Patent ID: 11931030
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A surgical stapling device comprising:
an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a tool assembly supported on the distal portion of the elongate body, the tool assembly including:
a U-shaped frame having a first transverse portion, a second transverse portion, and a longitudinal portion, the longitudinal portion connecting the first transverse portion to the second transverse portion, the second transverse portion defining at least one longitudinal slot;
an anvil assembly supported on the first transverse portion of the U-shaped frame, the anvil assembly including staple deforming surface defining a knife slot and a lower opening;
a reload assembly including:
a cartridge assembly including a cartridge body defining a cavity, a knife slot, and a plurality of staple pockets, the cartridge assembly further including a tissue engaging surface, a plurality of staples positioned within the staple pockets, and a first alignment pin, the first alignment pin movable from a retracted position positioned within the cartridge body to a fully advanced position extending from the cartridge body and into the lower opening defined in the anvil assembly;
a shipping cap including a base member, the shipping cap supported on the cartridge body with the base member positioned on the tissue engaging surface of the cartridge body to prevent advancement of the first alignment pin and to retain the plurality of staples within the plurality of staple pockets;

a clamp slide assembly including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion defining a distal cartridge support, the clamp slide assembly movable between a retracted position and an advanced position to move the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly between open and clamped positions; and
an alignment pin advancement assembly supported on the second transverse portion of the U-shaped frame, the alignment pin advancing assembly including a tube, at least one button, a shaft, and a biasing member, the tube supported within the second transverse portion of the U-shaped frame for movement in relation to the second transverse portion between retracted and advanced positions, the shaft supported within the tube for movement in relation to the tube between retracted and advanced positions, the biasing member positioned within the tube to urge the shaft towards its advanced position, the at least one button extending through the at least one longitudinal slot defined within the second transverse portion of the U-shaped frame and coupled to the tube, the at least one button being movable within the at least one longitudinal slot from a retracted position to an advanced position to move the tube within the second transverse portion between its retracted and advanced positions;
wherein the shaft is aligned with the first alignment pin to urge the first alignment pin towards its advanced position.