Patent ID: 11944304
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A loading unit configured for engagement with a surgical instrument, the loading unit comprising:
a proximal body portion defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector disposed in mechanical cooperation with the proximal body portion, the end effector including a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly configured to house fasteners therein;
an actuation sled longitudinally translatable within the cartridge assembly, the actuation sled including a first angled wedge;
a double pusher disposed within the cartridge assembly and configured to engage at most two fasteners such that the double pusher includes a bottom-most surface, a first upper surface configured to engage a first fastener, and a second upper surface configured to engage a second fastener, wherein the first upper surface is included on a first body portion, the second upper surface is included on a second body portion, the double pusher also includes a bridge interconnecting the first body portion and the second body portion, the first body portion including a first ramp configured to be engaged by the first angled wedge of the actuation sled, the first ramp disposed between and in contact with a first side wall of the first body portion and a second side wall of the first body portion, a proximal-most end of the first side wall and a proximal-most end of the second side wall each extend closer to the bottom-most surface than a proximal-most end of the first ramp, the first body portion including a proximal pusher guiding surface and a distal pusher guiding surface, the second body portion including a proximal pusher guiding surface and a distal pusher guiding surface, each of the first and second upper surfaces being parallel to each other and defining an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis; and
a double retention cavity disposed within the cartridge assembly and configured to retain the double pusher therein, wherein the double retention cavity includes a first retention guiding surface configured to engage the proximal pusher guiding surface of the first body portion of the double pusher retained therein, and a second retention guiding surface configured to engage the distal pusher guiding surface of the first body portion of the double pusher retained therein.