Patent ID: 6241139
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:a) a housing;b) a movable handle supported by the housing, the movable handle being movable through an actuation stroke;c) an elongated body extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;d) an actuation shaft supported at least in part within the housing, the actuation shaft being mounted for longitudinal movement within the housing in response to movement of the movable handle through the actuation stroke;e) a loading unit supported on the distal end of the elongated body, the loading unit including a proximal housing portion and a distal tool assembly, the proximal housing portion having a longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and a first articulation link operatively connected to the distal tool assembly, the distal tool assembly being pivotably secured to the proximal housing portion; andf) an articulation mechanism including a lever and a cam member, the lever being operatively connected to the cam member, the cam member being operatively connected to the first articulation link and including a stepped cam slot, wherein the lever is movable to articulate the tool assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the proximal housing portion, each step of the stepped cam slot defining a predetermined articulated position of the tool assembly.