Surgical fastener applying apparatus including replaceable cartridge assembly

Abstract

A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a cartridge-receiving assembly and a cartridge assembly releasably engagable therewith. The cartridge assembly includes a housing and a knife assembly having a knife translatable from an initial position to a deployed position and a knife guard pivotable between a storage position, wherein the knife guard substantially encloses the knife member, and a use position, wherein the knife member is exposed for translation through the housing. The knife guard engages to the knife member such that translation of the knife member rotates the guard to the use position.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cartridge housing insertable into a surgical stapling instrument, the cartridge housing configured to hold a plurality of staples; and   a knife assembly including a knife member and a knife guard pivotably coupled to the cartridge housing by at least one peg, the knife guard rotatable about the peg between a storage position and a use position in response to translation of the knife member between an initial position and a deployed position, the knife member being releasably engaged with a drive beam.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the knife guard substantially encloses the knife member when in the storage position. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein, the knife member is exposed and translatable through the cartridge housing when the knife guard is in the use position. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the knife guard interacts with the knife member such that translation of the knife member out of the initial position urges the knife guard to rotate from the storage position to the use position and translation of the knife member towards the initial position urges the knife guard to rotate from the use position towards the storage position. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the knife guard has a cam track and a guard pin releasably engaged within the cam track. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein translation of the knife member out of the initial position urges the guard pin through the cam track to rotate the knife guard from the storage position towards the use position. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein continued translation of the knife member out of the initial position urges the guard pin to exit the cam track of the knife guard. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein translation of the knife member towards the initial position urges the guard pin to enter the cam track of the knife guard and translate through the cam track of the knife guard to rotate the knife guard from the use position back to the storage position. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical stapling device comprising:
 an end effector including an anvil assembly and cartridge assembly, the anvil and cartridge assemblies adapted to grasp tissue therebetween; and   a knife assembly including:
 a knife member configured to translate through the end effector from an initial position to a deployed position; and 
 a knife guard pivotably coupled to the cartridge assembly and movable between a storage position and a use position in response to translation of the knife member between the initial position and the deployed position the knife member being releasably engaged with a drive beam. 
   
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the knife guard interacts with the knife member such that translation of the knife member out of the initial position urges the knife guard to rotate from the storage position towards the use position. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 11 , wherein translation of the knife member towards the initial position urges the knife guard to rotate from the use position towards the storage position. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the knife guard defines a cam track and wherein the knife member includes a guard pin releasably engaged within the cam track. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 13 , wherein translation of the knife member out of the initial position urges the guard pin through the cam track to rotate the knife guard from the storage position towards the use position. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 14 , wherein continued translation of the knife member out of the initial position urges the guard pin to exit the cam track of the knife guard. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical stapling device according to  claim 15 , wherein translation of the knife member towards the initial position urges the guard pin to enter the cam track of the knife guard and translate through the cam track of the knife guard to rotate the knife guard from the use position towards the storage position.