TODAY’S PATENT – TOOL ASSEMBLY FOR A SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE

Today’s patent was invented by David C. Racenet, Philip Roy, John Beardsley, Lee Olson, Ralph Stearns, and Clifford Emmons and was granted patent on January 18, 2022, bearing patent no. US11224429B2.

A surgical device comprising a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a clamping member and a clamp apparatus is disclosed. The clamping member is slidably positioned to translate at least partially through the first jaw member. The clamping member engages the first jaw member and the second jaw member, and has a knife blade for cutting tissue. A flange of the clamping member is configured to engage a cam surface to pivot the second jaw member with respect to the first jaw member from an open position toward an approximated position.

The clamp apparatus is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from exceeding a predetermined distance. The clamping member and the clamp apparatus are separately movable.