# Patent

## Title
Surgical stapling apparatus

## Abstract

A surgical apparatus is provided. The surgical apparatus includes an actuator device including a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and a first articulating link. The first articulating link includes a mechanical interface and is movable between a non-articulated position and at least one articulated position. A reload is releasably coupled to a distal end of the body portion. The reload including a second articulating link configured to engage the first articulating link when the reload is coupled to the actuator device. The reload including a tool assembly which is pivotable from a first a position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion to at least one position misaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The first articulation link and the mechanical interface prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device when the first articulating link is in the at least one articulated position.

## Background
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatuses. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatuses including a universal handle articulating link.
Description of Related Art
Surgical apparatus including an actuator device configured to receive removable loading units or reloads are known. The reloads are removably attached to the actuator device and disposable after use to facilitate reuse of the actuator device with a fresh, i.e., unused, reload. Each reload includes an end effector or tool assembly which is actuatable via operation of the actuator device to perform a surgical procedure. For example, a tool assembly can include a stapling device having a first jaw supporting a cartridge and a second jaw supporting an anvil to perform a surgical stapling procedure. Alternatively, the tool assembly can include a clip applier or other surgical device. Typically, the reload is removably attached to or detached from the actuator device by rotating the reload in relation to the stapling device.
Reloads including tool assemblies which articulate in relation to the body portion of the actuator device are well known. Articulatable tool assemblies facilitate easier access to tissue during surgical procedures, e.g., endoscopic surgical procedures. In some known devices, disengagement of the reload from the actuator device while the tool assembly is in an articulated position may prevent attachment of a fresh reload to the actuator device. It would be desirable to provide a reload which prevents disengagement of the reload from the actuator device when the tool assembly is in an articulated position.
SUMMARY
As can be appreciated, surgical stapling apparatuses including a universal handle articulating link that is configured to lock the single use or MULU reload to a body portion of a stapling apparatus when the tool assembly is in an articulated configuration may prove useful in the surgical arena.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is being described which is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a user.
An aspect of the present disclosure provides a surgical apparatus. The surgical apparatus includes an actuator device including a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and a first articulating link extending longitudinally along the body portion. The first articulating link includes one or more mechanical interfaces disposed thereon and is movable between a non-articulated position and one or more articulated positions. A reload is configured to be releasably coupled to a distal end of the body portion of the actuator device. The reload includes a second articulating link configured to engage the first articulating link when the reload is coupled to the actuator device. The reload includes a tool assembly which is pivotable from a first a position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion to one or more positions misaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The first articulation link and the mechanical interface are configured to prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device when the first articulating link is in the at least one articulated position. The surgical apparatus may be a manual surgical stapling apparatus
The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link may be a pin, a welded block or a lance. The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link may be positioned adjacent a distal hook portion disposed at a distal end of the first articulating link. The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link may be positioned proximal of the distal hook portion of the first articulating link.
The reload may include a slot disposed adjacent a proximal end of a shaft of the reload. The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link may be configured to be received in the slot on the shaft of the reload when the first and second articulating links are in the at least one articulated position to prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device.
The body portion may include a slot adjacent the distal end thereof. The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link may be configured to be received in the slot of the body portion when the first and second articulating links are engaged with one another and in the non-articulated position. The slot of the body portion and a hook portion of the second articulating link of the reload may be configured to prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a manually operated surgical apparatus including an actuator device supporting a reload;
FIG. 1A is a schematic view of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the tool assembly in an articulated position;
FIG. 2 is a partial, perspective view of a first articulating link of the actuator device according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a side view of a distal end of a body portion of the actuator device of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the proximal end of the reload shown in FIG. 1 with an outer sleeve of the body portion removed and the first articulating link in a non-articulated position;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a distal end of a body portion of the actuator device of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the proximal end of the reload shown in FIG. 1 with an outer sleeve of the body portion removed and the first articulating link in an advanced or distal articulated position;
