Devices and methods for assembling adapter assemblies

Abstract

A device for loading a trocar assembly with an adapter assembly of a surgical stapling instrument is provided. The trocar loading device includes a base member and an engagement member operatively secured to the base member. The base member defines a longitudinal passage for receipt of a trocar assembly and the engagement member releasably secures the trocar member within the base member. The base member includes an alignment feature for aligning the trocar assembly with an adapter assembly.

Claims

1. A trocar loading device comprising: a base member defining a longitudinal passage for receiving a distal portion of a trocar member of a trocar assembly and a distal portion of a trocar housing of the trocar assembly, and an engagement arm secured to the base member and configured to releasably secure a trocar assembly within the base member.

2. The trocar loading device of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a connector portion configured to facilitate alignment of the trocar loading device with an adapter assembly.

3. The trocar loading device of claim 2, wherein the connector portion includes a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section.

4. The trocar loading device of claim 3, wherein the first cylindrical section is configured for receipt within a distal end of an adapter assembly.

5. The trocar loading device of claim 4, wherein the second cylindrical section is configured to act as a stop member for preventing over-insertion of the first cylindrical section into the distal end of the adapter assembly.

6. The trocar loading device of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a handle portion configured for operable engagement by a user.

7. The trocar loading device of claim 1, wherein the engagement arm includes an elongate portion, a C-shaped flange portion disposed on a first end of the elongate portion, and a locking portion extending from the flange portion.

8. The trocar loading device of claim 7, wherein the engagement arm further includes a release tab extending from the flange portion.

9. The trocar loading device of claim 8, wherein the engagement arm is formed from a single piece of material.

10. The trocar loading device of claim 7, wherein the engagement arm includes an inclined surface to facilitate receipt of a trocar assembly within the base member.

11. The trocar loading device of claim 1, wherein the engagement arm is secured to the base member by the screw.

12. The trocar loading device of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a tapered section to accommodate flexing of the engagement arm.

13. A trocar loading assembly comprising: a trocar assembly configured to releasably secure an anvil assembly to an adapter assembly, the trocar assembly including a trocar housing having a distal portion, and a trocar member selectively extendable from the trocar housing and having a distal portion, and a trocar loading device including: a base member defining a longitudinal passage for receiving the distal portion of the trocar member of the trocar assembly and the distal portion of the trocar housing of the trocar assembly; and an engagement arm secured to the base member and configured to releasably secure the trocar assembly within the base member.

14. The trocar loading assembly of claim 13, wherein the base member of the trocar loading device includes a handle portion configured for operable engagement by a user.

15. The trocar loading assembly of claim 13, wherein the engagement arm of the trocar loading device includes an elongate portion, a C-shaped flange portion disposed on a first end of the elongate portion, and a locking portion extending from the flange portion.

16. The trocar loading assembly of claim 15, wherein the engagement arm of the trocar loading device further includes a release tab extending from the flange portion.

17. The trocar loading assembly of claim 16, wherein the engagement arm of the trocar loading device is formed from a single piece of material.

18. The trocar loading assembly of claim 13, wherein the engagement arm of the trocar loading device is secured to the base member by the screw.

19. The trocar loading assembly of claim 13, wherein the base member of the trocar loading device includes tapered section to accommodate flexing of the engagement arm.

20. The trocar loading assembly of claim 19, wherein the engagement arm of the trocar loading device includes an inclined surface to facilitate receipt of the trocar assembly within the base member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with a general description of the disclosure given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling instrument including an adapter assembly and a trocar assembly securable within the adapter assembly by a trocar loading device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adapter assembly and the trocar assembly of the surgical stapling instrument shown in FIG. 1 with components separated;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view of a trocar loading device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and the trocar assembly shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side, perspective view of the trocar loading device shown in FIG. 3 with components separated;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side, perspective view of the trocar assembly shown in FIG. 3 secured to the trocar loading device shown in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top, perspective view of the trocar assembly and the trocar loading device shown in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the trocar assembly and the trocar loading device as shown in FIG. 3, with a trocar member in an advanced position;

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 7-7 shown in FIG. 5;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side, perspective view of the trocar assembly and the trocar loading unit shown in FIG. 3 in operable engagement with the adapter assembly shown in FIG. 2;

