Surgical handle assembly

1. A surgical stapler handle apparatus, comprising:

a toothed rack;

an articulation assembly configured to actuate an articulation arm of a reloadable cartridge assembly from a first operation position to a second operation position;

a movable handle configured to actuate the toothed rack; and; and

a spring positioned at a proximal end of the toothed rack,

wherein when the proximal end of the toothed rack is touching the spring and the spring is unloaded and at rest the proximal end of the toothed rack is in a loading position;

wherein when the proximal end of the toothed rack moves distally from the loading position, the proximal end of the toothed rack is disengaged from the spring; and

wherein, when the movable handle is moved in a distal direction and the toothed rack is moved in a proximal direction, the movement of the toothed rack will cause the proximal end of the toothed rack to move proximally past the loading position and to compress the spring and wherein the spring is biased to move the toothed rack distally in response to the toothed rack moving proximally past the loading position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a driving pawl and a latch connected to the movable handle, the driving pawl interacting with the toothed rack to effect distal movement of the toothed rack and the latch interacting with the toothed rack to effect proximal movement of the toothed rack.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the spring is at rest and the proximal end of the toothed rack is touching the spring, the proximal end of the toothed rack is positioned in a loading position; and

wherein proximal movement of the toothed rack causes the proximal end of the toothed rack to move proximal of the loading position and to compress the spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a force of the spring causes the proximal end of the toothed rack to move distally back to the loading position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the force of the spring is between four and five pounds.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor connected to the toothed rack such that the electric motor provides distal and proximal movement of the toothed rack.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a reloadable cartridge assembly comprising: a blade shaft, an articulation arm, and two opposable elongated members;

a surgical handle assembly comprising an articulation assembly configured to actuate the articulation arm of the reloadable cartridge assembly from a first operation position to a second operation position, a toothed rack, a movable handle configured to actuate the toothed rack, and a spring positioned at a proximal end of the toothed rack;

wherein when the proximal end of the toothed rack is touching the spring and the spring is unloaded and at rest the proximal end of the toothed rack is in a loading position;

wherein when the proximal end of the toothed rack moves distally from the loading position, the proximal end of the toothed rack is disengaged from the spring; and

wherein, when the movable handle is moved in a distal direction and the toothed rack is moved in a proximal direction, the movement of the toothed rack will cause the proximal end of the toothed rack to move proximally past the loading position and to compress the spring and wherein the spring is biased to move the toothed rack distally in response to the toothed rack moving proximally past the loading position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein proximal movement of the movable handle causes the blade shaft to move distally which causes the elongated members to close and distal movement of the movable handle causes the blade shaft to move proximally which causes the elongate members to open.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein when the toothed rack is positioned proximal of the loading position, a force of the spring causes the toothed rack to be moved distally back to the loading position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a jaw pivot assembly connected to the elongated members and the articulation arm wherein movement of the articulation arm causes the elongated members to pivot away from the longitudinal axis of the reloadable cartridge assembly and wherein the movement of the articulation arm causes the reloadable cartridge assembly to become bound such that the elongated members are unable to fully open.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein proximal movement of the toothed rack past the loading position causes the reloadable cartridge assembly to unbind such that the elongated members are able to fully open.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein when the reloadable cartridge assembly is not bound the elongate members can fully reopen.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a jaw pivot assembly connected to the elongated members and the articulation arm wherein proximal movement of the articulation arm causes the elongated members to pivot to the side that the articulation arm is connected to the jaw pivot assembly and wherein the proximal movement of the articulation arm causes the reloadable cartridge assembly to become bound such that the elongated members are unable to fully open.

14. A surgical stapler apparatus, comprising:

a reloadable cartridge assembly comprising: an articulation arm and two opposable elongated members;

a surgical handle assembly comprising an articulation assembly configured to actuate the articulation arm of the reloadable cartridge assembly from a first operation position to a second operation position, a drive assembly comprising a toothed rack, a motor configured to actuate the toothed rack, a spring positioned at a proximal end of the toothed rack, wherein when a proximal end of the toothed rack is touching the spring and the spring is unloaded and at rest the toothed rack is in the loading position and wherein when the proximal end of the toothed rack moves distally from the loading position, the proximal end of the toothed rack is disengaged from the spring; and

wherein, when the motor is activated and the toothed rack is moved in a proximal direction, the movement of the toothed rack will cause the toothed rack to move proximally past the loading position and to compress the spring and wherein the spring is biased to move the toothed rack distally in response to the toothed rack moving proximally past the loading position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a jaw pivot assembly connected to the elongated members and the articulation arm wherein movement of the articulation arm causes the elongated members to pivot away from the longitudinal axis of the reloadable cartridge assembly and wherein the movement of the articulation arm causes the reloadable cartridge assembly to become bound such that the elongated members are unable to fully open.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the surgical handle assembly further comprises a movable handle wherein proximal movement of the movable handle causes the toothed rack drive assembly to move distally which causes the elongated members to close and distal movement of the drive assembly causes a blade shaft to move proximally which causes the elongated members to open.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein proximal movement of the toothed rack causes the proximal end of the toothed rack to move proximal of the loading position and to compress the spring.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a force of the spring causes the toothed rack to be moved distally back to the loading position.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the spring is a U-spring.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the two opposable elongated members open to an angle of 13 to 15 degrees when the toothed rack is moved past the loading position.