Surgical stapling head assembly with firing lockout for a surgical stapler
In various embodiments, a surgical stapling head is provided that may comprise a staple cartridge for supporting one or more staples, a core movable relative to the staple cartridge, at least one staple driver extending from the core, and a casing configured to at least partially hold the staple cartridge and movably receive the core and the staple driver(s). The casing may further comprise at least one retention member that is configured to move from a first position to a second position when sufficient external force is applied to the retention member, such as that provided by a shaft of a surgical stapler during insertion of the stapling head assembly into the shaft. When the retention member(s) are at the second position, the staple driver(s) may be prevented from driving staples from the staple cartridge, thereby providing a firing lockout feature to the stapling head assembly during insertion into at least a portion of a surgical stapler.
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
a shaft portion comprising a receiving member;
a stapling head assembly releasably coupled to the shaft portion, the stapling head assembly comprising:
a casing configured to at least partially operably support one or more surgical staples therein, wherein the casing is further configured to movably support at least one staple driver;
a first retention member configured to releasably couple the casing to the shaft portion, wherein the receiving member is configured to receive the first retention member, wherein the first retention member is configured to be in a first position when the first retention member is received by the receiving member, and wherein the first retention member is configured to be transitioned into a second position upon application of a pressure by the shaft portion prior to the first retention member being received by the receiving member; and
a drive system for applying drive motions to the at least one staple driver, wherein the at least one staple driver is configured to transfer the applied drive motions to at least one of the one or more surgical staples, and wherein the first retention member prevents the at least one staple driver from transferring the applied drive motions when the first retention member is in the second position;
an anvil movably supported relative to the casing for axial movement relative to the casing; and
an anvil adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting an axial position of the anvil relative to the casing, wherein the anvil is releasably coupled to the anvil adjustment assembly.
2. The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the first retention member is configured to spring into locking engagement with the receiving member.
3. The surgical stapler of claim 1 , further comprising a second retention member for releasably coupling the anvil to the anvil adjustment assembly.
4. The surgical stapler of claim 3 , wherein the second retention member is resiliently deflectable.
5. The surgical stapler of claim 1 , wherein the first retention member is resiliently deflectable.
6. A surgical stapler, comprising:
a shaft portion comprising a first receiving member;
a stapling head assembly, comprising:
a casing configured to operably support one or more surgical staples therein, wherein the casing is further configured to movably support at least one staple driver;
a first retention member, wherein the first retention member is configured to engage the first receiving member to releasably couple the stapling head assembly to the shaft portion, wherein the first retention member is in a first configuration when the first retention member engages the first receiving member, and wherein the first retention member is biased into a second configuration upon contact between the first retention member and the shaft portion prior to engaging the first receiving member; and
a drive system for applying drive motions to the at least one staple driver, wherein the first retention member prevents the drive system from applying drive motions when the first retention member is in the second configuration;
an anvil movably supported relative to the casing for axial movement relative to the casing; and
an anvil adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting an axial position of the anvil relative to the casing, wherein the anvil is releasably coupled to the anvil adjustment assembly.
7. The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the first receiving member is a hole formed in the shaft portion.
8. The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the first retention member is configured to spring into locking engagement with the receiving member.
9. The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the first retention member is resiliently deflectable.
10. The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the first retention member comprising a release button configured to disengage the first retention member from the first receiving member.
11. The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the first retention member and the casing are integrally formed.
12. The surgical stapler of claim 6 , wherein the anvil adjustment assembly comprises a drive member, and wherein one of the anvil and the drive member comprise an anvil retention member configured to releasably couple the anvil to the drive member.
13. The surgical stapler of claim 12 , wherein the anvil retention member is resiliently deflectable.