Surgical instrument with double cartridge and anvil assemblies

Abstract

An end effector for use with a surgical instrument having a first cartridge assembly configured to deploy a first set of fasteners and a second cartridge assembly disposed distally of the first cartridge assembly. The second cartridge assembly is configured to move between an open position and an approximated position relative to clamp tissue. A central rod extends between the first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a first cartridge assembly including a plurality of first fastener slots, each slot of the plurality of first fastener slots receiving a first fastener;   a first anvil assembly disposed distally of the first cartridge assembly, the first anvil assembly including a plurality of first anvil pockets each configured to receive one first fastener deployed from the first cartridge assembly;   a second cartridge assembly disposed distally of the first anvil, the second cartridge assembly including a plurality of second fastener slots, each slot of the plurality of second fastener slots receiving a second fastener;   a second anvil assembly disposed between the second cartridge assembly and the first anvil assembly, the second anvil assembly including a plurality of second anvil pockets each configured to receive one second fastener deployed from the second cartridge assembly; and   a central rod extending between the first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly, the central rod including at least one longitudinal key adapted to rotatably fix the first anvil assembly and the second anvil assembly relative to the central rod such that each slot of the plurality of first fastener slots is axially aligned with a corresponding pocket of the plurality of first anvil pockets of the first anvil assembly, and such that each slot of the plurality of second fastener slots is axially aligned with a corresponding pocket of the plurality of second anvil pockets of the second anvil assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The end effector according to  claim 2 , wherein the first anvil assembly and the second anvil assembly each include at least one key slot adapted to receive the at least one longitudinal key of the central rod. 
     
     
         4 . The end effector according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the first anvil assembly and the second anvil assembly is mounted on the central rod for movement in relation to the central rod in response to movement of the central rod. 
     
     
         5 . The end effector according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one longitudinal key of the central rod extends along a length of the central rod between the first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly and the at least one key slot of each of the first anvil assembly and the second anvil assembly are adapted to receive the at least one longitudinal key of the central rod to prevent rotation of the first anvil assembly and the second anvil assembly relative to the central rod as the first anvil assembly and the second anvil assembly move in relation to the central rod along the length of the central rod. 
     
     
         6 . The end effector according to  claim 5 , wherein the central rod has a circular cross-section and the at least one longitudinal key of the central rod includes a radial array of longitudinal keys extending along the length of the central rod. 
     
     
         7 . The end effector according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one key slot of the first anvil assembly defines a first radial array of key slots, the first radial array of key slots adapted to receive the radial array of longitudinal keys of the central rod and the at least one key slot of the second anvil assembly defines a second radial array of key slots, the second radial array of key slots adapted to receive the radial array of longitudinal keys of the central rod. 
     
     
         8 . The end effector according to  claim 2 , wherein the first cartridge assembly further comprises a knife that is movable between a proximal position and a distal position, and the first anvil assembly includes a weakened portion, the weakened portion being configured to be broken by the knife as the knife moves towards the distal position. 
     
     
         9 . The end effector according to  claim 8 , wherein the first cartridge assembly includes a plurality of first fastener pushers, each of the plurality of first fastener pushers being movable to eject one first fastener of the plurality of first fasteners from the first cartridge assembly, the plurality of first fastener pushers operatively coupled to the knife such that distal movement of the plurality of first fastener pushers moves the knife between the proximal position and the distal position. 
     
     
         10 . The end effector according to  claim 2 , wherein the second cartridge assembly includes a plurality of second fastener pushers, each of the plurality of fastener pushers being movable to eject one second fastener of the plurality of second fasteners from the second cartridge assembly.