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 is a side, perspective view of the trocar assembly and the adapter assembly shown in FIG. 9 secured together;

(13) FIG. 12 is a side, perspective view of the trocar assembly shown in FIG. 2 and a trocar loading device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

(14) FIG. 13 is a side, perspective view of the trocar loading device shown in FIG. 12 with components separated;

(15) FIG. 14 is a side, perspective view of the trocar assembly and trocar loading device shown in FIG. 12 secured together;

(16) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 15-15 shown in FIG. 14;

(17) FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of trocar assembly and trocar loading unit shown in FIG. 12 secured to a distal end of the adapter assembly shown in FIG. 2 with the trocar loading device engaged with the trocar assembly;

(18) FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of trocar assembly and trocar loading unit shown in FIG. 12 secured to the distal end of the adapter assembly shown in FIG. 16 with the trocar loading device disengaged from the trocar assembly;

(19) FIG. 18 is a trocar assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(20) FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the trocar assembly shown in FIG. 18 secured to an adapter assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(21) FIG. 20 is an end, perspective view of a trocar assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure and a retainer housing configured to engage the trocar assembly;

(22) FIG. 21 is an end, perspective view of the trocar assembly shown in FIG. 20 and a yolk housing configured to engage the trocar assembly; and

(23) FIG. 22 is an end, perspective view of the trocar assembly shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 secured relative to the retainer housing shown in FIG. 20 and the yolk housing shown in FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(24) Embodiments of the presently disclosed devices and methods for facilitating assembly of a trocar assembly with an adapter assembly will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As is common in the art, the term “proximal” refers to that part or component closer to the user or operator, e.g. surgeon or clinician, while the term “distal” refers to that part or component farther away from the user.

(25) Referring initially to FIG. 1, an adapter assembly suitable for use with the devices and methods of the present disclosure, shown generally as adapter assembly 20, is a component of a surgical stapling instrument 10. The surgical stapling instrument 10 further includes a powered handle assembly 30, a loading unit 40, and an anvil assembly 50. Although shown and described with reference to the surgical stapling instrument 10 and the adapter assembly 20, the aspects of the present disclosure may be modified for use with surgical stapling instruments having alternative configurations. For a detailed description of exemplary powered surgical stapling instruments, please refer to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,023,014 (“the '014 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 9,055,943 (“the '943 patent”), the content of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

(26) The adapter assembly 20 of the surgical stapling instrument 10 will only be described to the extent necessary to fully disclose the aspects of the present disclosure. For a detailed description of exemplary adapter assemblies, please refer to commonly owned U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2016/0106406 (“the '406 publication) and 2017/0086879 (“the '879 publication”), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

(27) With additional reference to FIG. 2, the adapter assembly 20 of the surgical stapling instrument 10 includes a proximal portion 22 configured for operable connection to the handle assembly 30 (FIG. 1) and a distal portion 24 configured for operable connection to the loading unit 40 (FIG. 1). Although shown and described as forming an integral unit, it is envisioned that the proximal and distal portions 22, 24 of the adapter assembly 20 may be formed as separate units that are releasably securable to one another. The distal portion 24 of the adapter assembly 20 includes a connection member 26 for releasably connecting the loading unit 40 with the adapter assembly 20. As described in further detail below, the connector member 26 defines an alignment slot 27 for receiving an alignment feature 116 of the trocar loading device 100.

(28) A removable trocar assembly configured for use with the devices and methods of the present disclosure, shown generally as trocar assembly 50, is releasably securable within the distal portion 24 of the adapter assembly 20. The trocar assembly 50 will only be described to the extent necessary to fully disclose the aspects of the present disclosure. For a detailed description of an exemplary trocar assembly, please refer to the '879 publication.

(29) The removable trocar assembly 50 includes a housing 52, a trocar member 54 slidably disposed within the housing 52, and a drive member 56 (FIG. 8) operably received within the trocar member 54 for axially moving the trocar member 54 relative to the housing 52. A tapered distal portion 54a of the trocar member 54 is configured for releasable connection by the anvil assembly 50 (FIG. 1) of the surgical stapling instrument 10 (FIG. 1). A body portion 54b of the trocar member 54 defines an engagement slot 55. As will be described in further detail below, the engagement slot 55 receives a flange 146 of an engagement arm 104 of a trocar loading device 100.

