Patent ID: 6155473
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:a cartridge half of a frame;an anvil half of a frame, the stapling apparatus having an assembled configuration wherein the anvil half of a frame is positioned in juxtaposed alignment with the cartridge half of a frame;a replaceable cartridge assembly receivable into said cartridge half of a frame, said cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples abutting surgical staple drive members, the cartridge assembly defining slots to receive at least one cam bar;at least one cam bar longitudinally movable through said slots to sequentially engage said surgical staple drive members to urge said drive members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said at least one cam bar;a cam bar retainer surrounding a portion of said at least one cam bar to align said cam bar for longitudinal movement through said cartridge assembly; anda spring biased hook engageable with said cam bar retainer, said spring biased hook being positioned and configured to prevent reactivation of the surgical stapling apparatus when the stapling apparatus is in the assembled configuration and the cam bar retainer has been displaced longitudinally and returned to adjacent its initial position.