Tissue stop for surgical instrument

#1. Technical field

#The present disclosure relates generally to surgical instruments and, more specifically, to surgical instruments for surgically joining tissue.

#2. Background of Related Art

#Various embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical instrument are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a surgical instrument according to the present disclosure;

#FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a loading unit according to certain aspects of the present disclosure;

#Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical instrument are described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar or identical elements in each of the several views. In the drawings and the description that follows, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the surgical instrument that is closest to the operator, whereas the term “distal” refers to the end of the surgical instrument that is farthest from the operator. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, the depicted surgical instrument fires staples, but it may be adapted to fire any other suitable fastener such as clips and two-part fasteners. Additionally, the disclosed stop member may be used with an electrosurgical forceps. Further details of electrosurgical forceps are described in commonly-owned patent application Ser. No. 10/369,894, filed on Feb. 20, 2003, entitled VESSEL SEALER AND DIVIDER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

#With reference to FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 designates an embodiment of the presently disclosed surgical instrument. The present disclosure relates to an end effector and a stop member of surgical instrument 100. U.S. Patent Applications Publication Nos. 2008/0105730, filed on Nov. 28, 2007; 2008/0110960, filed on Jan. 8, 2008; 2008/0142565, filed on Jan. 24, 2008; 2008/0041916, filed on Oct. 15, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61/050,273, filed on May 5, 2008 describe in detail the structure and operation of other surgical fastening assemblies. The entire contents of these prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. Any of the surgical fastening assemblies disclosed in the cited patent applications may include the presently disclosed stop member.

#Surgical instrument 100 is configured to clamp, fasten, and/or cut tissue. In general, surgical instrument 100 includes a handle assembly 160, an elongate portion 120 extending distally from handle assembly 160 and defining a longitudinal axis “A-A,” and a tool assembly 150 adapted to clamp and fasten tissue. Elongate portion 120 has a proximal portion 122 and a distal portion 124 and operatively couples handle assembly 160 with tool assembly 150. Tool assembly 150 includes end effector 154 and stop member 170. End effector 154, which is disposed adjacent distal portion 124 of elongated portion 120, includes a first jaw member 130 and a second jaw member 140. At least one of the jaw members 130, 140 is adapted to move relative to the other jaw member (130 or 140) between spaced and approximated positions. In the illustrated embodiment, first jaw member 130 contains a cartridge assembly 132, while second jaw member 140 includes an anvil assembly 142. The tool assembly 150 can be mounted onto the distal end of the elongate portion 120, or the tool assembly 150 can be incorporated into a replaceable loading unit 121. By way of example, FIG. 1A shows a loading unit 121 having a proximal body portion 123 that is connectable to the distal end of the elongate portion 120. This loading unit 121 includes the anvil assembly, cartridge assembly, as well as the knife and other actuation apparatus discussed below. In other examples, the tool assembly is incorporated into the surgical instrument and the cartridge assembly has a replaceable cartridge received in the first jaw member 130. The tool assembly may have linear jaws or arcuate jaws. Tool assemblies with an anvil assembly, cartridge assembly and actuation apparatus with a knife are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/235,751, filed Sep. 23, 2008 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/553,174, filed Sep. 3, 2009, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.