Surgical stapling apparatus

An apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

• a) a frame portion;
• b) an elongated body having a proximal portion extending from said frame portion and an articulating distal portion;
• c) a cartridge assembly mounted in said articulating distal portion and having a tissue engaging surface thereon;
• d) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface thereon, said anvil member and said cartridge assembly configured for relative movement between an open portion wherein said fastener forming surface is spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface;
• e) an articulation member mounted for longitudinal movement within said proximal portion of said elongated body and a linkage assembly mounted in said proximal portion of said elongated body and cooperating with said articulating distal portion, said linkage assembly including at least one reciprocally translatable coupler link;
• f) an actuation assembly which includes a movable handle actuable from said frame portion for moving at least one of said anvil member and said cartridge assembly between said open position and said closed position,
• wherein longitudinal movement of said articulation member causes axial translation of said coupler link, thereby effecting articulation of said articulating distal portion relative to said proximal portion.

In an apparatus for applying surgical fasteners which includes a frame, an elongated portion mounted to said frame, an anvil mounted with respect to said elongated portion, a cartridge assembly containing a plurality of surgical fasteners movably mounted with respect to said elongated portion and juxtaposed with respect to said anvil, and an actuating member movably mounted with respect to the frame for effecting longitudinal movement of a member for causing movement of the anvil and cartridge with respect to each other, the improvement comprising:

• a linkage assembly positioned in said elongated portion which includes at least one reciprocally translatable coupler link;
• an actuation member positioned adjacent said frame and movable with respect thereto;
• and
• a transmission rod extending from said actuation member to said linkage assembly,
• wherein movement of said actuation member with respect to said frame effects movement of said transmission rod and said at least one coupler link, thereby causing said anvil and said cartridge assembly to pivot with respect to said elongated portion.

A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

• a) a frame portion;
• b) an elongated body portion extending distally from the frame portion and defining a longitudinal axis;
• c) a staple applying assembly pivotal about a pivot point adjacent a distal end of the elongated body portion, the staple applying assembly including:
• i) a cartridge housing;
• ii) a staple cartridge mounted to the cartridge housing, and having a plurality of surgical staples disposed therein;
• and
• iii) an anvil member having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil member being movable between an open position wherein at least a portion of the staple forming surface is spaced from the staple cartridge and a closed position wherein the staple forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with the staple cartridge;
• and
• d) an articulation mechanism operatively connected to the staple applying assembly, which includes:
• a linkage at least partially disposed within the elongated body portion and being longitudinally movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion, the linkage having a distal end portion operably connected to the staple applying assembly, wherein the connection of the linkage and staple applying assembly is offset from the pivot point between the staple applying assembly and the elongated body portion,
• wherein longitudinal motion of the linkage causes the staple applying assembly to articulate about the pivot point between the staple applying assembly and the elongated body portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion.