Disposable loading unit and surgical instruments including same

Abstract

A disposable loading unit. The disposable loading unit includes a housing assembly, a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly, and an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly. The agent cartridge houses a medical agent. The disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] This application discloses an invention that is related, generally and in various embodiments, to a disposable loading unit configured for connection to a reusable surgical instrument, and to surgical instruments that include a disposable loading unit. [0002] Surgical instruments that are utilized to concurrently make longitudinal incisions in tissue and apply lines of staples on opposing sides of the incisions are known in the art. The tissue may include, for example, human tissue, animal tissue, membranes, or other organic substances. Such surgical instruments commonly include a pair of opposing jaw members that cooperate to grasp or clamp the tissue therebetween and a cutting surface that makes the incision. When employed in endoscopic or laparoscopic applications, the opposing jaw members are capable of passing through a cannula passageway. One of the jaw members typically supports a staple cartridge having at least two laterally spaced rows of sta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a disposable loading unit for a surgical instrument. The unit includes a housing, a knife, an agent cartridge, and a medical agent driver. The unit is designed to deliver the medical agent to the cutting surface of the knife. The instrument may also include a staple cartridge and an anvil assembly. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a convenient and efficient way to use a medical agent during surgical procedures.

Problems solved by technology

The trauma caused to the tissue with such actions can be significant.

In general, the delivery of sufficient amounts of medical agents to the site of the traumatized tissue promotes the proper sealing of the incision, reduces the possibility of infection, and / or significantly improves the healing process.

Such means generally increase the complexity and cost associated with the procedure.

However, such means are often necessary because many of the surgical instruments utilized to concurrently make the incision and apply the staples are not configured to store and deliver sufficient amounts of medical agents to the site of the traumatized tissue, and the delivery of some medical agents to the site of the traumatized tissue via the surgical instrument would render the surgical instrument unsuitable for reuse.

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