Staple reload assembly with releasable knife

A stapling device comprising:

• an adaptor assembly having a distal end portion;
• a reload assembly secured to the distal end portion of the adaptor assembly, the reload assembly including:
• a shell housing defining a cavity and having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• a staple cartridge supported on the distal portion of the shell housing, the staple cartridge supporting a plurality of staples;
• a staple pushing member movable within the shell housing between an advanced position and a retracted position to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, the staple pushing member defining a longitudinal bore;
• a knife carrier supported within the longitudinal bore of the staple pushing member, the knife carrier having a distal portion defining a first engagement portion, the knife carrier movable between retracted and advanced positions within the shell housing;
• and
• a knife having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion defining a cutting edge, the proximal portion defining a second engagement portion that is coupled to the first engagement portion to releasably secure the knife to the knife carrier, wherein the knife uncoupled from the first engagement portion of the knife carrier upon application of a predetermined force to the knife in a distal direction;
• and
• an anvil assembly movable in relation to the staple cartridge between an open position and a clamped position, the anvil assembly including a cut ring formed of a material penetrable by the knife, wherein the knife is embedded in the cut ring when the stapling device is fired and the knife is separated from the knife carrier after the stapling device is fired upon movement of the anvil assembly from the clamped position to the open position.