus, the projection acting on a side surface of the finger as the loading unit is twisted into engagement in and with the elongate body.

16. The loading unit according to claim 15, wherein each finger of the locking member includes a detent projecting from an inner surface thereof for selective engagement with a complementary recess formed in an outer surface of the proximal end of the housing portion.

17. The loading unit according to claim 16, wherein the finger of the locking member is axially aligned with the tooth.

18. The loading unit according to claim 17, wherein the locking member includes a pair of opposed fingers extending axially from a proximal end thereof, wherein when the locking member is in the first position, one of the pair of fingers is axially aligned with the nub extending radially outward from the proximal end of the housing portion and when the locking member is in the second position the finger is out of axial alignment with the nub of the proximal end of the housing portion.

19. The loading unit according to claim 18, wherein the loading unit is selectively connectable to at least one of a laparoscopic and an endoscopic stapler.

20. A loading unit selectively supportable on a distal end of an elongate body 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; and

a locking member supported on the housing portion and being independently rotatable relative to the housing of the surgical stapling apparatus while the loading unit is being coupled to said housing, of said surgical stapling apparatus the locking member including a locking portion extending through the housing portion, the locking member being movable from a first position wherein the locking portion engages the drive assembly and maintains the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position to a second position wherein the locking portion permits movement of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion.