Patent ID: 11857185
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A surgical stapling device comprising:
an elongate body portion defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate body portion having a distal portion;
an end effector supported on the distal portion of the elongated body portion, the end effector including:
a housing having a base portion and a jaw portion, the base portion being secured to the distal portion of the elongate body portion;
an anvil assembly supported on the jaw portion;
a cartridge assembly releasably supported on the base portion, the cartridge assembly including a cartridge housing and an alignment pin assembly having an alignment pin received within the cartridge housing, the alignment pin defining a key hole slot and being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and between the unlocked position and an advanced position in which the alignment pin extends from the cartridge housing and is engaged with the anvil assembly; and
a shipping cap releasably attached to the cartridge assembly, the shipping cap including a locking pin received through the key hole slot, wherein when the alignment pin is in the locked position, the alignment pin prevents separation of the shipping cap from the cartridge assembly and when the alignment pin is in the unlocked position, the alignment pin permits separation of the shipping cap from the cartridge assembly.