US Patent 11382630 Surgical stapling device with two part knife assembly

A stapling device is provided that includes a reload assembly and an anvil assembly. The anvil assembly supports a cut ring. The reload assembly includes a knife assembly that has a distal knife portion and a proximal knife portion that are separate from each other. The distal knife portion includes a cutting edge and is movable with the proximal knife portion from a retracted position to an advanced position into engagement with the cut ring. In the advanced position, the distal knife portion is retained by the cut ring to shield the cutting edge of the distal knife portion.