Dissecting tip for surgical stapler

1. A surgical stapling device comprising:

an elongated body portion;

an end effector pivotally attached to the elongated body portion, the end effector including an anvil assembly having a distal end and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly movably supported in relation to the cartridge assembly between an open position and a clamped position, the cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples supported therein and including a tissue contacting surface defining a plane, the anvil assembly having a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, the plurality of staple deforming pockets being aligned with the plurality of staples when the anvil assembly is in the clamped position; and

a dissecting tip extending distally from the distal end of the anvil assembly towards the cartridge assembly, the dissecting tip extending through the plane defined by the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly when the end effector is in the closed position, the dissecting tip having a rounded distal end configured to separate target tissue from certain tissue, wherein the dissecting tip includes a flat inner surface that defines an angle with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly.

2. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , wherein the dissecting tip extends distally beyond the distal end of the cartridge assembly.

3. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the dissecting tip decreases from the proximal end of the dissecting tip to the distal end of the dissecting tip.

4. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the dissecting tip is contiguous with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly.

5. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , wherein the dissecting tip is monolithically formed with the anvil assembly.

6. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , further comprising an elongate body, the elongate body supporting the end effector.

7. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a handle assembly with a trigger, the elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly.

8. A surgical stapling device according to claim 7 , wherein the handle assembly includes a rotation knob.

9. A surgical stapling device comprising:

an elongated body portion;

an end effector pivotally attached to the elongated body portion, the end effector including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly movably supported in relation to the cartridge assembly between an open position and a clamped position, the cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples supported therein and including a tissue contacting surface defining a plane, the anvil assembly having a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, the plurality of staple forming pockets aligned with the plurality of staples when the anvil assembly is in the clamped position; and

a dissecting tip extending distally from the anvil assembly, the dissecting tip extending through the plane defined by the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly when the end effector is in the closed position, the dissecting tip having a rounded distal end configured to separate target tissue from certain tissue and a flat inner surface, wherein a width of the dissecting tip decreases along a length thereof.

10. A surgical stapling device according to claim 9 , wherein the dissecting tip includes an inner surface that defines an angle with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly.

11. A surgical stapling device according to claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the dissecting tip extends distally beyond the distal end of the cartridge assembly.

12. A surgical stapling device according to claim 9 , wherein the width of the dissecting tip decreases from the proximal end of the dissecting tip to the distal end of the dissecting tip.

13. A surgical stapling device according to claim 9 , wherein an inner surface of the dissecting tip is contiguous with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly.

14. A surgical stapling device according to claim 9 , wherein the dissecting tip is monolithically formed with the anvil assembly.

15. A surgical stapling device comprising:

an elongated body portion;

an end effector pivotally attached to the elongated body portion, the end effector including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly movably supported in relation to a cartridge assembly between an open position and a clamped position, the cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples supported therein and including a tissue contacting surface defining a plane, the anvil assembly including a tissue contact surface defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, the plurality of staple deforming pockets aligned with the plurality of staples when the anvil assembly is in the clamped position; and

a dissecting tip extending distally from the anvil assembly, the dissecting tip extending through the plane defined by the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly when the end effector is in the closed position, the dissecting tip having a rounded distal end configured to separate target tissue from certain tissue and a flat inner surface, wherein a width of the dissecting tip decreases from the proximal end of the dissecting tip to the distal end of the dissecting tip.

16. A surgical stapling device according to claim 15 , wherein the dissecting tip includes an inner surface that defines an angle with the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly.

17. A surgical stapling device according to claim 16 , wherein the distal end of the dissecting tip extends distally beyond the distal end of the cartridge assembly.

18. A surgical stapling device according to claim 15 , wherein the dissecting tip is monolithically formed with the anvil assembly.

19. A surgical stapling device according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge assembly includes a bottom surface defining a plane and the distal end of the dissecting tip is positioned inwardly of the plane defined by the bottom surface of the cartridge assembly.