Surgical Stapler

Abstract

A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A surgical tool for applying staples, comprising:
 first and second jaws, the first jaw supporting a plurality of staples arranged in linear rows having a length of 80 mm, and the second jaw supporting an anvil, the first and second jaws being pivotally connected and being relatively moveable between an open position and a closed position;   an actuation sled; and   a drive member supporting a cam member and a balancing flange at a distal end of the drive member, the drive member including an elongated drive beam, the drive member being positioned to engage the actuation sled and being movable through the first and second jaws to move the actuation sled through the first jaw to eject the plurality of staples from the first jaw.   
     
     
         7 . The surgical tool according to  claim 6 , wherein the first jaw includes a longitudinal slot for accommodating the drive member. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a handle assembly including a pivotable handle. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical device according to  claim 8 , wherein multiple movements of the pivotable handle are needed to move the drive member and eject all the plurality of staples from the first jaw. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical device according to  claim 6 , wherein the first jaw includes a surgical stapling cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical device according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive member includes a knife. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical device according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive member has a distal working head which includes the cam member and the balancing flange. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical tool for applying staples, comprising:
 first and second jaws, the first jaw supporting a plurality of staples arranged in linear rows having a length of 80 mm, and the second jaw supporting an anvil, the first and second jaws being pivotally connected and being relatively moveable between an open position and a closed position; and   a drive member supporting a cam member and a balancing flange at a distal end of the drive member, the drive member including an elongated drive beam and being movable through the first and second jaws to eject the plurality of staples from the first jaw,   wherein the drive member includes a vertical strut and a retention flange projecting distally from the vertical strut, the cam member being disposed on the retention flange.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical device according to  claim 13 , wherein the anvil defines a plurality of staple forming recesses. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical device according to  claim 13 , wherein the cam member is a cam roller. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a handle assembly including a release mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical device according to  claim 16 , wherein the handle assembly includes an actuation shaft having a plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical device according to  claim 16 , wherein the handle assembly includes a manually actuable actuation handle. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical tool for applying staples, comprising:
 first and second jaws, the first jaw supporting a plurality of staples arranged in linear rows having a length of 80 mm, and the second jaw supporting an anvil, the first and second jaws being pivotally connected to each other and being movable between an open position and a closed position;   a drive member having a distal end supporting a cam member and a balancing flange, the drive member including an elongated drive beam that is movable through the first and second jaws to eject the plurality of staples from the first jaw; and   a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a manually actuable actuation handle.