Surgical Instrument for Joining Tissue
A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly that includes an actuator member. An end effector is operatively disposed adjacent a distal portion of an elongated shaft of the surgical instrument. The end effector includes a first jaw member pivotably disposed with respect to a second jaw member. The end effector is movable between a first position where the jaw members are spaced from one another, and a second position where the jaw members are in an approximated position. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a respective longitudinal track. An actuation assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector, wherein actuation of the actuation member causes the actuation assembly to translate from a distal portion of the end effector towards a proximal portion of the end effector through the tracks in the first and second jaw members.
1 . A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a handle assembly having an actuator member;
an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector at a distal end of the shaft and having a first jaw member with a first distal, free end and a second jaw member with a second distal, free end, at least one of the first jaw member and second jaw member being pivotably movable about a pivot portion at a proximal portion of the jaw members;
an actuation head at the first distal, free end of the first jaw member and being connected to a flexible actuation member;
the first jaw member being a surgical stapling cartridge; and
a locking feature at the first distal free end of the first jaw member.
2 . A surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is an anvil assembly.
3 . A surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein proximal movement of the actuation head causes staples to be ejected from the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly.
4 . A surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation head includes a knife with a proximal edge configured to sever tissue.
5 . A surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first distal, free end of the first jaw member is configured to house at least a portion of the actuation head prior to actuation of the actuator member.
6 . A surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the end effector defines a second longitudinal axis and wherein the end effector is movable between a parallel position where the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis and an offset position where the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are offset from each other.
7 . A surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the end effector is part of a disposable loading unit.
8 . A surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the jaw members is pivotable with respect to the other about a pivot point disposed on a distal portion of the end effector.