Tool assembly with pivotable clamping beam
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorJennifer C. Fremd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool assembly includes first and second jaws, and a clamp assembly having a body portion and first and second beams that are engaged with the first and second jaws. The clamp assembly is movable in relation to the first and second jaws to move the tool assembly from an open position to a clamped position. One of the first or second beams is pivotably coupled to the body portion of the clamp assembly such that the beam can be engaged with the pivotable jaw of the tool assembly when the jaw is in an open position. This allows the clamp assembly to be positioned between the jaws when the tool assembly is in the open position to minimize dead space within the tool assembly.
Claims18
A clamp assembly for use with a tool assembly for stapling tissue, the clamp assembly comprising:
- a central body portion defining a vertical axis and having first and second ends;
- a first beam defining a first axis transverse to the vertical axis, the first beam being pivotably coupled by a pivot member to the first end of the central body portion, the first beam extending transversely outwardly of the central body portion along the first end of the central body portion;
- and
- a second beam defining a second axis and being fixedly secured to the second end of the central body portion, the second beam extending transversely outwardly of the central body portion along the second end of the central body portion, wherein the vertical axis defined by the central body portion extends through the first and second beams and the first beam is pivotable from a first position in which the first and second axes define an acute angle and a second position in which the first and second axes are parallel.
A tool assembly comprising:
- an anvil having a tissue engaging surface, the anvil defining a first enclosed channel extending longitudinally through the anvil;
- a cartridge assembly including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member defining a recess and a second channel extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the channel member, the staple cartridge including a tissue engaging surface and being received within the recess of the channel member;
- and
- a clamp assembly including:
- a central body portion having first and second ends;
- a first beam defining a first axis pivotably coupled to the first end of the central body portion, the first beam extending transversely outwardly of the central body portion along the first end of the central body portion and being received within the first channel;
- and
- a second beam defining a second axis and fixedly secured to the second end of the central body portion, the second beam extending transversely outwardly of the central body portion along the second end of the central body portion and being received in the second channels, wherein the first beam is pivotable from a first position in which the first axis defines an acute angle with the second axis and a second position in which the first and second axes are parallel, wherein the first and second beams of the clamp assembly are translatable through the first enclosed channel and the second channel in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly between retracted and advanced positions to move the tool assembly from an open position to a clamped position.
A clamp assembly for use with a tool assembly for stapling tissue, the clamp assembly comprising:
- a central body portion defining a vertical axis and having first and second ends;
- a first beam defining a first axis and being pivotably coupled to the first end of the central body portion, the first beam extending transversely outwardly of the central body portion along the first end of the central body portion;
- and
- a second beam defining a second axis and being fixedly secured to the second end of the central body portion, the second beam extending transversely outwardly of the central body portion along the second end of the central body portion, wherein the first beam is pivotable from a first position in which the first and second axes define an acute angle and a second position in which the first and second axes are parallel;
- wherein the vertical axis defined by the central body portion extends through the first and second beams of the clamp assembly and the first and second beams are configured to translate along the tool assembly between retracted and advanced positions to move the tool assembly from an open position to a clamped position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.