End effector coupling arrangements for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft defines an axis, and a disposable loading unit which is assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the shaft axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft of the surgical instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar and/or detent assembly configured to hold the disposable loading unit in place. In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit can include a lockout feature which can prevent, or at least inhibit, an expended disposable loading unit from being reassembled to the elongated body of the surgical instrument.

1 . A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical instrument having a handle and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends from the handle along an axis, the disposable loading unit comprising:
 a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;   an anvil including at least one staple-deforming cavity; and   an end connector configured to be operatively coupled to the surgical instrument shaft, wherein said end connector is configured to be assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the axis.   
   
   
       2 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 1 , wherein said transverse direction is perpendicular to the shaft axis. 
   
   
       3 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 1 , wherein said transverse direction is oblique to the shaft axis. 
   
   
       4 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the surgical instrument includes at least one shaft groove and at least one shaft rib, wherein said end connector includes at least one connector groove and at least one connector rib, wherein said connector groove is configured to receive the shaft rib, and wherein said connector rib is configured to be positioned within the shaft groove. 
   
   
       5 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar having an at least partially threaded aperture, wherein said end connector includes a threaded portion, and wherein said collar is configured to be threadably engaged with said threaded portion to retain said disposable loading unit to the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       6 . A surgical stapling instrument for use with a disposable loading unit, the surgical instrument comprising:
 a handle;   a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft defines an axis; and   an end connector configured to be operably coupled with the disposable loading unit, wherein said end connector is configured such that the disposable loading unit is assembled to said shaft in a direction which is transverse to said axis.   
   
   
       7 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , wherein said transverse direction is perpendicular to said shaft axis. 
   
   
       8 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , wherein said transverse direction is oblique to said shaft axis. 
   
   
       9 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the disposable loading unit includes at least one disposable loading unit groove and at least one disposable loading unit rib, wherein said end connector includes at least one connector groove and at least one connector rib, wherein said connector groove is configured to receive the disposable loading unit rib, and wherein said connector rib is configured to be positioned within the disposable loading unit groove. 
   
   
       10 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , further comprising a collar having an at least partially threaded aperture, wherein the disposable loading unit includes a threaded portion, and wherein said collar is configured to be threadably engaged with the threaded portion to retain the disposable loading unit to the surgical stapling instrument. 
   
   
       11 . A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical instrument having a handle and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends from the handle along an axis, and wherein the shaft includes a detent, the disposable loading unit comprising:
 a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;   an anvil including at least one staple deforming cavity; and   an end connector configured to be operatively coupled to the surgical instrument shaft in a direction along the shaft axis, wherein said end connector comprises a groove configured to cooperate with the detent and retain the disposable loading unit to the shaft.   
   
   
       12 . A surgical stapling instrument for use with a disposable loading unit, the surgical instrument comprising:
 a handle;   a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft defines an axis; and   an end connector configured to be operably coupled with the disposable loading unit in a direction along said shaft axis, wherein said end connector comprises a detent assembly for engaging the disposable loading unit and holding the disposable loading unit in place after it has been assembled to said end connector.   
   
   
       13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the disposable loading unit includes a recess, wherein said detent assembly comprises a spring element and a key element, and wherein said spring element is configured to bias said key element into the disposable loading unit recess. 
   
   
       14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13 , further comprising an actuator operably connected with said spring element, wherein said actuator is configured to move said spring element between a first position in which said spring element is operably engaged with said key element and a second position in which said spring element is operably disengaged from said key element such that said key element can be displaced from the groove. 
   
   
       15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein said actuator includes a sleeve at least partially surrounding said shaft, and wherein said sleeve is slidable relative to said shaft. 
   
   
       16 . A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical instrument having a handle and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends from the handle along an axis, the disposable loading unit comprising:
 a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge;   an anvil including at least one staple deforming cavity;   a drive member movable relative to said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil, said drive member including a cutting edge;   an end connector configured to be engaged with the shaft in a direction along the shaft axis and rotated about the shaft axis to secure the disposable loading unit to the shaft;   a lockout member configured to substantially prevent said drive member from moving relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge when said lockout member is in a first position, wherein said lockout member is configured to be moved into a second position when said end connector is rotated about the shaft axis to allow said drive member to be moved relative to said anvil and said staple cartridge; and   a biasing member configured to hold said lockout member in said second position after the disposable loading unit has been disengaged from the surgical instrument to prevent the end connector from being reengaged with the shaft of the surgical instrument.   
   
   
       17 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 16 , wherein said end connector includes a first alignment guide, wherein said lockout member includes a second alignment guide, wherein the shaft includes a shaft alignment guide, wherein said first and second alignment guides are substantially aligned with the shaft alignment guide when said end effector is inserted into the shaft, wherein said first alignment guide is moved out of alignment with said second alignment guide and the shaft alignment guide when said end connector is rotated about the shaft axis, and wherein said biasing member is configured to bias said first alignment guide out of alignment with said second alignment guide after the disposable loading unit has been disengaged from the surgical instrument so as to prevent the end connector from being reengaged with the shaft of the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       18 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 17 , wherein said first alignment guide comprises a projection, wherein said second alignment guide comprises a projection, and wherein the shaft alignment guide comprises a groove configured to receive the projections of the first and second alignment guides. 
   
   
       19 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 16 , wherein said anvil includes a distal end, and wherein the disposable loading unit further comprises a retaining member configured to render said biasing member inactive until after said drive member has been advanced toward said distal end. 
   
   
       20 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 19 , wherein said biasing member comprises a spring compressible between a first length and a second length, wherein said retaining member comprises a plate configured to hold said spring in said first length before said drive member is advanced toward said distal end, wherein said plate is operably engaged with said drive member such that said plate is operably disengaged with said spring when said drive member is advanced toward said distal end, and wherein said spring is configured to expand to said second length when said plate is operably disengaged from said spring. 
   
   
       21 . The disposable loading unit of  claim 20 , wherein said plate is configured to detach from said drive member after said plate has been operably disengaged from said spring such that said plate cannot be operably reengaged with said spring.