End effectors, surgical stapling devices, and methods of using same

1. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure;

a knife having a cutting edge, the knife being operably configured to move from a first position at about a proximal end of the end effector to a second position at about a distal end of the end effector; and

an alignment mechanism operably configured to facilitate alignment between the anvil and the cartridge when the end effector transitions from an open position to a closed position, the alignment mechanism comprising a housing, the housing extending outwardly beyond the cartridge face and adjacent the proximal end of the end effector; and a mating alignment feature being at least partially defined by the anvil, wherein the housing receives the mating alignment feature,

wherein the distal end of the anvil is pivotally coupled to the distal end of the cartridge with a hinge.

2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector.

3. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the anvil further comprises a first track and the cartridge further comprises a second track with which the knife is selectively engageable.

4. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the anvil is movably coupled with the proximal end of the cartridge.

5. The end effector of claim 4 , wherein the proximal end of the anvil is movably coupled with the proximal end of the cartridge with an engagement element.

6. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a face that is positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a face that is positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure;

a knife having a cutting edge, the knife being operably configured to move from a first position at about a proximal end of the end effector to a second position at about a distal end of the end effector;

a first slot, the first slot being defined at least partially by the face of the anvil;

a second slot, the second slot being defined at least partially by the face of the cartridge; and

an alignment mechanism operably configured to facilitate alignment between the anvil and the cartridge when the end effector transitions from an open position to a closed position, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a housing and a mating alignment feature, the housing extending from the cartridge adjacent the proximal end of the cartridge; and the mating alignment feature being at least partially defined by the anvil, wherein the housing receives the mating alignment feature,

wherein the distal end of the anvil is movably coupled to the distal end of the cartridge, and the first slot and the second slot are each configured to slidably receive the knife during movement of the knife.

7. The end effector of claim 6 , wherein each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure.

8. The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the anvil further comprises a first track with which the knife is selectively engageable and the cartridge further comprises a second track with which the knife is selectively engageable.

9. The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the knife has a substantially I-shaped configuration.

10. The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the knife has a first flange and a second flange, and the first flange and the second flange of the knife cooperate to retain the end effector in a closed position.

11. An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the anatomical structure having a first side and a second side, the end effector comprising:

an anvil, the anvil comprising:

a. a proximal end,

b. a distal end,

c. an anvil face, and

d. a first slot defined at least partially by the anvil face;

a cartridge that is configured to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising:

a. a proximal end,

b. a distal end,

c. a cartridge face, the cartridge face being positioned substantially opposite the anvil face, and

d. a second slot defined at least partially by the cartridge face;

a knife, the knife being operably configured to move longitudinally from a first position at the proximal end of the end effector to a second position at about the proximal end of the end effector;

a hinge, the hinge being positioned at the distal end of the anvil and the distal end of the cartridge, wherein the hinge pivotally couples the anvil and the cartridge;

an alignment mechanism operably configured to facilitate alignment between the anvil and the cartridge when the end effector transitions from an open position to a closed position, the alignment mechanism comprising a housing, the housing extending from the cartridge adjacent the proximal end of the cartridge, wherein the knife is retained within the housing when the end effector transitions from the open position to the closed position; and a recess being at least partially defined by the anvil, the recess being configured to receive the housing,

wherein the first slot of the anvil and the second slot of the cartridge are configured to slidably receive the knife during movement of the knife.

12. The end effector of claim 11 , wherein each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar, and the end effector is remotely operable from outside the patient with at least a portion of one of the anvil and the cartridge being movable toward the other to clamp the end effector and to transect the anatomical structure.

13. The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the knife comprises a first flange, a second flange, and a cutting portion.