2010-09-30 Assigned to CARDICA, INC. reassignment CARDICA, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KNODEL, BRYAN D.
at least one shuttle held by said jaw, wherein said shuttle is biased distally and slidable longitudinally, and wherein said shuttle is configured to engage said gap-setting feature when said first cartridge is inserted into said jaw.
2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second cartridge detachably connected to said anvil, said second cartridge holding staples of a second size and including a second gap-setting feature defined in an exterior of the second cartridge, wherein a second clamp gap between said anvil and said second cartridge is set by said second gap-setting feature, and wherein said first clamp gap is different from said second clamp gap.
3. The surgical apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first gap-setting feature is located further proximal in the first cartridge than the second gap-setting feature is located in said second cartridge.
4. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shuttle comprises a central aperture with a greater height at its proximal end than its distal end.
5. The surgical apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one pivot pin constrained within and movable within said central aperture of a corresponding said shuttle, wherein each said pivot pin interconnects said anvil and said jaw.
6. The surgical apparatus of claim 5, further comprising at least one pivot pin slot defined in said jaw within which a corresponding said pivot pin is slidable, wherein said pivot pin slot is substantially linear and oriented substantially vertically.
7. The surgical apparatus of claim 6, wherein engagement between each said gap-setting feature and a corresponding said shuttle pushes said shuttle proximally, such that each corresponding said pivot pin moves to the upper distal corner of said central aperture of said shuttle.
8. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a deployment slide slidable longitudinally into and within said first cartridge, wherein said deployment slide includes a foot slidable along an outer surface of said jaw, a pin cutout having a first channel defined therein; a detent finger under said first channel, and a cross pin held within said pin cutout, wherein said cross pin is movable between a first position in which said cross pin is held by said detent finger and a second position in which said cross pin is held within said first channel.
9. The surgical apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a sled that includes a plurality of wedges and a rotatable knife, wherein said deployment slide is positioned proximal to said sled such that distal sliding of said deployment slide pushes said sled distally; wherein distal motion of said sled causes said wedges to contact said staples directly to deploy said staples, and additionally causes said knife to cut tissue.
wherein longitudinal motion of said clamp pin in a first direction causes said anvil to move from an open position to a closed position.
11. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, wherein each said cam pin slide is substantially linear and oriented substantially longitudinally.
12. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, wherein said anvil includes two laterally-spaced legs, each of which includes one said cam path defined therein.
13. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, wherein longitudinal motion of said clamp pin in a second direction causes said anvil to move from an open position to a trocar position.
Lim, Jonas J., et al., "Application of Type Synthesis Theory to the Redesign of a Complex Surgical Instrument", Journal of Biomechanical Engineering (124),(Jun. 2004),265-272.
Steichen, Felicien M., et al., "Mechanical Sutures in Surgery", Brit. J. Surg. 60 (3), (Mar. 1973),191-197.