# US 11,298,126 B2 · Shipping wedge for end effector installation onto surgical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,126 B2 - Document ID: US11298126B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/279,180 - Filed: 2019-02-19 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-02 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Justin Williams; David M. Farascioni; Jin Yong; John W. Beardsley; Joseph Leveillee; Stanislaw Kostrzewski; Michael J. Kolb; Kevin S. Sniffin; Mark A. Russo; Brian S. Laird - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298126B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 17/064: Surgical staples, {i.e. penetrating the tissue} - A61B 50/30: Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/0053: {Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/0648: {threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread} - A61B 2017/0688: {Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers} - A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion} - A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B 2090/038: {during shipment} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Shipping wedges for installing end effectors onto an endoscopic assembly of a surgical tack applier are provided. In aspects, a shipping wedge includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough, and an arm disposed within a slot defined in a side wall of the elongate body. The arm includes a first end coupled to the side wall and a second end that is movable laterally with respect to the side wall. In aspects, a shipping wedge includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough. A proximal portion of the elongate body includes a first arm extending proximally from a distal portion of the elongate body and a locking tab extending laterally into the channel of the elongate body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shipping wedge comprising: an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough, the elongate body including a side wall including a slot formed therein; and an arm integrally formed with the side wall and disposed within the slot of the elongate body, the arm including a first end coupled to the side wall and a second end that is movable laterally with respect to the side wall, the first end of the arm is biased to extend within the slot of the side wall and the second end of the arm is deflectable out of the slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shipping wedge according to claim 1, further comprising a handle extending transversely from the elongate body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shipping wedge according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes a projection extending from an inner surface of the arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The shipping wedge according to claim 3, wherein the projection of the arm includes a first surface extending laterally into the channel of the elongate body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The shipping wedge according to claim 3, wherein the projection of the arm includes a cam ramp tapering distally towards the inner surface of the arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shipping wedge according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of guide walls extending transversely from the elongate body in substantially parallel and spaced relation relative to each other on opposed sides of the slot of the side wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shipping wedge according to claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes a proximal portion defining a circumferential wall extending completely around the channel defined in the elongate body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shipping wedge according to claim 1, wherein the elongate body is tubular. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The shipping wedge according to claim 6, wherein the pair of guide walls extend outwardly from the elongate body and away from the channel defined therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An assembly comprising: the shipping wedge of claim 1; and an end effector including an outer tube having proximal and distal ends and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube, the inner tube rotatable relative to the outer tube, wherein the shipping wedge is removably installed on the end effector with the end effector received within the channel of the shipping wedge such that a proximal portion of the elongate body is axially aligned with the proximal end of the end effector and a distal portion of the elongate body extends longitudinally beyond the distal end of the end effector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the outer tube of the end effector defines an aperture therethrough and the arm of the shipping wedge includes a projection extending from an inner surface thereof and wherein, the projection extends through the aperture of the outer tube and into contact with a proximal end portion of the inner tube to inhibit rotation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube. ### Claim 12 A shipping wedge comprising: an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough, the elongate body including a side wall having a slot formed therein and a proximal portion defining a circumferential wall extending completely around the channel; and an arm integrally formed with the side wall and disposed within the slot of the elongate body, the arm including a first end coupled to the side wall and a second end that is movable laterally with respect to the side wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The shipping wedge according to claim 12, further comprising a handle extending transversely from the elongate body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The shipping wedge according to claim 12, wherein the arm includes a projection extending from an inner surface of the arm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The shipping wedge according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of guide walls extending transversely from the elongate body in substantially parallel and spaced relation relative to each other on opposed sides of the slot of the side wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The shipping wedge according to claim 12, wherein the elongate body is tubular. ### Claim 17 A shipping wedge comprising: an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough, the elongate body including a side wall including a slot formed therein and a pair of guide walls extending transversely outwardly from the elongate body and away from the channel in substantially parallel and spaced relation relative to each other on opposed sides of the slot; and an arm integrally formed with the side wall and disposed within the slot of the elongate body, the arm including a first end coupled to the side wall and a second end that is movable laterally with respect to the side wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The shipping wedge according to claim 17, further comprising a handle extending transversely from the elongate body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The shipping wedge according to claim 17, wherein the arm includes a projection extending from an inner surface of the arm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The shipping wedge according to claim 17, wherein the elongate body is tubular.