(30) With reference now to FIGS. 3-8, a device for holding and aligning the trocar assembly 50 with the adapter assembly 20 according an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown generally as trocar loading device 100. The trocar loading device 100 includes a base member 102 and an engagement arm 104 secured to the base member 102 by a screw 106. The base member 102 is configured to receive a proximal portion of the trocar assembly 50 and to align the trocar assembly 50 with the distal portion 24 (FIG. 2) of the adapter assembly 20, as described below. The engagement arm 104 of the trocar loading device 100 is configured to align the trocar assembly 50 with the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 and to releasably secure the trocar assembly 50 with the base member 110, as described below.

(31) With continued reference to FIGS. 3-8, the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 includes a connector portion 110 configured to facilitate alignment of the trocar loading device 100 with the adapter assembly 20, a receiving portion 120 configured to receive the trocar assembly 50, and a handle portion 130 configured for operable engagement by a user. Although shown as being integrally formed, any or all of the connector portion 110, the receiving portion 120, and the handle portion 130 may be formed as separate components that are secured together using known methods.

(32) The connector portion 110 of the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 includes a first cylindrical section 112 and a second cylindrical section 114. The first cylindrical section 112 of the connector portion 110 of the base member 102 is configured to be received within the connector member 26 of the distal portion 24 of the adapter assembly 20. The first cylindrical section 112 includes an alignment feature 116 that is received within the slot 27 in the connector member 26 of the adapter assembly 20 to align the trocar loading device 100 with the adapter assembly 20. The second cylindrical section 114 of the connector portion 110 of the base member 102 acts as a stop member for preventing over-insertion of the of first cylindrical section 114 of the connector portion 110 of the base member 102 into the connector member 26 of the adapter assembly 100 (FIG. 2).

(33) The receiving portion 120 of the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 includes an elongate body 122 having a contoured section 124 and a tapered section 126. The contoured section 124 of the elongate body 122 is configured to facilitate engagement by a user of the trocar loading device 100 when separating the trocar loading device 100 from the trocar assembly 50 subsequent to the trocar assembly 50 being secured to the adapter assembly 20 (FIG. 2). As described below, the tapered section 126 of the elongate body 122 accommodates flexing of the engagement arm 104 of the trocar loading device 100 during attachment to and separation of the trocar assembly 50 from the trocar loading device 100.

(34) The elongate body 122 of the base member 102 defines a longitudinal passage 121 configured to receive the trocar member 54 of the trocar assembly 50. An open distal end of the elongate body 122 facilitates cleansing and sterilization of the trocar assembly 50 while secured to the trocar loading device 100. The elongate body 122 of the base member 102 also defines a cutout 123a for accommodating a flange 140 of the engagement arm 104 and a slot 123b for receiving a locking portion 144 of the engagement arm 104. In embodiments, and as shown, the elongate body 122 of the base member 102 defines a threaded opening 125 for receiving the screw 106 for securing the engagement arm 104 to the base member 102.

(35) In embodiments, the elongate body 122 includes flush ports 127 for permitting cleansing and sterilization of the trocar assembly 50 while the trocar loading device 100 is secured to the trocar assembly 50.

(36) Although shown as a substantially planar body 132 that extends radially outward from the receiving portion 120 of the base member 102, the handle portion 130 of the base member 102 may include any configuration to facilitate handling by a user. The planar body 132 of the base member 102 enables the trocar loading device 100, with the trocar assembly 20 secured thereto, to be maintained in an upright, standing position to accommodate placement of the trocar assembly 50 during handling and prior to assembly with the adapter assembly 20, without risk of contaminating and/or compromising the sterility of the trocar assembly 50.

(37) The engagement arm 104 of the trocar loading device 100 includes an elongate portion 140, a C-shaped flange portion 142 disposed on a first end of the elongate portion 140, and a locking portion 144 extending from the flange portion 142. A release tab 146 extends from the flange portion 142. The engagement arm 104 may be integrally formed from a single piece of material. In embodiments, the engagement arm 104 is formed of stamped sheet metal or molded plastic.

