Loading unit locking collar with rotational actuated release
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorAnthony Sgroi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A loading unit includes a shell assembly and a locking collar. The shell assembly has an annular ring that defines a locking slot and a proximal opening. The proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of the surgical instrument. The locking collar is rotatably disposed about the annular ring. The locking collar has a body including a flexible tab that has an inwardly extending lock. The locking collar is moveable about the annular ring between a locked and unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the lock passes through the locking slot and into the proximal opening of the annular ring. In the unlocked configuration, the body of the locking collar is rotated about the annular ring from the locked configuration to move the lock from within the proximal opening.
Claims16
A loading unit comprising:
- a shell assembly having an annular ring defining a proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of a surgical instrument, the annular ring defining a locking slot;
- a staple cartridge supported on the shell assembly;
- and
- a locking collar rotatably disposed about the annular ring, the locking collar having a body including a flexible tab, the flexible tab having a lock extending inwardly from the flexible tab, the lock having a longitudinal cam surface defining a proximally facing wedge and a radial cam surface defining a radial wedge, the locking collar being moveable about the annular ring between a locked configuration wherein the lock passes through the locking slot and into the proximal opening of the annular ring and an unlocked configuration wherein the lock is moved from within the proximal opening.
A surgical system comprising:
- a surgical instrument including a distal end portion that defines a locking window;
- a loading unit including a shell assembly having an annular ring defining a proximal opening, the distal end portion of the surgical instrument received within the proximal opening, the annular ring defining a locking slot;
- and
- a locking collar rotatably disposed about the annular ring to secure the loading unit to the distal end portion of the surgical instrument, the locking collar having a body including a flexible tab, the flexible tab having a lock extending inward from the flexible tab, the locking collar being moveable about the annular ring between a locked configuration wherein the lock passes through the locking slot of the annular ring and the locking window of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument to secure the locking collar to the distal end portion of the surgical instrument and an unlocked configuration wherein the lock is moved from within the locking window to release the loading unit from the distal end portion of the surgical instrument.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.