Surgical instrument with pivotable jaw member
A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion. The end effector includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member defines a first axis, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first jaw member is pivotable about the first axis. At least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart and an approximated position.
1. A loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw member pivotable about a first axis, the first jaw member including a pair of pushers, each pusher of the pair of pushers configured to engage and eject a staple from the first jaw member, the pushers defining an acute angle therebetween, the first jaw member pivotable between a first position in which a firing rod of the surgical instrument is aligned with a first pusher of the pair of pushers and a second position in which the firing rod is aligned with a second pusher of the pair of pushers; and
a second jaw member defining a second axis, at least one of the first or second jaw members being movable relative to each other between open and approximated positions to clamp tissue between the first and second jaw members, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other.
2. The loading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member further includes a third pusher disposed between the first and second pushers.
3. The loading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is pivotable about the second axis.
4. The loading unit according to claim 3 , wherein the second jaw member is configured to pivot about the second axis in response to pivoting of the first jaw member about the first axis.
5. The loading unit according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to pivot in opposite directions.
6. The loading unit according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to pivot independent of each other.
7. The loading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members are releasably secured to each other by a breakable connector.
8. The loading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member includes an anvil assembly.
9. The loading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member defines a bore disposed at least partially therethrough, the bore configured to mechanically engage a post of the surgical instrument.
10. The loading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member further includes a tissue stop member configured to engage the tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members.
11. The loading unit according to claim 10 , wherein the tissue stop member is configured to move in a direction transverse to the first axis.
12. A loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw member pivotable about a first axis, the first jaw member including a pair of pushers, each pusher of the pair of pushers configured to engage and eject a staple from the first jaw member, the first jaw member pivotable between a first position in which a firing rod of the surgical instrument is aligned with a first pusher of the pair of pushers and a second position in which the firing rod is aligned with a second pusher of the pair of pushers; and
a second jaw member defining a second axis, at least one of the first or second jaw members being movable relative to each other between open and approximated positions to clamp tissue between the first and second jaw members, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first and second jaw members are releasably secured to each other by a breakable connector.
13. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein the pushers define an acute angle therebetween.
14. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein the first jaw member further includes a third pusher disposed between the first and second pushers.
15. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein the second jaw member is pivotable about the second axis.
16. The loading unit according to claim 15 , wherein the second jaw member is configured to pivot about the second axis in response to pivoting of the first jaw member about the first axis.
17. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to pivot in opposite directions.
18. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to pivot independent of each other.
19. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein the second jaw member defines a bore disposed at least partially therethrough, the bore configured to mechanically engage a post of the surgical instrument.
20. A loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw member pivotable about a first axis, the first jaw member including a tissue stop member and a pair of pushers, each pusher of the pair of pushers configured to engage and eject a staple from the first jaw member, the first jaw member pivotable between a first position in which a firing rod of the surgical instrument is aligned with a first pusher of the pair of pushers and a second position in which the firing rod is aligned with a second pusher of the pair of pushers; and
a second jaw member defining a second axis, at least one of the first or second jaw members being movable relative to each other between open and approximated positions to clamp tissue between the first and second jaw members, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the tissue stop member of the first jaw member is configured to engage the tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members.
21. The loading unit according to claim 20 , wherein the tissue stop member is configured to move in a direction transverse to the first axis.
22. The loading unit according to claim 20 , wherein the first jaw member further includes a third pusher disposed between the first and second pushers.
23. The loading unit according to claim 20 , wherein the second jaw member is configured to pivot about the second axis in response to pivoting of the first jaw member about the first axis.
24. The loading unit according to claim 20 , wherein the second jaw member defines a bore disposed at least partially therethrough, the bore configured to mechanically engage a post of the surgical instrument.