Multi-use loading unit

• US 9,016,539 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kostrzewski, Stanislaw, Aranyi, Ernest, Scirica, Paul A., Powers, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US13/280,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A cartridge assembly is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a channel and a removable assembly in releasable engagement with the channel. The removable assembly includes a cartridge body and a support plate. The cartridge body includes an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof. The support plate is configured to mechanically engage the cartridge body and includes an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof. The engagement structure of the cartridge body is configured for longitudinal alignment with the engagement structure of the support plate. The engagement structures of the cartridge body and the engagement structure of the support plate are configured to mechanically engage the engagement structure of the channel when the removable assembly is engaged with the channel.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a channel including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof, the engagement structure of the channel including at least one raised boss; and

a removable assembly disposed in releasable engagement with the channel, the removable assembly comprising;

a cartridge body configured to house a plurality of fasteners therein, the cartridge body including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a support plate configured to mechanically engage the cartridge body, the support plate including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof;

wherein the engagement structure of the cartridge body is configured for longitudinal alignment with the engagement structure of the support plate, and wherein the engagement structure of the cartridge body and the engagement structure of the support plate are configured to mechanically engage the engagement structure of the channel when the removable assembly is engaged with the channel.

2. The surgical instrument of Claim 1, wherein the engagement structure of the cartridge body includes at least one U-shaped recess.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the engagement structure of the support plate includes at least one U-shaped recess.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein each of the at least one U-shaped recess of the cartridge body and the at least one U-shaped recess of the support plate includes a proximally-facing opening.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a longitudinally-extending slot disposed adjacent a distal end thereof, and wherein the support plate includes an outwardly-extending finger configured to releasably engage the longitudinally-extending slot of the channel.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the support plate includes an inwardly-extending finger disposed on a distal portion thereof, the inwardly-extending finger configured to releasably engage a groove disposed on a distal portion of the cartridge body.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the support plate includes a proximal protrusion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof, the proximal protrusion being configured to help prevent an actuation sled from prematurely translating distally with respect to the cartridge body.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the channel is part of a removable loading unit that includes an anvil assembly.

9. A loading unit, comprising:

an anvil assembly;

a channel including at least one boss disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a cartridge assembly, at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly being pivotable with respect to the other of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly comprising;

a support plate configured to releasably engage the channel, the support plate including at least one recess disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a cartridge body configured to releasably engage the support plate and configured to house a plurality of fasteners therein, the cartridge body including at least one recess disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof;

wherein the at least one recess of the cartridge body is configured for longitudinal alignment with the at least one recess of the support plate, and wherein at least one of the at least one recess of the cartridge body and the at least one recess of the support plate is configured to mechanically engage the at least one boss of the channel when the support plate is engaged with the channel.

10. The loading unit of claim 9, wherein the at least one recess of the cartridge body includes at least one U-shaped recess.

11. The loading unit of claim 10, wherein the at least one recess of the support plate includes at least one U-shaped recess.

12. The loading unit of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one U-shaped recess of the cartridge body and the at least one U-shaped recess of the support plate includes a proximally-facing opening.

13. The loading unit of claim 9, wherein the channel includes a longitudinally-extending slot disposed adjacent a distal end thereof, and wherein the support plate includes an outwardly-extending finger configured to releasably engage the longitudinally-extending slot of the channel.

14. The loading unit of claim 9, wherein the support plate includes an inwardly-extending finger disposed on a distal portion thereof, the inwardly-extending finger configured to releasably engage a groove disposed on a distal portion of the cartridge body.

15. The loading unit of claim 9, wherein the support plate includes a proximal protrusion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof, the proximal protrusion being configured to help prevent an actuation sled from prematurely translating distally with respect to the cartridge body.

16. The loading unit of claim 9, further comprising a body portion to which the channel and the anvil assembly are attached, the body portion being attachable to an elongate member of a surgical instrument.

17. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a channel including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof and a longitudinally-extending slot disposed adjacent a distal end thereof; and

a removable assembly disposed in releasable engagement with the channel, the removable assembly comprising;

a cartridge body configured to house a plurality of fasteners therein, the cartridge body including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a support plate configured to mechanically engage the cartridge body, the support plate including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof which is configured for longitudinal alignment with the engagement structure of the cartridge body, and the support plate including an outwardly-extending finger configured to releasably engage the longitudinally-extending slot of the channel;

wherein the engagement structure of the cartridge body and the engagement structure of the support plate are configured to mechanically engage the engagement structure of the channel when the removable assembly is engaged with the channel.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a channel including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a removable assembly disposed in releasable engagement with the channel, the removable assembly comprising;

a cartridge body configured to house a plurality of fasteners therein, the cartridge body including an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a support plate configured to mechanically engage the cartridge body, the support plate including an engagement structure and a proximal protrusion disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof, the proximal protrusion being configured to help prevent an actuation sled from prematurely translating distally with respect to the cartridge body;

wherein the engagement structure of the cartridge body is configured for longitudinal alignment with the engagement structure of the support plate, and wherein the engagement structure of the cartridge body and the engagement structure of the support plate are configured to mechanically engage the engagement structure of the channel when the removable assembly is engaged with the channel.