# US 12,004,739 B2 · Reload assembly with knife carrier lockout > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,739 B2 - Document ID: US12004739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/961,742 - Filed: 2022-10-07 - Published: 2023-02-09 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-26 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: David Valentine; Joseph Eisinger; Ramiro Cabrera; Patrick Mozdzierz; Christopher Penna; Justin Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004739B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling} - A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples} - A61B 90/03: {Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety} - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - 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 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical stapling device includes a reload assembly that includes a locking member to retain a knife carrier of the reload assembly in a retracted position after the stapling device is fired. The locking member may be supported on an inner housing portion of the shell housing or on a staple pusher assembly of the reload assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical stapling device comprising: an adaptor assembly having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and a reload assembly supported on the distal end portion of the adaptor assembly, the reload assembly including: a shell housing including an outer housing portion and an inner housing portion; a staple cartridge supporting staples; a staple pusher supported movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge; a staple actuator positioned to engage the staple pusher, the staple actuator having a stop surface and movable from an actuator retracted position to an actuator advanced position to move the staple pusher from a pusher retracted position to a pusher advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge, the staple actuator and the staple pusher defining a through bore; a knife carrier supported within the through bore and movable between a carrier retracted position and a carrier advanced position, the knife carrier defining a longitudinal axis and supporting a locking member that is formed from a resilient material, the locking member aligned with the stop surface of the staple actuator when the staple actuator is in the actuator advanced position and the knife carrier is in the carrier retracted position to prevent readvancement of the knife carrier; and a knife supported on the knife carrier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, further including a handle assembly, the proximal end portion of the adaptor assembly supported on the handle assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the locking member is movable from an undeformed state in which the locking member extends outwardly and distally from the knife carrier to a deformed state in which the locking member is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the knife carrier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical stapling device of claim 3, wherein the locking member is positioned distally of the stop surface of the staple actuator when the staple actuator is in the actuator retracted position and the knife carrier is in the carrier retracted position, the locking member movable from the undeformed state to the deformed state to allow the locking member to move proximally past the stop surface when the staple actuator is in the actuator advanced position and the knife carrier is moved from the carrier advanced position to the carrier retracted position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The surgical stapling device of claim 3, wherein the locking member is supported on the knife carrier in cantilevered fashion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical stapling device of claim 5, wherein the locking member is formed from a flat leaf spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The surgical stapling device of claim 5, wherein the locking member is formed from wire having a cylindrical cross-section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, wherein the knife carrier includes a hook member, the hook member aligned with the stop surface of the staple actuator such that movement of the knife carrier from the carrier retracted position to the carrier advanced position moves the staple actuator from the actuator retracted position to the carrier advanced position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical stapling device of claim 1, further including a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism coupling the reload assembly to the adaptor assembly to facilitate release of the reload assembly from the adaptor assembly. ### Claim 10 A reload assembly comprising: a shell housing including an outer housing portion and an inner housing portion; a staple cartridge supporting staples; a staple pusher supported within the shell housing and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge; a staple actuator supported within the shell housing and positioned to engage the staple pusher, the staple actuator having a stop surface and movable from an actuator retracted position to an actuator advanced position to move the staple pusher from a pusher retracted position to a pusher advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge, the staple actuator and the staple pusher defining a through bore; a knife carrier supported within the through bore and movable between a carrier retracted position and a carrier advanced position, the knife carrier defining a longitudinal axis and supporting a locking member formed of a resilient material, the locking member aligned with the stop surface on the staple actuator when the staple actuator is in the actuator advanced position and the knife carrier is in the carrier retracted position to prevent readvancement of the knife carrier; and a knife supported on the knife carrier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reload assembly of claim 10, wherein the shell housing defines a cavity, and the staple pusher, the staple actuator, and the knife carrier are supported within the cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The reload assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking member is movable from an undeformed state in which the locking member extends outwardly and distally from the knife carrier to a deformed state in which the locking member is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the knife carrier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The reload assembly of claim 12, wherein the locking member is positioned distally of the stop surface of the staple actuator when the staple actuator is in the actuator retracted position and the knife carrier is in the carrier retracted position, the locking member movable from the undeformed state to the deformed state to allow the locking member to move proximally past the stop surface when the staple actuator is in the actuator advanced position and the knife carrier is moved from the carrier advanced position to the carrier retracted position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The reload assembly of claim 13, wherein the locking member is supported on the knife carrier in cantilevered fashion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The reload assembly of claim 10, wherein the knife carrier includes a hook member, the hook member aligned with the stop surface of the staple actuator such that movement of the knife carrier from the carrier retracted position to the carrier advanced position moves the staple actuator from the actuator retracted position to the carrier advanced position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The reload assembly of claim 15, wherein the locking member is formed from a flat leaf spring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The reload assembly of claim 16, wherein the locking member is formed from wire having a cylindrical cross-section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The reload assembly of claim 10, further including a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism adapted to releasably couple the reload assembly to an adaptor assembly of a stapling device to facilitate release of the reload assembly from the stapling device. ### Claim 19 A reload assembly comprising: a shell housing; an annular staple cartridge supporting staples; a staple actuator supported within the shell housing, the staple actuator having a stop surface and movable from an actuator retracted position to an actuator advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge, the staple actuator defining a through bore; a knife carrier supported within the through bore and movable between a carrier retracted position and a carrier advanced position, the knife carrier defining a longitudinal axis and supporting a resilient locking member, the resilient locking member aligned with the stop surface on the staple actuator when the staple actuator is in the actuator advanced position and the knife carrier is in the carrier retracted position to prevent readvancement of the knife carrier; and a knife supported on the knife carrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The reload assembly of claim 19, wherein the resilient locking member is positioned distally of the stop surface of the staple actuator when the staple actuator is in the actuator retracted position and the knife carrier is in the carrier retracted position, the resilient locking member movable from the undeformed state to the deformed state to allow the resilient locking member to move proximally past the stop surface when the staple actuator is in the actuator advanced position and the knife carrier is moved from the carrier advanced position to the carrier retracted position.