Self-contained powered surgical apparatus

A self-contained powered surgical apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue comprising:

• a) an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis;
• b) a disposable cartridge assembly detachably supported in a distal end portion of the elongate body, and including:
• i) a frame having opposed distal and proximal end portions;
• ii) a housing supported within the distal end portion of the frame and containing a plurality of surgical fasteners;
• iii) an anvil pivotably associated with the frame and mounted for movement with respect to the housing between an open position and a closed position;
• iv) an actuation assembly configured to translate in a longitudinal direction relative to the housing and the anvil to progressively move the anvil from the open position to the closed position and to sequentially eject the surgical fasteners from the housing to be formed against the anvil;
• and
• v) an axial drive screw rotatably mounted within the proximal end portion of the frame and threadably associated with the actuation assembly for effectuating the longitudinal translation thereof;
• c) means for detachably connecting the proximal end portion of frame and the distal end portion of the elongate body;
• d) a motor assembly disposed within the elongate body and including an axial drive shaft;
• e) means for detachably connecting the axial drive shaft of the motor assembly and the axial drive screw of the cartridge assembly;
• and
• f) a power source disposed within the elongate body for energizing the motor assembly.

A disposable cartridge assembly for a surgical apparatus configured to sequentially apply a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue, the apparatus including an elongated body and an actuator mounted for axial rotation within the elongated body, the cartridge assembly comprising:

• a) an elongate housing defining a longitudinal axis and containing a plurality of surgical fasteners;
• b) a frame supporting the housing and configured to be detachably mounted to a distal end portion of the elongated body of the apparatus;
• c) an anvil associated with the frame and mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the housing between an open position and a closed position;
• d) an actuation assembly configured to translate in a longitudinal direction relative to the housing and the anvil to progressively move the anvil from the open position to the closed position and to concomitantly sequentially eject surgical fasteners from the housing to be formed against the anvil;
• and
• e) an axial drive screw rotatably mounted within the frame and threadably associated with the actuation assembly for effectuating the translation thereof, whereby a proximal end of the drive screw is configured to detachably engage a distal end of the actuator such that axial rotation of the actuator causes corresponding longitudinal translation of the actuation assembly.