# US 11,896,220 B2 · Small diameter linear surgical stapling apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,220 B2 - Document ID: US11896220B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/109,484 - Filed: 2023-02-14 - Published: 2023-06-15 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-20 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Justin P. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896220B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling} - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - 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 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - 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 A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing assembly, an elongated shaft assembly, an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly, and a firing drive screw coupled to a firing nut. The elongated shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis and has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The proximal end portion is selectively attached to the housing assembly. The anvil assembly is supported on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly. The cartridge assembly is selectively attached to the anvil assembly to secure the cartridge assembly to the elongated shaft assembly. The firing nut is coupled to a firing tube. The firing tube is coupled to a firing rod. The firing rod is positioned to advance a drive beam assembly through the cartridge assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a housing assembly; and an adapter assembly defining a longitudinal axis and selectively attachable to the housing assembly, the adapter assembly including: an end effector; and a firing assembly including a drive beam assembly and a firing drive screw, the firing drive screw coupled to a firing tube by a firing nut for enabling the drive beam assembly to advance through the end effector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firing drive screw is threadedly coupled to the firing nut. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the firing nut translates in response to rotation of the firing drive screw. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the firing nut includes elongated ribs that interlock with a split collar of the firing tube to prevent rotation of the firing nut. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 4, wherein a firing rod is secured to a distal end portion of the firing tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 5, wherein the firing rod is coupled to the drive beam assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the firing rod is positioned to advance the drive beam assembly through the end effector when the firing tube translates the firing rod distally. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotation assembly having a driver coupled to a pinion, and wherein rotation of the driver causes the end effector to rotate about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pinion is coupled to an annulus and the annulus is coupled to a housing on a proximal end portion of the adapter assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 9, wherein the housing is coupled to an outer tube and the outer tube is coupled to the end effector. ### Claim 11 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a housing assembly; an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal axis and having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion selectively attached to the housing assembly; an anvil assembly supported on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly; a cartridge assembly selectively attached to the anvil assembly to secure the cartridge assembly to the elongated shaft assembly; and a firing drive screw coupled to a firing nut, the firing nut coupled to a firing tube, the firing tube coupled to a firing rod, the firing rod positioned to advance a drive beam assembly through the cartridge assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the firing tube is axially advanceable in response to axial movement of the firing nut. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 12, wherein the firing nut translates in response to rotation of the firing drive screw. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an articulation tube that is moveable to cause the anvil and cartridge assemblies to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the firing drive screw is disposed within the articulation tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the anvil assembly includes anvil tissue stops defining cartridge tab slots therethrough, and wherein the cartridge assembly includes proximal tabs that are receivable within the cartridge tab slots of the anvil assembly to couple the cartridge assembly to the anvil assembly. ### Claim 17 An adapter assembly of a surgical stapling apparatus, the adapter assembly comprising: a proximal housing; an elongated shaft assembly coupled to the proximal housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated shaft assembly having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; an end effector supported on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly, the end effector including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly selectively attached to the anvil assembly; and a firing assembly including a firing drive screw threadedly coupled to a firing nut, the firing nut coupled to a firing tube, the firing nut positioned to translate when the firing drive screw rotates to cause the firing tube to translate for firing the end effector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The adapter assembly of claim 17, wherein the firing tube is axially advanceable in response to axial movement of the firing nut. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The adapter assembly of claim 18, wherein a firing rod is secured to the firing tube, the firing rod coupled to a drive beam assembly and positioned to advance the drive beam assembly through the end effector when the firing tube translates the firing rod distally. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The adapter assembly of claim 17, further comprising a rotation assembly having a driver coupled to a pinion, and wherein rotation of the driver causes the end effector to rotate about the longitudinal axis.