Surgical retraction mechanism

1. A retraction mechanism for use with a hand held surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first speed reducing mechanism adapted to be driven by a motor;

a second speed reducing mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the second speed reducing mechanism is a planetary clutch, wherein the planetary clutch is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first speed reducing mechanism; and

a shaft configured to rotate upon activation of the motor when the second speed reducing mechanism is in the locked state, wherein a rotation of the shaft retracts a firing drive of a surgical apparatus.

2. A retraction mechanism for use with a hand held surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first speed reducing mechanism adapted to be driven by a motor;

a clutch mechanism incorporating a second speed reducing mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the clutch mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first speed reducing mechanism;

a shaft configured to rotate upon activation of the motor when the second speed reducing mechanism is in the locked state, wherein a rotation of the shaft retracts a firing drive of a surgical apparatus; and

a pulley coupled to the shaft, the pulley being operatively connected to the firing drive.

3. The retraction mechanism of claim 2 , further comprising a flexible member interconnecting the pulley and the firing drive.

4. The retraction mechanism of claim 3 , further comprising a spring motor adapted to rotationally bias the pulley.

5. The retraction mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the spring motor includes a first spool, a second spool, and a spring interconnecting first and second spools.

6. The retraction mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a hollow shaft interconnecting the first speed reducing mechanism and the planetary clutch.

7. The retraction mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the hollow shaft has a bore extending therethrough, the bore being adapted to receive at least a portion of the shaft.

8. The retraction mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first speed reducing mechanism includes a first gear configured to mesh with a second gear.

9. A retraction mechanism for use with a surgical apparatus, comprising:

a motor disposed in electro-mechanical cooperation with a speed reducing mechanism;

a planetary clutch operatively coupled to the speed reducing mechanism, the planetary clutch having a locked state and an unlocked state; and

a firing drive adapted to actuate a surgical tool, the firing drive being adapted to move proximally in response to a rotation of a shaft driven by the planetary clutch while in the locked state, wherein the shaft rotates upon activation of the motor.

10. The retraction mechanism of claim 9 , further comprising a pulley coupled to the shaft, the pulley being operatively connected to the firing drive.

11. The retraction mechanism of claim 10 , further comprising a flexible member interconnecting the pulley and the firing drive.

12. The retraction mechanism of claim 11 , further comprising a spring motor adapted to prevent entanglement of the flexible member, the spring motor being operatively secured to the pulley.

13. The retraction mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the spring motor includes a first spool, a second spool, and a spring interconnecting first and second spools.

14. The retraction mechanism of claim 11 , further comprising a hollow shaft interconnecting the speed reducing mechanism and the planetary clutch.

15. The retraction mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the hollow shaft has a bore extending therethrough, the bore being adapted to receive at least a portion of the shaft.

16. The retraction mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the speed reducing mechanism includes a first gear configured to mesh with a second gear.