(38) In embodiments, and as shown, the engagement arm 104 of the trocar loading device 100 is secured to the base member 102 by the screw 106 received through an opening 141 formed in a second end of the elongate portion 140 of the engagement arm 104. The engagement arm 104 is configured such that when the elongate portion 140 is secured to the base member 102, the flange portion 142 of the engagement arm 104 is received within the cutout 123a of the base member 102 and the locking portion 144 of the engagement arm 104 is received within the slot 123b in the base member 102. The tapered section 126 of the base member 102 permits flexing of the engagement arm 104 to move the locking portion 144 of the engagement arm 104, as indicated by arrow “A” in FIG. 7, out of the slot 123a in the base member 102.

(39) The locking portion 144 of the engagement arm 104 includes an inclined surface 144a to facilitate receipt of the trocar assembly 50 within the receiving portion 120 of the base member 102. More particularly, the inclined surface 144a of the engagement arm 104 of the trocar loading device 100 engages the trocar assembly 50 as the trocar assembly 50 is received with the longitudinal passage 121 of the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 to cause inward flexing of the engagement arm 104. In this manner, the locking portion 144 of the engagement arm 104 is moved from within the slot 123a in the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 to permit receipt of the trocar assembly 50 within the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100.

(40) Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the trocar assembly 50 is secured to the trocar loading device 100 by receiving the trocar member 54 in the longitudinal passage 121 of the base member 102 and aligning the slot 55 in the trocar member 54 with the cutout 125 in the base member 102 to permit receipt of the engagement portion 144 of the engagement arm 104 into the slot 55 in the trocar member 54. As the trocar assembly 50 is received within the longitudinal passage 121, the inclined surface 144a of the engagement portion 144 engages the trocar member 54 to cause the engagement arm 102 of the trocar loading device 100 to flex, as indicated by arrow “A” in FIG. 7, to permit receipt of the trocar assembly 50 within the base member 102. Once the slot 55 in the trocar member 54 is aligned with the engagement portion 144 of the engagement arm 104, the engagement arm 104 returns to its unflexed position (FIG. 8) and the engagement portion 144 is received through the slot 127 in the base member 102 and through the slot 55 in the trocar member 54 to secure the trocar assembly 50 within the longitudinal passage 121 of the base member 102.

(41) Turning to FIGS. 9 and 10, once the trocar loading device 100 is secured to the trocar assembly 50, the trocar loading device 100 may be used to secure the trocar assembly 50 to the adapter assembly 20. The trocar assembly 20 is secured to the adapter assembly 20 by receiving the first cylindrical section 112 of the connector portion 110 of the base member 102 of the trocar loading device 100 within the connector member 26 of the adapter assembly 20. Proper alignment of the trocar assembly 50 with the adapter assembly 20 is ensured when the alignment feature 116 on the first cylindrical section 112 is received within the alignment slot 27 of the connector member 26. As noted above, the second cylindrical section 114 of the connector portion 110 of the base member 102 acts as a stop to prevent over-insertion of the trocar assembly 50 within the adapter assembly 20. In embodiments, the adapter assembly 20 may provide an audible or tactile indication that the trocar assembly 50 is secured to the adapter assembly 20.

(42) Once the trocar assembly 50 is secured to the adapter assembly 20, the trocar loading device 100 is separated from the adapter assembly 20 and the trocar assembly 50 by first flexing the engagement arm 104 by engaging the tab portion 146 to move the projection portion 144 from within the slot 55 in the trocar member 54 of the trocar assembly 50 and then sliding the trocar loading device 100 longitudinally away from the adapter assembly 20 and from about the trocar assembly 50.

(43) After securing the trocar assembly 50 within the adapter assembly 20, operation of the adapter assembly 20 is substantially similar to operation of the exemplary adapter assemblies shown and described in the '879 publication, previously incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

(44) With reference now to FIGS. 12-19, another embodiment of a device for holding and aligning the trocar assembly 50 is shown generally as trocar loading device 200. The trocar loading device 200 is substantially similar to trocar loading device 100 described above, and therefore will only be described in detail as it relates to the differences therebetween.

