Reload cover for surgical stapling system
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorsJeffrey Weidner, Nicholas Humphreys, Timothy M. Hopkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Surgical stapler systems can include a jaw assembly with one jaw defining a reload support capable of receiving and firing multiple disposable reload cartridges in a single surgical procedure. The reload cartridge can be protected by a reload cover engageable therewith. The reload cover can include snap features configured to prevent manual removal of the reload cover from the reload cartridge before proper positioning and installation in the reload support. The reload cover can desirably maintain a plurality of staples within staple pockets in the reload cartridge and can maintain a staple deployment mechanism in an unfired position.
Claims15
A surgical stapling device comprising:
- an elongate shaft;
- a reload cartridge having a proximal end and a distal end and extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end, the reload cartridge comprising at least one protruding boss extending laterally outwardly therefrom at the distal end;
- a jaw assembly, the jaw assembly comprising a reload support configured to receive the reload cartridge;
- and
- a reload cover having a proximal end and a distal end and extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end, the reload cover releasably positionable on the reload cartridge, the reload cover comprising at least one latch arm extending therefrom at the distal end and a corresponding at least one aperture adjacent the at least one latch arm, each latch arm engageable with a corresponding protruding boss;
- wherein the reload cover is removable from the reload cartridge upon one of:
- installation of the reload cartridge and reload cover to the reload support to disengage the at least one latch arm from the at least one protruding boss, and insertion of a tool through the at least one aperture to selectively disengage the at least one latch arm from the at least one protruding boss;
- wherein the reload support comprises at least one engagement notch formed therein positioned to engage the at least one latch arm when the reload cartridge and the reload cover are installed in the reload support;
- wherein the at least one latch arm comprises an arm member extending from the reload cover to an end, and a latch tooth extending laterally inwardly from the arm member at the end;
- and
- wherein the latch tooth has a release surface positioned to engage the engagement notch to displace the latch tooth laterally outwardly upon installation of the reload cartridge to the reload support.
A reload cartridge assembly for a surgical stapler, the reload cartridge assembly comprising:
- a cartridge body having a generally elongate profile extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and the cartridge body comprising:
- an upper surface having a plurality of rows of staple pockets formed therein and a blade channel extending between two adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of staple pockets;
- and
- a pair of lateral surfaces, the pair of lateral surfaces each comprising a protruding boss extending laterally outwardly at the distal end of the cartridge body;
- and
- a reload cover removably positionable on the upper surface, the reload cover having a generally rectangular profile and a generally elongate profile extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
- the reload cover comprising:
- a pair of lateral extensions positioned laterally outwardly of the rectangular profile at the distal end of the reload cover;
- a pair of latch arms each extending downwardly and laterally inwardly from a corresponding one of the pair of lateral extensions;
- and
- a pair of apertures through the reload cover, each aperture positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the pair of latch arms;
- wherein each of the latch arms is engageable with a corresponding protruding boss to retain the reload cover to the upper surface of the cartridge body;
- wherein each latch arm of the pair of latch arms comprises an arm member extending from the reload cover to an end, and a latch tooth extending laterally inwardly from the arm member at the end;
- and
- wherein the latch tooth has a release surface configured to displace the latch tooth laterally outwardly upon installation of the reload cartridge to the surgical stapler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.