| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080203134 | Surgical stapling apparatus - A surgical stapling apparatus, including a frame, an endoscopic portion, a clamp handle, a firing handle, a tool assembly and a drive beam is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the frame. The clamp handle is disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The firing handle is disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with at least one firing rod. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a camming surface and is supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion. Actuation of the clamp handle moves the drive beam into engagement with the camming surface. Actuation of the firing handle moves the firing rod through an opening in the drive beam to eject surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090084826 | Articulation Mechanism For Surgical Instrument - An articulating elongate surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a tool assembly pivotally supported on the distal end of the elongated body portion. The elongate surgical instrument includes as well an articulation mechanism to effect the movement of the tool assembly, the articulation mechanism including a pivot member operatively coupled to the tool assembly. The elongated body includes at least one articulation drive member having at least one retaining surface therein; a firing rod disposed adjacent the articulation drive, with an articulation locking actuating surface disposed upon the firing rod; and an articulation locking means configured to selectively engage and disengage from the actuating surface and to selectively engage and disengage from the retaining surface of the articulation drive member. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090134200 | SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS - A surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a cartridge assembly defining a tissue contacting surface and a longitudinally extending elongate slot; an anvil assembly defining a tissue contacting surface and a longitudinally extending elongate slot; a surgical buttress releasably secured to at least one of the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly by at least one anchor; a central knife blade slidably disposable in the longitudinal extending elongate slot of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly; and a knife blade supported in a distal end portion of at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly, wherein the distal knife blade is actuatable by the central knife blade upon an actuation of the central knife blade. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090302090 | Knife Lockout Mechanisms For Surgical Instrument - A cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a channel, a cover, a staple cartridge and a knife. The channel includes a protrusion thereon. The cover is configured for mechanical engagement with the channel and includes a blocking member and a surface defining a plane. At least a portion of the blocking member is configured to move away from the plane upon contact with the protrusion. The staple cartridge is configured for mechanical engagement with the cover. The blocking member is configured to substantially prevent distal translation of the knife after the knife has been translated proximally past a predetermined position. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090302091 | Knife/firing rod connection for surgical instrument - A surgical instrument including a frame, an elongate portion, a firing rod and an end effector is disclosed. The elongate portion extends distally from the frame and defines a longitudinal axis. The firing rod is disposed at least partially with the elongate portion and is proximally and distally translatable with respect to the elongate portion. The end effector includes a knife and is disposed at a distal portion of the elongate portion. Distal movement of the firing rod causes a distal end of the firing rod to link with the knife. Proximal movement of the firing rod moves the linked knife proximally to a first predetermined position. The knife is unlinked from the firing rod when the firing rod has been translated proximally to a second predetermined position. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090306708 | Mechanically pivoting cartridge channel for surgical instrument - A surgical instrument including a frame, an elongate portion, a drive beam and an end effector is disclosed. The elongate portion extends distally from the frame. The drive beam is disposed at least partially within the elongate portion and is translatable with respect to the elongate portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion and includes first and second jaw members. The first jaw member is movable with respect to the second jaw member. The first jaw member includes a proximal camming surface and a distal camming surface thereon. A surgical fastener cartridge is disposed in the first jaw member. an actuation portion of the drive beam has an upper member arranged to contact the distal camming surface causing approximation of the jaw members. Proximal translation of the drive beam causes the actuation portion of the drive beam to contact the proximal camming surface effecting opening of the jaw members. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100094315 | Dissection Tip And Introducer For Surgical Instrument - The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100163597 | Articulation Mechanism for Surgical Instrument - An articulating elongate surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a tool assembly pivotally supported on the distal end of the elongated body portion. The elongate surgical instrument includes as well an articulation mechanism to effect the movement of the tool assembly, the articulation mechanism including a pivot member operatively coupled to the tool assembly. The elongated body includes at least one articulation drive member having at least one retaining surface therein; a firing rod disposed adjacent the articulation drive, with an articulation locking actuating surface disposed upon the firing rod; and an articulation locking means configured to selectively engage and disengage from the actuating surface and to selectively engage and disengage from the retaining surface of the articulation drive member. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100237133 | KNIFE/FIRING ROD CONNECTION FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A surgical instrument including a frame, an elongate portion, a firing rod and an end effector is disclosed. The elongate portion extends distally from the frame and defines a longitudinal axis. The firing rod is disposed at least partially with the elongate portion and is proximally and distally translatable with respect to the elongate portion. The end effector includes a knife and is disposed at a distal portion of the elongate portion. Distal movement of the firing rod causes a distal end of the firing rod to link with the knife. Proximal movement of the firing rod moves the linked knife proximally to a first predetermined position. The knife is unlinked from the firing rod when the firing rod has been translated proximally to a second predetermined position. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20110089220 | Staple Line Reinforcement For Anvil And Cartridge - A surgical stapling apparatus including a cartridge assembly defining a first tissue contacting surface, an anvil assembly defining a second tissue contacting surface, and a surgical buttress releasably secured to at least one of the first tissue contacting surface and the second tissue contacting surface is provided. The buttress provides a uniform profile to be used on both the anvil and cartridge of a loading unit. | 04-21-2011 |