# US 10,945,732 B2 · Surgical stapler with self-returning assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,732 B2 - Document ID: US10945732B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/215,758 - Filed: 2018-12-11 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-17 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Kenneth Cappola - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945732B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An articulating surgical tool includes a body portion and a tool assembly pivotally secured to the body portion by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes at least a first spring member for maintaining a longitudinal axis of the tool assembly in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the body portion and for returning the longitudinal axis of the tool assembly into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body portion following articulation of the tool assembly relative to the body portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical tool comprising: a body portion having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; a tool assembly pivotally secured to the body portion by a mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes at least a first spring member for maintaining a longitudinal axis of the tool assembly in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body portion and for returning the longitudinal axis of the tool assembly into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body portion following articulation of the tool assembly relative to the body portion; and an articulation assembly for pivoting the tool assembly relative to the body portion between aligned and articulated positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly includes at least a first mounting member, the at least first mounting member being configured to pivotally connect the tool assembly to the body portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical tool of claim 2, wherein the at least first spring member includes first and second arms and the at least first mounting member includes a cam portion, the cam portion being received between and engaging the first and second arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical tool of claim 3, wherein articulation of the tool assembly in a first direction relative to the body portion causes the cam portion to deflect the first arm in a second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical tool of claim 4, wherein articulation of the tool assembly in the second direction relative to the body portion causes the cam portion to deflect the second arm in the first direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical tool of claim 5, wherein deflection of the first and second arm creates a spring force against the cam portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The surgical tool of claim 2, wherein the at least first mounting member includes a pivot member and the at least first spring member includes an opening, wherein the pivot member is received within the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The surgical tool of claim 3, wherein the first and second arms of the at least first spring member are parallel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The surgical tool of claim 3, wherein the first and second arms of the at least first spring member angle towards one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly includes first and second spring members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the at least first spring member includes a C-shaped flange for securing the at least first spring member to the body portion. ### Claim 13 A surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly; and a surgical tool operably secured to the handle assembly, the surgical tool including: a body portion having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; a tool assembly pivotally secured to the body portion by a mounting assembly; and an articulation assembly for pivoting the tool assembly relative to the body portion between an aligned position in alignment with the body portion and articulated position out of alignment with the body portion, the mounting assembly includes first and second spring members for pivotally supporting the tool assembly relative to the body portion, wherein the first and second spring members return the tool assembly to the aligned position with the body portion from the articulated position relative to the body portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the mounting assembly further includes first and second mounting members, the first mounting member being engaged with the first spring member and the second mounting member being engaged with the second spring member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the first and second spring members each include first and second arms and the first and second mounting members each include a cam portion, the cam portion of the first mounting member being received between and engaging the first and second arms of the first spring member and the cam portion of the second mounting member being received between and engaging the first and second arms of the second spring member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein articulation of the tool assembly in a first direction relative to the body portion causes the cam portion of the first mounting member to deflect the first arm of the first spring member in a second direction and the cam portion of the second mounting member to deflect the first arm of the first spring member in the second direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein deflection of the first arms of the first and second spring members creates a spring force against the cam portions of the respective first and second mounting members. ### Claim 18 A surgical tool comprising: a body portion having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; and a tool assembly pivotally secured to the body portion by a mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes at least a first spring member for maintaining a longitudinal axis of the tool assembly in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body portion and for returning the longitudinal axis of the tool assembly into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body portion following articulation of the tool assembly relative to the body portion, the at least first spring member including first and second arms. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical tool of claim 18, wherein the at least first mounting member includes a cam portion, the cam portion being received between and engaging the first and second arms. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The surgical tool of claim 19, wherein articulation of the tool assembly in a first direction relative to the body portion causes the cam portion to deflect the first arm in a second direction and articulation of the tool assembly in the second direction relative to the body portion causes the cam portion to deflect the second arm in the first direction.