FIG. 5 is a side view of a distal end of a body portion of the actuator device of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the proximal end of the reload shown in FIG. 1 with an outer sleeve of the body portion removed and the first articulating link in an retracted or proximal articulated position; and
FIGS. 6A-6B are perspective views of the distal ends of the first articulating links in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present disclosure.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Referring to FIG. 1, a surgical apparatus is shown generally as 100 and includes a manually actuatable actuator device 101 and a reload 106. The actuator device 101 includes a handle assembly 102 having a stationary handle 102a, a movable handle 136 and an articulation assembly 105. A body portion 104 extends distally from the handle assembly 102 and includes a distal end configured to releasably engage the reload 106. Handle assembly 102 also includes a retraction mechanism 116 (FIG. 2) that can be manually grasped and pulled proximally to retract a firing mechanism of the apparatus 100. Such an actuator device 101 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 (the '361 patent) and will not be described in further detail herein. The '361 patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, in any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the actuator device can be arranged to be used in conjunction with a robotic surgical system. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein the reload can be supported on and/or used in conjunction with an actuator device that is motorized.
The reload 106 includes a shaft portion 109 and a tool assembly 107 supported on a distal end of the shaft portion 109. A proximal end of the shaft portion 109 may be inserted into an open distal end of the body portion 104 and the shaft portion 109 of the reload may be rotated to couple the reload 106 to the body portion 104. This operation is described in detail in the '361 patent which has been incorporated herein by reference. By way of example, the connection between the body portion 104 and shaft portion 109 can be a bayonet coupling, threaded, or the like.
The tool assembly 107 of reload 106 includes first and second jaw members 108, 110 which are movable in relation to each other from a spaced apart configuration to receive tissue to an approximated configuration (not shown) to clamp tissue for subsequent stapling thereof. A pivot assembly 150 is provided at a distal end of the shaft 109 which pivotally couples tool assembly 107 to shaft 109. Pivot assembly 150 supports a proximal end of the tool assembly 107 to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis “A-A” of the body portion 104. In certain embodiments, the jaw member 108 of tool assembly 107 is configured to support a cartridge assembly 112 including a cartridge 112a which can be removably or fixedly supported on jaw member 108. A removable and replaceable cartridge is described in detail in U.S. Published Appln. No. 2013/0098965 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the actuator device 102 includes a first articulating link 120 which is movable from a non-articulated position, i.e., the position in which the tool assembly 107 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the actuator device 101, shown in FIG. 3 distally to a first articulated position and proximally to a second articulated position. As described in the '361 patent, the first articulation link 120 is movable from the non-articulated position to the first and second articulated positions by operating a lever 105a of the articulating assembly 105. For a more detailed description of the articulation assembly 105, see the '361 patent which has been incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to FIG. 2, the first articulating link 120 has a generally elongated body 121 having a proximal end (not shown) that is coupled to the articulation lever 105 of the actuator device 101. The first articulating link 120 includes a distal end 122 including a distal hook portion 124 that is configured to selectively engage a proximal hook portion 125 provided on a proximal end 123 of a second articulating link 130 of the reload 107. The second articulation link 130 is slidably supported within shaft 109 of reload 106 (FIGS. 3-5) and includes a distal end (not shown) engaged with the pivot assembly 150. Movement of the second articulation link 130 within the shaft 109 of the reload 106 effects articulation of the tool assembly 107 as described, e.g., in the 361 patent.
A mechanical interface, which can be in the form of a pin 126, is provided on the first articulating link 120. The pin 126 is positioned adjacent and proximal to the distal hook portion 124 of the first articulating link 120. The pin 126 can be monolithically formed with the first articulating link 120. Alternatively, the pin 126 can be coupled to the first articulating link 120 via one or more suitable coupling methods, e.g., welding, adhesive, pressing, etc.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the pin 126 is slidably positioned to be received within a slot 128 defined by internal wall portions 132 of the body portion 104 adjacent a distal end of the body portion 104. When the lever 105a of the articulating assembly 105 is actuated (to a first configuration), the first articulating link 120 is moved linearly within body portion 104 to slide the pin 126 within the slot 128 in the body portion 104. When the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130 of the reload 106 is engaged with the distal hook portion 124 of the first articulating link 120 of the surgical stapling apparatus 100 and the pin 126 is slid into the slot 128 of the body portion 104, the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130 is positioned adjacent the internal wall portions 132 of the body portion 104 (see FIG. 5). In this position, if a user attempts to rotate the reload 106 in an effort to disengage the reload 106 from the body portion 104, the internal wall portions 132 of the body portion 104 engage the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130 to prevent rotation of the reload 106 in relation to the body portion 104. Thus, with the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130 positioned in slot 128 between the internal wall portions 132 of the body portion 104, the reload 106 is prevented from rotating in relation to body portion 104, and becoming inadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 14.
The pin 126 is also configured to slidably engage a corresponding mechanical interface provided on the shaft 109 of the reload 106. In the illustrative embodiment, for example, the mechanical interface, which can be in the form of a slot 134 that is provided adjacent a proximal end of the shaft 109 of the reload 106 (FIGS. 4-5). When the lever 105a of the articulating assembly 105 is actuated (e.g., to a second configuration to articulate the tool assembly 107), the first articulating link 120 is moved linearly within the shaft 109 of the reload 106 to slide the pin 126 into the slot 134 in the shaft 109 (see FIG. 4). In this position, if a user attempts to rotate the reload 106 in an effort to disengage the reload 106 from the body portion 104, the internal wall portions that define the slot 134 engage the pin 126 of the first articulating link 120 to prevent rotation of the reload 106 in relation to the body portion 104. Thus, with the pin 126 positioned in the slot 134, the reload 106 is prevented from rotating, and becoming inadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 104.
In use, the proximal end of the shaft 109 of the reload 106 may be inserted into the open distal end of the body portion 104. Thereafter, the shaft 109 may be rotated to couple the reload 106 to the body portion 104. When the reload 106 is coupled to the body portion 104, the distal hook portion 124 of the first articulating link 120 is engaged with the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130 and the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130 will be positioned to contact the internal wall 132 of the body portion 104 (FIG. 5). As noted above, a user will be prevented from rotating the reload 106 in relation to the body portion 104 of the of the actuator device 101 as a result of the hook portion 125 of the first articulating link 130 coming into contacting the internal wall 132. Thus, the reload 106 cannot be inadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 104.
The lever 105a of the articulating assembly 130 may be actuated to approximate the second articulating link 130 distally to articulate the tool assembly 107 about the pivot assembly 150. With the tool assembly 107 in the articulated configuration, the pin 126 will be positioned within the internal walls that define the slot 134 of the reload 106 and a user will be prevented from rotating the reload 106 in relation to the body portion 104 of the of the actuator device 101. Thus, the reload 106 cannot be inadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 104 when the tool assembly 107 is in the articulated configuration.
When the lever 105a of the articulating assembly 105 is actuated (e.g., to a third configuration to uncouple the reload 106 from the body portion 104), the first articulating link 120 is moved linearly within the body portion 104 to a slide the pin 126 out of engagement with the slot 134 in the shaft 109 and the second articulating link 130 to a position within the body portion 104 distal to the slot 128 (see FIG. 3). In this position, a user may rotate the reload 106 to disengage the reload 106 from the body portion 104. That is, the internal wall portions 132 that define the slot 1128 will not engage the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130.
The unique configuration of the first articulation link 120 including the pin 126 overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks associated with conventional staplers that are configured for use with articulating reloads. Specifically, this configuration prevents the reload 106 from being uncoupled from the body portion 104 when the tool assembly 107 is in an articulated configuration.
From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. For example, while the first articulating link 120 has been described herein as including a pin 126, other devices may be utilized in place of the pin 126. For example, FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate two different first articulating link configurations, which can be used in any of the embodiments disclosed herein. Specifically, FIG. 6A illustrates a first articulating link 220 that includes a welded block 226 and FIG. 6B illustrates a first articulating link 320 that includes a lance 326. Other than modifying the slot 134 in the reload 106 to accommodate the specific configuration of the welded block 226 and the lance 326, the first articulating links 226, 326 function in a manner as described above with respect to the first articulation link 126. Accordingly, the first articulating links 226, 326 will not be described in further detail.
While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

## Claims

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:
an actuator device including a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and a first articulating link extending longitudinally along the body portion, the body portion defining a slot, and the first articulating link being longitudinally movable between an initial first position and at least one second articulated position; and
a reload configured to be releasably coupled to a distal end of the body portion of the actuator device, the reload including a second articulating link configured to engage the first articulating link when the reload is coupled to the actuator device, the reload including a tool assembly which is pivotable from a first position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion to at least one position misaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the second articulation link having a first position and at least one second position corresponding to the first position and second position of the first articulation link;
wherein the slot of the body portion is positioned to receive the second articulation link in the at least one second position to prevent rotation of the reload in relation to the body portion.

2. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slot is defined by internal walls of the body portion.

3. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1, further including a mechanical interface disposed on the first articulating link, the mechanical interface being positioned adjacent a distal hook portion disposed at a distal end of the first articulating link.

4. A surgical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reload includes a slot disposed adjacent a proximal end of the reload, and the mechanical interface includes a pin, the pin being positioned to be received in the slot of the reload.

5. A surgical apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pin is configured to be received in the slot of the reload when the first articulating link is in the second articulated position to prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device.

6. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly includes a removable and replaceable staple cartridge.