Surgical instrument with articulating tool assembly
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;
an articulating tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and including at least one recess therein, the articulating tool assembly being disposed at a distal end of the body portion and being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis; and
at least one coupling member including proximal and distal ends with an opening disposed therebetween, the proximal end including at least one spring arm extending therefrom and through the opening, the at least a portion of the spring arm being receivable in the recess of the articulating tool assembly to releasably retain the articulating tool assembly in the first position until a progressive force sufficient to deflect outwardly the at least one spring arm is applied to the tool assembly to articulate the tool assembly,wherein the articulating tool assembly is releasably retained in the first position when a portion of the spring arm is at least partially within the recess, and wherein the articulating tool assembly is in the second position when the spring arm has been disengaged from the recess.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, an articulating tool assembly and at least one coupling member is disclosed. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion and defines a first longitudinal axis. The articulating tool assembly defines a second longitudinal axis and has a proximal end including at least one recess therein. The articulating tool assembly is securable to a distal end of the body portion and is movable from a first position where the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially aligned to at least a second position where the first and second longitudinal axes are at an angle. The coupling member has at least one spring arm and is securable to the body portion. At least a portion of the spring arm is receivable in the recess of the articulating tool assembly to releasably retain the articulating tool assembly in the first position.
1178 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle portion; a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; an articulating tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and including at least one recess therein, the articulating tool assembly being disposed at a distal end of the body portion and being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis; and at least one coupling member including proximal and distal ends with an opening disposed therebetween, the proximal end including at least one spring arm extending therefrom and through the opening, the at least a portion of the spring arm being receivable in the recess of the articulating tool assembly to releasably retain the articulating tool assembly in the first position until a progressive force sufficient to deflect outwardly the at least one spring arm is applied to the tool assembly to articulate the tool assembly, wherein the articulating tool assembly is releasably retained in the first position when a portion of the spring arm is at least partially within the recess, and wherein the articulating tool assembly is in the second position when the spring arm has been disengaged from the recess. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 25, 26)
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16. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
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a handle portion including a movable handle, the movable handle being movable through an actuation stroke; a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; and a disposable loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a distal end of the body portion and including; a proximal body portion; an articulating tool assembly having a recess and defining a second longitudinal axis, the articulating tool assembly being disposed adjacent a distal end of the proximal body portion and being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis; and at least one coupling member including a proximal end for operably coupling to the body portion, a distal end for operably coupling to the articulating tool assembly and an opening disposed therebetween, the proximal end including at least one spring arm extending therefrom and through the opening, the at least a portion of the spring arm being receivable in the recess of the articulating tool assembly to releasably retain the articulating tool assembly in the first position until a progressive force sufficient to deflect outwardly the at least one spring arm is applied to the tool assembly to articulate the tool assembly; wherein the spring arm is movable within the opening from a first position where the spring arm is engaged with the recess to a second position where the spring arm is out of engagement with the recess. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 23, 27)
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19. A disposable loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a surgical instrument, comprising:
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a body portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; an articulating tool assembly disposed distally of the body portion and including a recess therein and being securable to a distal end of the body portion and defining a second longitudinal axis, the articulating tool assembly being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis; at least one coupling member including proximal and distal ends with an opening disposed therebetween, the proximal end including at least one spring arm extending therefrom and through the opening such that the at least one spring arm is movable within the opening, the at least a portion of the spring arm being receivable in the recess of the articulating tool assembly to releasably retain the articulating tool assembly in the first position until a progressive force sufficient to deflect outwardly the at least one spring arm is applied to the tool assembly to articulate the tool assembly; and wherein the spring arm is movable within the opening from a first position where the spring arm is engaged with the recess, to a second position where the spring arm is out of engagement beyond a first lateral side of the recess, and a third position where the spring arm is out of engagement beyond a second lateral side of the recess, and wherein the spring arm is independently movable with respect to a proximal end and a distal end of the at least one coupling member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 24, 28)
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Specification