US 2007/0175948 A1 · Surgical stapling apparatus with locking mechanism

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a surgical stapling apparatus and/or a loading unit for use with and/or supportable on a distal end of a surgical stapling apparatus. The loading unit includes a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end, a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit, and a locking mechanism supported on the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism has a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism is pivotable to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A surgical apparatus comprising:

a housing including an elongate body extending therefrom;
and
a loading unit supportable on a distal end of the housing, the loading unit including:
a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end;
a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit;
and
a locking mechanism pivotally supported on the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion,
wherein the locking mechanism is configured for movement from the first position to the second position in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the housing.

5 more elements

A loading unit for use with and/or supportable on a distal end of an elongate body of a surgical stapling apparatus, the loading unit comprising:

a housing portion including a distal end and an elongate body extending from the distal end thereof;
a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit;
and
a locking mechanism pivotally supported on the housing portion of the loading unit, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion,
wherein the locking mechanism is configured for actuation from the first position to the second position in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the surgical stapling apparatus.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical stapling apparatus with locking mechanism

Life of this patent

Surgical stapling apparatus with locking mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34