Surgical instrument having a plastic surface
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle portion;
a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis;
a movable handle disposed on the handle portion and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member;
a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly and a portion of the tool assembly defining a first contact surface and another portion of the tool assembly defining a second contact surface, the first contact surface and the second contact surface being at least partially formed of metal, the tool assembly being supported adjacent a distal end of the body portion;
a drive beam having a proximal engagement portion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof and being configured to engage a portion of the drive member;
a closure apparatus disposed adjacent a distal end of the drive beam being configured to engage the first contact surface and the second contact surface of the tool assembly, whereby at least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally so that a first portion of the closure apparatus moves into engagement with the first contact surface and a second portion of the closure apparatus moves into engagement with the second contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly, the closure apparatus being formed of metal, and at least the first portion and the second portion of the closure apparatus each including a plastic overmold, wherein the plastic overmolds included on the first and second portions of the closure apparatus minimize friction between the first and second portions of the closure apparatus and the first and second contact surfaces of the tool assembly.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a handle portion; a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; a movable handle disposed on the handle portion and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member; a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly and a portion of the tool assembly defining a first contact surface and another portion of the tool assembly defining a second contact surface, the first contact surface and the second contact surface being at least partially formed of metal, the tool assembly being supported adjacent a distal end of the body portion; a drive beam having a proximal engagement portion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof and being configured to engage a portion of the drive member; a closure apparatus disposed adjacent a distal end of the drive beam being configured to engage the first contact surface and the second contact surface of the tool assembly, whereby at least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally so that a first portion of the closure apparatus moves into engagement with the first contact surface and a second portion of the closure apparatus moves into engagement with the second contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly, the closure apparatus being formed of metal, and at least the first portion and the second portion of the closure apparatus each including a plastic overmold, wherein the plastic overmolds included on the first and second portions of the closure apparatus minimize friction between the first and second portions of the closure apparatus and the first and second contact surfaces of the tool assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a handle portion; a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; a movable handle disposed on the handle portion and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member; a tool assembly supported adjacent a distal end of the body portion, the tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly pivotally connected for movement between open and closed positions, the anvil defining a first contact surface and the cartridge assembly defining a second contact surface, the first and second contact surfaces being formed from metal; a drive beam having a proximal engagement portion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof and being configured to engage a portion of the drive member; and a closure apparatus disposed adjacent a distal end of the drive beam, the closure apparatus including an upper portion configured and dimensioned to engage the anvil and a lower portion configured and dimensioned to engage the cartridge assembly such that actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus from a retracted position to an advanced position to move the anvil and the cartridge assembly from the open position to the closed position, the closure apparatus further including a first cap member formed from plastic and positioned between the upper portion and the anvil to reduce friction therebetween during movement of the closure apparatus from the retracted position to the advanced position, and a second cap member formed from plastic and positioned between the lower portion and the cartridge assembly to reduce friction therebetween during movement of the closure apparatus from the retracted position to the advanced position and thereby facilitate a reduction in firing force. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification