Disposable loading unit with firing indicator
First Claim
1. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
- a carrier;
a staple cartridge supported in said carrier;
an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge;
an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion constructed to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus, said axial drive assembly having a firing indicator region spaced from said distal end thereof; and
a housing coupled to said carrier and configured for operable attachment to the surgical stapling apparatus, said housing having a distal end and an axially extending opening therein spaced from said distal end thereof such that said firing indicator region is observable through said axially extending opening;
as said axial drive assembly is driven from said start position to said end position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable loading unit for operable attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may have a carrier that supports a staple cartridge therein, an anvil assembly that is movably coupled to the carrier, and an axial drive assembly that is constructed to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through the staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to the axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus. A firing indicator is provided on at least one of the anvil assembly and housing for indicating a position of the axial drive assembly as the axial drive assembly is driven from the start position to the end position.
2321 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
-
a carrier; a staple cartridge supported in said carrier; an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge; an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion constructed to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus, said axial drive assembly having a firing indicator region spaced from said distal end thereof; and a housing coupled to said carrier and configured for operable attachment to the surgical stapling apparatus, said housing having a distal end and an axially extending opening therein spaced from said distal end thereof such that said firing indicator region is observable through said axially extending opening; as said axial drive assembly is driven from said start position to said end position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
-
a staple cartridge supported in a carrier operably couplable to the surgical stapling apparatus; an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge; an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion constructed to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus; a housing coupled to said carrier and configured for operable attachment to the surgical stapling apparatus; and a firing indicator movably supported on said housing for contact by a portion of said axial drive assembly as said axial drive assembly is driven from said start position to said end position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
-
13. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:
-
a staple cartridge supported in a carrier operably couplable to the surgical stapling apparatus; an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge; an axial drive assembly having a distal end portion constructed to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to said axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus; and a firing indicator movably supported on said anvil assembly for contact by a portion of said axial drive assembly as said axial drive assembly is driven from said start position to said end position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification