US Patent 10499922 Stapling device with self-releasing knife carrier pusher

A circular stapling device includes a reload and an elongate body or adaptor. The reload includes a staple pusher assembly, a knife carrier, and an annular knife supported on the knife carrier. The adaptor includes a pusher drive member and a knife carrier pusher having at least one resilient finger that is deformable inwardly towards the knife carrier into releasable engagement with the knife carrier to releasably couple the knife carrier to the knife carrier pusher. In a pre-fired state, the pusher is positioned to retain the resilient finger in the deformed state to prevent separation of the knife carrier pusher and the knife carrier. After the stapling device is fired and the knife carrier is advanced and subsequently retracted, the resilient finger of the knife carrier pusher is positioned to flex outwardly from the deformed state to automatically uncouple the knife carrier pusher from the knife carrier.