(45) The trocar loading device 200 includes a base member 202, an engagement member 204 received about the base member 202, and a holding member 206 secured to the engagement member 204. As will be described below, a spring member 208 biases the base member 202 away from the holding member 206 to spring load the trocar assembly 50 within the trocar loading device 200.

(46) The base member 202 of the trocar loading device 200 includes a flanged proximal portion 210 configured to facilitate alignment of the trocar loading device 200 with the adapter assembly 20 (FIG. 2) and a receiving portion 220 configured to receive the trocar assembly 50. More particularly, the receiving portion 220 includes an elongate body 222 having a tapered section 226. The tapered section 226 accommodates flexing of the engagement member 204 of the trocar loading device 200 during attachment to and separation from the trocar assembly 50 from the trocar loading device 200. The elongate body 222 of the receiving portion 220 of the base member 202 defines a longitudinal passage 221 configured to receive the trocar member 54 (FIG. 12) of the trocar assembly 50. The elongate body 222 of the base member 202 also defines a cutout 223a for accommodating a flange 242 of the engagement member 204 and a slot 223b for receiving a locking portion 244 of the engagement member 204.

(47) First and second sets of projections 212, 214 extend outwardly from the elongate body 222 of the receiving portion 220 of the base member 202. The first and second sets of projections 212, 214 define a channel 213 therebetween. As will be described below, the channels 213 are configured to receive guide arms 248 of the engagement member 204 in a sliding manner.

(48) In embodiments, the elongate body 222 includes flush ports 227 (FIG. 15) for permitting cleansing and sterilization of the trocar assembly 50 while the trocar loading device 200 is secured to the trocar assembly 50.

(49) The engagement member 204 of the trocar loading device 200 includes an elongate portion 240, a C-shaped flange portion 242 disposed on a first end of the elongate portion 240, and a locking portion 244 extending from the flange portion 242. The engagement member 204 further includes the guide arms 248 for securing the engagement member 204 relative to the base member 202. The guide arms 248 extend from a connector portion 250 of the engagement member 204. The connector portion 250 defines an opening 249 for receiving a screw 206a for connecting the engagement member 204 to the holding member 206.

(50) The engagement member 204 of the trocar loading device 200 is configured such that when the engagement member 204 is secured about the base member 202, the flange portion 242 of the engagement member 204 is received within the cutout 223a of the base member 202 and the locking portion 244 of the engagement member 204 is received within the slot 223b in the base member 202. The tapered section 226 of the base member 202 permits flexing of the engagement member 204 to move the locking portion 244 of the engagement member 204 out of the slot 223a in the base member 202.

(51) The locking portion 244 of the engagement member 204 includes an inclined surface 244a to facilitate receipt of the trocar member 54 (FIG. 12) of the trocar assembly 50 within the receiving portion 220 of the base member 202.

(52) The guide arms 248 of the engagement member 204 each include a tang 252 for engaging the first set of projections 212, respectively, on the elongate body 222 of the receiving portion 220 of the base member 202.

(53) As noted above, the engagement member 204 is secured to the holding member 206 by the screw 206a received through the opening 249 in the connector portion 250 of the engagement member 204. The base member 202 is secured relative to the engagement member 204 by with the guide arms 248. More particularly, the engagement member 204 is received about the base member 202 with the guide arms 248 received within the channels 213 defined between the first and second projections 212, 214, respectively, of the base member 202. The tangs 252 on the guide arms 248 retain the engagement member 204 relative to the base member 202. The spring 208 of the trocar loading device 200 is received between the connector portion 250 of the engagement member 204 and the base member 202 to bias the base member 202 relative to the holding member 206.

(54) The trocar loading device 200 operates in a substantially similar manner to the trocar loading device 100 described above. When the trocar assembly 50 is not properly secured by the engagement member 204 of the trocar loading device 200, the bias created by the spring 208 positioned between the base member 202 and the holding member 206 when receiving the trocar assembly 50 within the longitudinal passage 221 of the base member 202 of the trocar loading device 200 causes the trocar assembly to be ejected from within the longitudinal passage 221 of the base member 202.

