SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS

摘要

A surgical stapling apparatus (10) includes a tissue gap adjustment mechanism (260) having a stop member (250), an asymmetrical polygonal washer (264), and a set screw (262). The stop member (250) is supported on a drive screw (220), includes first and second flanges (255a, 255b), and defines a transverse slot (254) between the flanges (255a, 255b). The stop member (250) sets a minimum tissue gap. The washer (264) defines an eccentrically positioned aperture (268) and includes a plurality of pairs of opposed flat sides (269a-269h). The set screw (262) is configured to fix the stop member (250) relative to the drive screw (220). The washer (264) is selectively rotatable about the set screw (262) to position a selected pair of sides (269a-269h) between and in engagement with the flanges (255a, 255b) to set the position of the aperture (268) of the washer (264) relative to the transverse slot (254), thereby setting the stop member (250) relative to the drive screw (220) and defining the minimum tissue gap.

主权项

1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
a handle portion defining a proximal end and a distal end; a body extending distally from the handle portion; a stapling assembly supported on a distal end of the body; an anvil assembly; a drive screw supported within the handle portion and operably coupled to the anvil assembly, the drive screw defining a transverse aperture and being movable relative to the stapling assembly to move the anvil assembly relative to the stapling assembly between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position; and a tissue gap adjustment mechanism disposed within the handle portion and including:
a stop member supported on the drive screw, the stop member including first and second flanges which define a transverse slot, the stop member configured to abut a stop surface within the handle portion to prevent further proximal movement of the drive screw within the handle portion and set a minimum tissue gap between the anvil assembly and the stapling assembly;an asymmetrical polygonal washer defining an eccentrically positioned aperture and including a plurality of pairs of opposed flat sides, the washer being dimensioned to be positioned within the transverse slot such that each of the pairs of opposed flat sides can be selectively positioned between and in engagement with the first and second flanges; anda set screw configured for insertion through the aperture of the washer, the transverse slot, and the transverse aperture to fix the stop member relative to the drive screw, wherein the washer is repositionable about the set screw to position a selected pair of the opposed flat sides between and in engagement with the first and second flanges, at least two of the pairs of opposed flat sides when engaged with the first and second flanges being spaced to position the aperture of the washer at different locations within the transverse slot such that the position of the stop member in relation to the drive screw can be selectively varied by positioning a different pair of opposed flat sides in engagement with the first and second flanges to selectively change the minimum tissue gap.