Surgical stapling apparatus with locking mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle assembly;
a housing at least partially positioned distally of the handle assembly, the housing including an elongate body extending therefrom; and
a loading unit removably 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 mechanism in the form of a lever having a distal end defining a hook for selectively engaging a portion of the drive assembly, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the hook of the locking mechanism engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the hook of the locking mechanism is disengaged from the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion,wherein the locking mechanism is configured for movement from the first position to the second position in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the housing, whereupon during connection, the housing of the surgical instrument engages a proximal end of the lever to disengage to hook of the locking mechanism from the drive assembly.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides for a surgical stapling apparatus and/or a loading unit for use with and/or supportable on a distal end of a surgical stapling apparatus. The loading unit includes 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 mechanism supported on the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism has a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism is pivotable to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle assembly; a housing at least partially positioned distally of the handle assembly, the housing including an elongate body extending therefrom; and a loading unit removably 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 mechanism in the form of a lever having a distal end defining a hook for selectively engaging a portion of the drive assembly, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the hook of the locking mechanism engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the hook of the locking mechanism is disengaged from the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion, wherein the locking mechanism is configured for movement from the first position to the second position in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the housing, whereupon during connection, the housing of the surgical instrument engages a proximal end of the lever to disengage to hook of the locking mechanism from the drive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus including a handle assembly and a housing including an elongate body at least partially positioned distally of the handle assembly, the loading unit being configured and dimensioned to be removably supportable on a distal end of the elongate body of the housing and comprising:
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a housing portion including a distal end and an elongate body extending from the distal end thereof; a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit; and a locking mechanism in the form of a lever having a distal end defining a hook for selectively engaging a portion of the drive assembly, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the hook engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the hook is disengaged from the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion, wherein the locking mechanism is configured for movement from the first position to the second position in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the housing, whereupon during connection, the housing of the surgical instrument engages a proximal end of the lever to disengage to hook from the drive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a housing including an elongate body extending therefrom; a drive member at least partially positioned within 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 connectable to the drive member of the surgical instrument; and a locking mechanism in the form of a lever having a first end defining a hook for selectively engaging a portion of the drive assembly, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the hook of the locking mechanism engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the hook of the locking mechanism is disengaged from the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion, wherein the locking mechanism is configured for movement from the first position to the second position in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the housing, whereupon during connection, the housing of the surgical instrument engages a second end of the lever to disengage to hook of the locking mechanism from the drive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification