Surgical instrument and cartridge for use therewith
A cartridge assembly is disclosed. The cartridge assembly comprises a cartridge housing and a cartridge. The cartridge housing has a plurality of biasing members thereon. The cartridge is configured for reception at least partially within the cartridge housing. The cartridge includes a plurality of fasteners at least partially therein. The cartridge has a plurality of pockets. Each fastener is ejectable from a corresponding pocket. The cartridge has a plurality of chambers, and each chamber is adjacent a pocket and configured to store at least one fastener at least partially therein. At least one fastener is movable from the chamber to the pocket. The cartridge includes a plurality of pushers, where each pusher is configured to engage at least one corresponding fastener. At least one pusher includes at least one cam surface thereon. Each biasing member urges at least one corresponding fastener toward the corresponding pocket.
1. A cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
a cartridge housing having a plurality of flexible fingers; and
a cartridge configured to be received at least partially within the cartridge housing, the cartridge including a tissue-contacting surface and a plurality of fasteners, the cartridge defining a plurality of pockets extending through the tissue-contacting surface, each one of the plurality of pockets configured to receive one of the plurality of fasteners, the cartridge having a plurality of chambers, each one of the plurality of chambers configured to receive at least one of the plurality of fasteners therein, each one of the plurality of chambers in communication with the respective one of the plurality of pockets,
wherein each one of the plurality of flexible fingers urges the at least one of the plurality fasteners in the respective one of the plurality of chambers toward the respective one of the plurality of pockets.
2. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible fingers are disposed on opposing sides of the cartridge housing.
3. The cartridge assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of flexible fingers on the opposing sides of the cartridge housing are biased toward each other.
4. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further includes a plurality of pushers, each one of the plurality of pushers configured to eject the respective one of the plurality of fasteners through the respective one of the plurality of pockets.
5. The cartridge assembly according to claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of plates, each one of the plurality of plates operatively coupled to the respective one of the plurality of flexible fingers.
6. The cartridge assembly according to claim 5 , wherein each one of the plurality of plates is configured to inhibit actuation of the respective one of the plurality of pushers in the absence of the respective one of the plurality of fasteners in the respective one of the plurality of pockets.
7. The cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible fingers are leaf springs.
8. A loading unit configured for engagement with a surgical instrument comprising:
a proximal body portion defining a longitudinal axis;
a tool assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the proximal body portion; and
a cartridge assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the tool assembly, the cartridge assembly including:
a cartridge housing having a plurality of flexible fingers; and
a cartridge configured to be received at least partially within the cartridge housing, the cartridge including a tissue-contacting surface and a plurality of fasteners, the cartridge defining a plurality of pockets extending through the tissue-contacting surface, each one of the plurality of pockets configured to receive one of the plurality of fasteners, the cartridge having a plurality of chambers, each one of the plurality of chambers configured to receive at least one of the plurality of fasteners therein, each one of the plurality of chambers in communication with the respective one of the plurality of pockets,
wherein each one of the plurality of flexible fingers urges the at least one of the plurality fasteners in the respective one of the plurality of chambers toward the respective one of the plurality of pockets.
9. The loading unit according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flexible fingers are disposed on opposing sides of the cartridge housing.
10. The loading unit according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of flexible fingers on the opposing sides of the cartridge housing are biased toward each other.
11. The loading unit according to claim 8 , wherein the cartridge further includes a plurality of pushers, each one of the plurality of pushers configured to eject the respective one of the plurality of fasteners through the respective one of the plurality of pockets.
12. The loading unit according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of plates, each one of the plurality of plates operatively coupled to the respective one of the plurality of flexible fingers.
13. The loading unit according to claim 12 , wherein each one of the plurality of plates is configured to inhibit actuation of the respective one of the plurality of pushers in the absence of the one of the plurality of fasteners in the respective one of the plurality of pockets.
14. The loading unit according to claim 11 , further including a driver disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cartridge assembly, the driver configured to engage the plurality of pushers.
15. The loading unit according to claim 14 , wherein the driver is configured to sequentially engage the plurality of pushers.
16. The loading unit according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flexible fingers are leaf springs.
17. The loading unit according to claim 8 , wherein each one of the plurality of chambers is configured to receive three fasteners therein.