(55) With reference now to FIGS. 18 and 19, a mechanism for ensuring that a trocar assembly is properly received and secured within an adapter assembly is shown with regards to trocar assembly 350 and adapter assembly 320 (FIG. 19).

(56) Referring initially to FIG. 18, the trocar assembly 350 includes an outer housing 352 and a trocar member 354. The outer housing 352 defines an annular cutout 353 configured for accommodating a compression spring 360. The cutout 353 has a depth and/or the compression spring 360 has a thickness that leaves a portion of the compression spring 360 disposed radially outward of an outer surface 352a of the outer housing 352.

(57) Referring now to FIG. 19, the adapter assembly 320 is configured to releasably receive the trocar assembly 350. A locking mechanism (not shown) secures the trocar assembly 350 within the adapter assembly 320 once the trocar assembly 350 is fully seated within the adapter assembly 320.

(58) A strain mechanism 330 is disposed within the adapter assembly 320 and is configured to engage the compression spring 360 when the trocar assembly 320 is received within the adapter assembly 320. More particularly, during receipt of the trocar assembly 350 within the adapter assembly 320, and prior to the trocar assembly 350 being fully seated within the adapter assembly 320, e.g., engaging a locking mechanism (not shown), the compression spring 360 comes into contact with the strain mechanism 330. Continued insertion of the trocar assembly 350 within the adapter assembly 320 compresses, e.g., loads, the compression spring 360.

(59) In the event that the trocar assembly 350 does not properly seat within the adapter assembly 320 and/or the locking mechanism (not shown) does not properly engage the trocar assembly 350, the loading of the compression spring 360 causes the trocar assembly 350 to be ejected from the adapter assembly 320.

(60) Following a stapling procedure, the trocar assembly 350 may be ejected from the adapter assembly 320 by releasing the trocar assembly 350 from the locking mechanism in a traditional manner.

(61) With reference now to FIGS. 20-22, mechanisms for assuring alignment of a trocar assembly within an adapter assembly are shown with regards to trocar assembly 450 and adapter assembly 420.

(62) The trocar assembly 450 includes a housing 452 and a bearing housing 456. Each of the housing 452 and the bearing housing 456 includes a flattened portion 452a, 456a, respectively. The flattened portions 452a, 256a of the respective housing 452 and bearing housing 456 are keyed to a flattened portion 470a of a retainer housing 470 (FIG. 20) and a flattened portion 480a of a yolk housing 480 (FIG. 21).

(63) With particular reference to FIG. 20, the retainer housing 470 defines a longitudinal passage 471 for receiving the trocar assembly 450. The flattened portions 452a, 456a of the respective housing 452 and bearing housing 456 and the flattened portion 470a of the retainer housing 470 align with one another to ensure proper orientation of the trocar assembly 450 within the retainer housing 470. Similarly, misalignment of the flattened portions 452a, 456a of the respective housing 452 and bearing housing 456 and the flattened portion 470a of the retainer housing 470 prevent loading of the trocar assembly 450 within the retainer housing 470.

(64) With particular reference to FIG. 21, the yolk housing 480 defines a longitudinal passage 481 for receiving the trocar assembly 450. The flattened portion 456a of the bearing housing 456 and the flattened portion 480a of the retainer housing 480 align with one another to ensure proper orientation of the trocar assembly 450 within the yolk housing 480. Similarly, misalignment of the flattened portion 456a of the bearing housing 456 and the flattened portion 480a of the yolk housing 480 prevent loading of the trocar assembly 450 within the yolk housing 480.

(65) In embodiments, the flattened portions 452a, 456a, 470a, 480a of the respective housing 452, bearing housing 456, retainer housing 470, yolk housing 480 may be formed of metal. The metal construction of the interfacing flattened portions 452a, 456a, 470a, 480a provides a greater feedback to the person assembling the adapter assembly 420, e.g., surgeon, and/or increases the difficulty of forcing the trocar assembly 450 within the adapter assembly 420 when the flattened portions 452a, 456a and flattened portions 470a, 480a are not aligned.

(66) The embodiments of the present disclosure may be used individually or in combination with the embodiments to facilitate proper loading and reloading of a trocar assembly within an adapter assembly.

(67) Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.