Surgical fastener applying apparatus
First Claim
1. A surgical fastener cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface, the tissue contacting surface including a plurality of fastener retention slots, the cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis therethrough;
a plurality of surgical fasteners operatively disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots; and
an actuation mechanism housed within the cartridge body, the actuation mechanism comprising;
a plurality of pushers operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners, each pusher configured for ejecting an associated surgical fastener towards a depression in an anvil;
an internal channel housing;
a plurality of pivotably connected link assemblies operably coupled to one another via an activation structure configured to apply a pull force along the longitudinal axis for transitioning each of the link assemblies,wherein the plurality of pivotably connected link assemblies are movable from an initial position where each of the link assemblies are engaged with a corresponding bottom surface associated with each of the pushers and a corresponding top surface associated with the internal channel housing, through a subsequent position where each of the link assemblies are configured to cause the corresponding pusher to eject the associated surgical fastener towards the depression in the anvil, and to a final position where each of the link assemblies are disengaged from the bottom and top surfaces of the pusher and internal channel housing, respectively,wherein each of the pushers and corresponding top surface associated with the internal channel housing includes an arcuate portion configured to releasably engage a respective proximal end of a first and second link arm associated with each of the plurality of pivotably coupled link assemblies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical fastener cartridge is provided and includes a cartridge body having a plurality of surgical fasteners operatively disposed therein. An actuation mechanism is housed within the cartridge body and includes a plurality of pushers operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners. The actuation mechanism includes a plurality of pivotably connected link assemblies. Each link assembly being pivotably engaged with a corresponding bottom surface associated with each the pushers and a corresponding top surface associated with an internal channel housing and operably coupled to one another. The actuation mechanism includes an activation structure configured to move each of the link assemblies and sequentially cause each of the link assemblies to move through a succession of motions within the cartridge body, such that the link assemblies cause the corresponding pusher to contact and, subsequently, sequentially eject the associated surgical fastener towards the depression in the anvil.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A surgical fastener cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface, the tissue contacting surface including a plurality of fastener retention slots, the cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis therethrough; a plurality of surgical fasteners operatively disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots; and an actuation mechanism housed within the cartridge body, the actuation mechanism comprising; a plurality of pushers operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners, each pusher configured for ejecting an associated surgical fastener towards a depression in an anvil; an internal channel housing; a plurality of pivotably connected link assemblies operably coupled to one another via an activation structure configured to apply a pull force along the longitudinal axis for transitioning each of the link assemblies, wherein the plurality of pivotably connected link assemblies are movable from an initial position where each of the link assemblies are engaged with a corresponding bottom surface associated with each of the pushers and a corresponding top surface associated with the internal channel housing, through a subsequent position where each of the link assemblies are configured to cause the corresponding pusher to eject the associated surgical fastener towards the depression in the anvil, and to a final position where each of the link assemblies are disengaged from the bottom and top surfaces of the pusher and internal channel housing, respectively, wherein each of the pushers and corresponding top surface associated with the internal channel housing includes an arcuate portion configured to releasably engage a respective proximal end of a first and second link arm associated with each of the plurality of pivotably coupled link assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical fastener cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface, the tissue contacting surface including a plurality of fastener retention slots; a plurality of surgical fasteners operatively disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots; an actuation mechanism housed within the cartridge body, the actuation mechanism comprising; a plurality of pushers operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners, each pusher configured for ejecting an associated surgical fastener towards a depression in an anvil; an internal channel housing defined by and operably disposed within the cartridge body; a plurality of pivotably connected link assemblies, each link assembly pivotably engaged with and removably coupled to a corresponding bottom surface associated with each the pushers and a corresponding top surface associated with the internal channel housing, each link assembly being operably coupled to one another; and an activation structure for transitioning each of the link assemblies, wherein the activation structure is configured to sequentially cause each of the link assemblies to move through a succession of motions within the cartridge body, such that the link assemblies cause the corresponding pusher to contact and, subsequently, sequentially eject the associated surgical fastener towards the depression in the anvil, wherein the link assemblies are caused to disengage from the corresponding bottom surface associated with each of the pushers as a result of a pull force that is provided by the activation structure to move the link assemblies through the succession of motions within the cartridge body.
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Specification