A surgical stapling device includes a staple reload and a shipping wedge. In embodiments, the shipping wedge is configured to disable the use of a staple reload if the staple reload does not have an actuation sled. In other embodiments, the actuation sled includes a readable identifier that facilitates confirmation of the presence of an actuation sled within a staple reload from a location externally of the staple reload.

A surgical loading unit includes an anvil assembly, a staple cartridge assembly pivotably coupled to the anvil assembly, and a knife configured to approximate the staple cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. The staple cartridge assembly has a staple cartridge chassis having a support protruding outwardly from a proximal end thereof. The knife includes an upper plate coupled to the staple cartridge chassis and a lower plate coupled to the anvil assembly. The support of the staple cartridge chassis has an upper surface that is coplanar with or above an upper surface of the upper plate when the knife is in a proximal position for preventing the knife from catching on a surgical port during use.

A method is provided for forming a surgical stapler anvil with a first punch having a first plurality of protrusions and an opposing second punch having a second plurality of protrusions. A workpiece having first and second sides is positioned between the first and second punches. The first side is contacted by the first punch, thereby plastically deforming the first side with the first plurality of protrusions to displace material of the first side toward the second side. The second side is contacted by the second punch, thereby plastically deforming the second side to displace material of the second side toward the first side. A plurality of pockets is formed in the first side via the contact of the first punch with the first side and the contact of the second punch with the second side. Each of the pockets is configured to deform a leg of a surgical staple.

A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly that has a staple cartridge that includes a perfluorocarbon (hereinafter “PFC”) solution that is injected into tissue when the surgical stapling device is fired to improve oxygenation of tissue being treated. In aspects of the disclosure, the tool assembly of the surgical stapling device includes a staple cartridge that has staples that are supported on pushers and an actuation sled that is movable through the staple cartridge into engagement with the pushers to eject staples from the staple cartridge. In certain aspects of the disclosure, the PFC solution is contained within the pushers of a staple cartridge of the tool assembly and the actuation sled includes protrusions that engage the pushers to eject the PFC solution from the pushers when the stapling device is fired.

The present disclosure includes apparatuses for a surgical reloadable cartridge assembly. An example apparatus includes a blade assembly which comprises leaves and an I-beam. In an example there are two outer leaves and at least one inner leaf. The two outer leaves are connected to the I-beam. The at least one inner leaf is not connected to the outer leaves and is connected to the I-beam with a connection that allows the at least one inner leaf to move relative to the I-beam while not being pulled away from the I-beam when tension is applied to the at least one inner leaf.

An adapter assembly includes an articulation nut, an articulation link, and a drive belt operably coupled to a distal portion of the articulation link. The articulation link has a proximal end portion operably coupled to the articulation nut, such that rotation of the articulation nut results in translation of the articulation link. The drive belt has a distal end portion configured to be operably coupled to a proximal end portion of a surgical loading unit, such that movement of the drive belt articulates the surgical loading unit relative to the adapter assembly.

A surgical instrument comprising a sealed shaft interface is disclosed.

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about an articulation joint, and an articulation drive is disclosed. The articulation drive comprises a lock configured to hold the end effector in position when the articulation drive is not being operated. The articulation lock self-unlocks when the articulation drive is actuated.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and a closure drive configured to close the end effector is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a lock configured to hold a closure actuator of the closure drive in a partially-closed position. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive operable to rotate the end effector about an articulation joint when the closure drive is in its partially-closed position.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and an articulation drive system operable to articulate the end effector about an articulation joint is disclosed. The articulation drive system comprises an actuator which indicates whether the articulation drive system is in an operable state.