Small diameter linear surgical stapling apparatus
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorJustin P. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing assembly and an adapter assembly. The adapter assembly defines a longitudinal axis and is selectively attachable to the housing assembly. The adapter assembly includes an end effector and an articulation assembly. The articulation assembly includes an articulation drive screw, an articulation nut threadedly mounted to the articulation drive screw, an articulation yolk coupled to the articulation nut, and an articulation tube that is positioned to move in response to movement of the articulation nut. Movement of the articulation tube causes the end effector to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis.
Claims20
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
- an articulation assembly including an articulation drive screw, an articulation nut threadedly mounted to the articulation drive screw, an articulation yolk coupled to the articulation nut, and an articulation tube that is positioned to move in response to movement of the articulation nut, wherein movement of the articulation tube causes the end effector to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis.
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 attachable to the housing assembly;
- an anvil assembly supported on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly;
- a cartridge assembly selectively attachable to the anvil assembly to secure the cartridge assembly to the elongated shaft assembly;
- and
- an articulation assembly including an articulation drive screw, an articulation nut threadedly mounted to the articulation drive screw, an articulation yolk coupled to the articulation nut, and an articulation tube that is positioned to move in response to movement of the articulation nut, wherein movement of the articulation tube causes the anvil and cartridge assemblies to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis.
An adapter assembly of a surgical stapling apparatus, the adapter assembly comprising:
- a proximal housing;
- an articulation assembly supported by the proximal housing, the articulation assembly including an articulation drive screw, an articulation nut threadedly mounted to the articulation drive screw, an articulation yolk coupled to the articulation nut, and an articulation tube positioned to move in response to movement of the articulation nut;
- 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;
- and
- 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 attachable to the anvil assembly,
- wherein rotation of the articulation drive screw causes the end effector to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.