Surgical stapling device with visual indicator

A surgical stapling device comprising:

• a handle assembly including a firing trigger;
• a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly;
• a head portion including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions;
• an indicator positioned on the handle assembly and having a bulbous shape, the indicator being movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the anvil assembly and the shell assembly to the approximated position to provide a visual indication to a surgeon that the head portion is in the approximated position;
• an approximation mechanism positioned within the handle assembly and extending at least partially through the body portion, the approximation mechanism having a distal end adapted to engage the anvil assembly, the approximation mechanism being movable within the device to move the anvil assembly between the spaced position and the approximated position in relation to the shell assembly;
• wherein the approximation mechanism is operably associated with the indicator such that movement of the approximation mechanism effects movement of the indicator;
• and
• a slide member operably associated with the indicator and movable within the handle assembly, the slide member being movable from an advanced position to a retracted position to move the indicator from the first position to the second position;
• wherein the slide member is urged to its advanced position by a biasing member.

A surgical stapling device comprising:

• a handle assembly including a firing trigger;
• a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly;
• a head portion including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions;
• an indicator positioned on the handle assembly and having a bulbous shape, the indicator being movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the anvil assembly and the shell assembly to the approximated position to provide a visual indication to a surgeon that the head portion is in the approximated position;
• an approximation mechanism positioned within the handle assembly and extending at least partially through the body portion, the approximation mechanism having a distal end adapted to engage the anvil assembly, the approximation mechanism being movable within the device to move the anvil assembly between the spaced position and the approximated position in relation to the shell assembly;
• wherein the approximation mechanism is operably associated with the indicator such that movement of the approximation mechanism effects movement of the indicator;
• a slide member operably associated with the indicator and movable within the handle assembly, the slide member being movable from an advanced position to a retracted position to move the indicator from the first position to the second position;
• and
• wherein the approximation mechanism includes a screw member which is linearly movable within the handle assembly, the screw member having an abutment member supported thereon, the abutment member being movable with the screw member into engagement with the slide member to move the slide member from its advanced position to its retracted position to move the indicator from its first position to its second position.

A surgical stapling device comprising:

• a handle assembly including a firing trigger;
• a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly;
• a head portion including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions;
• an indicator positioned on the handle assembly and having a bulbous shape, the indicator being movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the anvil assembly and the shell assembly to the approximated position to provide a visual indication to a surgeon that the head portion is in the approximated position;
• a slide member operably associated with the indicator and movable within the handle assembly, the slide member being movable from an advanced position to a retracted position to move the indicator from the first position to the second position;
• and
• a biasing member urging the sliding member to the advanced position.