Patent ID: 9700312
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: an actuating device including an elongated shaft; a tool assembly disposed on a distal end of the shaft, the tool assembly including a first jaw member supporting a cartridge assembly having a plurality of pushers, a plurality of fasteners and a sled positioned to sequentially contact the plurality of pushers to eject the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge assembly and a second jaw member supporting an anvil, the first jaw member being movable in relation to the second jaw member between spaced and approximated positions; a sled pusher assembly including a sled pusher having a distal end configured to engage the sled of the cartridge assembly; and a drive beam assembly including a latch assembly and an I-beam, the latch assembly having a latch releasably coupled to the sled pusher assembly, and the I-beam having a sidewall defining a notch, the sled pusher received within the notch, wherein distal translation of the drive beam assembly from a retracted position towards an advanced position effects movement of the first and second jaw members to the approximated position and disengages the latch of the latch assembly from the sled pusher assembly to facilitate distal movement of the sled pusher independently of the drive beam assembly and wherein distal movement of the sled pusher independently of the drive beam assembly advances the sled pusher and the sled of the cartridge assembly to eject the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge assembly.