Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapling apparatus (stapler) is provided. The stapler includes a housing, elongated member, and a reload. A cartridge is configured to selectively couple to a first jaw member of the reload and includes one or more resilient members thereon. An anvil operably supported on a second jaw member of the reload is configured to compress one or more fasteners ejected from the cartridge. The anvil includes one or more locking members thereon. A knife is configured to translate through the cartridge and anvil when the first and second jaw members are in a closed configuration. Engagement between the knife and the resilient member(s) causes the resilient member(s) to move from an initial configuration that allows the knife to travel distally past the locking member(s) to a final configuration that allows the locking member(s) to engage the knife.
1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
a first jaw member defining a channel;
a second jaw member having sidewalls and an anvil, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other jaw member between a spaced configuration and a closed configuration;
a knife translatable through the channel from a proximal position to an advanced position;
a locking member rotatably mounted on one of the sidewalls of the second jaw member, the locking member having a locking position wherein the locking member prevents the knife from advancing through the channel and a non-blocking position wherein the locking member does not obstruct movement of the knife through the channel, the locking member biased to the locking position; and
a cartridge releasably coupled to the first jaw member, the cartridge including a resilient member positioned to engage the locking member when the cartridge is coupled to the first jaw member to move the locking member to the non-blocking position.
2. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes fasteners.
3. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge includes a sled, the sled advanceable through the cartridge to drive fasteners from the cartridge towards the anvil.
4. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the resilient member is moveable from a retracted position to an extended position, the resilient member being positioned such that during advancement of the sled, the sled engages the resilient member to urge the resilient member towards the extended position.
5. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3 , wherein translation of the knife from the proximal position to the advanced position advances the sled.
6. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein translation of the knife from the proximal position to the advanced position moves the first and second jaw members towards the closed configuration.
7. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6 , wherein translation of the knife pivots the second jaw member towards the first jaw member.
8. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface, the tissue contacting surface defining a recess configured to receive the resilient member.
9. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 8 , wherein in the closed configuration of the first and second jaw members, when the resilient member is in the retracted position, the locking member is in the locking position, and when the resilient member is in the extended position, the locking member is in the non-blocking position.
10. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface and the resilient member has legs, the resilient member moveable between a retracted position in which the legs are disposed below the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge and an extended position in which the legs extend above the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge.
11. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the knife includes a top flange and a bottom flange interconnected by a vertical strut defining a knife blade to form an I-beam configuration.
12. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein during translation of the knife through the channel, the top flange engages the legs of the resilient member to move the resilient member towards the retracted position.
13. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the locking member has an angled leading edge, and wherein during retraction of the knife from the advanced position to the proximal position, the top flange of engages the angled leading edge of the locking member to urge the locking member towards the non-blocking position.
14. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein during subsequent advancement of the knife, the locking member engages the top flange of the knife to prevent advancement of the knife.
15. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the locking member has a transverse edge that extends across the channel when the locking member in the locking position.