END EFFECTOR COUPLING ARRANGEMENTS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT

• Main Authors: Messerly, Jeffrey D, Kelly, William D, Tanguay, Randall J, Doll, Kevin R, Kolata, Ronald J, Blair, Gregory B, Huitema, Thomas W, Ransick, Mark H, Armstrong, Glen A, Weizman, Patrick A, Bruewer, Dean B, Swayze, Jeffrey S, Moore, Kyle P, Smith, Bret W, Hueil, Geoffrey C, Shelton, IV, Frederick E, Morgan, Jerome R, Timm, Richard W, Robertson, Galen C, Parihar, Shailendra K, Scheib, Charles J, Hoffman, Douglas B, Weisenburgh, II, William B, Uth, Joshua R, Ortiz, Mark S, Hall, Steven G, Korvick, Donna L, Zwolinski, Andrew M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.04.2021
• Subjects: DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; SURGERY

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.