CLOSURE SYSTEMS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT
First Claim
1. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
- a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;
an anvil including at least one staple-deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably mounted relative to said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said anvil is configured to be rotated between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said anvil includes a proximal end and a distal end;
a drive member movable relative to said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil, wherein said drive member is configured to be advanced from said proximal end of said anvil toward said distal end of said anvil to deploy staples from the staple cartridge; and
an actuator configured to be retracted away from said distal end, wherein said actuator is operably engaged with said anvil to rotate said anvil between said open position and said closed position when said actuator is retracted relative to said distal end.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling instrument including an actuator configured to be retracted relative to the distal end of the disposable loading unit and rotate an anvil between an open position and a closed position. The actuator can include a cam, where the cam can include an arcuate profile having an apex configured to be in contact with the anvil when the anvil is in a closed position. In at least one such embodiment, the anvil can apply a clamping force to the soft tissue prior to the staples being deployed to prevent, or at least inhibit, soft tissue from flowing, or ‘milking’, out of the distal end of the disposable loading unit. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a disposable loading unit having an anvil which can be moved between open, closed, and/or collapsed positions to facilitate the insertion of the disposable loading unit through a trocar.
239 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; an anvil including at least one staple-deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably mounted relative to said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said anvil is configured to be rotated between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said anvil includes a proximal end and a distal end; a drive member movable relative to said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil, wherein said drive member is configured to be advanced from said proximal end of said anvil toward said distal end of said anvil to deploy staples from the staple cartridge; and an actuator configured to be retracted away from said distal end, wherein said actuator is operably engaged with said anvil to rotate said anvil between said open position and said closed position when said actuator is retracted relative to said distal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; an anvil including at least one staple-deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably mounted relative to said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said anvil is configured to be rotated between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said anvil includes a proximal end and a distal end; and an actuator operably engaged with said anvil to rotate said anvil between said open position and said closed position when said actuator is retracted away from said distal end, wherein said actuator includes a cam, wherein said cam includes an arcuate profile having an apex, and wherein said apex is configured to be in contact with said anvil when said anvil is in said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge; an anvil including at least one staple deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is movably mounted relative to said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said anvil is configured to be rotated between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said anvil and staple cartridge carrier are configured to define a first perimeter when said anvil is in said closed position; a drive member movable relative to said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil, wherein said drive member is configured to operably engage said anvil and move said anvil from said open position into said closed position; and an actuator configured to operably engage said anvil and displace said anvil toward said staple cartridge carrier such that said anvil and said staple cartridge carrier define a second perimeter which is smaller than said first perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a staple cartridge including at least one staple stored therein; an anvil including at least one staple deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is movably mounted relative to said staple cartridge, and wherein said anvil is configured to be rotated between an open position and a closed position; a drive member movable relative to said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil, wherein said drive member is configured to operably engage said anvil and move said anvil from said open position into said closed position; and an actuator configured to operably engage said anvil and move said anvil into a collapsed position, wherein said anvil is closer to said staple cartridge when said anvil is in said collapsed position than when said anvil is in said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification