Patent ID: 8353438

Claim:
An introducer for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient, the circular stapler having a handle portion, an elongated shaft protruding from the handle portion, and a stapling head coupled to the elongated shaft, said introducer comprising: a hollow flexible sheath having a distal end and an open proximal end, said hollow flexible sheath sized to receive the stapling head and at least a portion of the elongated shaft therein; and a rigid cap assembly attached to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath, said rigid cap assembly configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered by said rigid cap assembly when the stapling head has been inserted therein to a fully inserted position and an open position wherein said cap assembly may be proximally withdrawn from around the stapling head and elongated shaft, said cap assembly having a portion shaped to match a shape of a perimeter of a corresponding portion of the stapling head to enable the rigid cap assembly to pass proximally past the stapling head when being withdrawn therefrom.