# US 10,863,988 B2 · Surgical instrument with lockout mechanism

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- Number: US 10,863,988 B2
- Document ID: US10863988B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/205,128
- Filed: 2018-11-29
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-29
- Assignees: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
- Applicants: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
- Inventors: Atal C Patel; Charles Godin; Matthew Aaron Wixey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863988B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 17/295: combined with cutting implements
- A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter}
- A61B 2017/2946: {Locking means}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Drive assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments, as well as surgical clamping and cutting instruments using these drive assemblies, are disclosed. The drive assemblies may include a drive member, a locking member mounted to the drive member, and a spring. The drive member may be configured to releasably engage at least one of a knife or a shuttle of a surgical clamping and cutting instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member may be movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. The spring may be configured to bias the locking member toward the second position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
an anvil jaw assembly;
a staple jaw assembly, the staple jaw assembly including a knife;
a drive member configured to releasably engage the knife, the knife configured to disengage from the drive member upon subsequent distal movement of the drive member;
a locking member supported by the drive member and pivotable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drive member; and
a slot configured to engage the locking member when the locking member is in the second position;
wherein the knife, when proximally positioned, is configured to releasably engage the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position, and configured to disengage from the locking member after the drive member has been driven distally.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 1, wherein the staple jaw assembly includes a removable staple cartridge for housing the knife.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 2, wherein the removable staple cartridge further includes a shuttle having a distal inclined portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 1, wherein the slot resides in the anvil jaw assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 1, wherein the drive member further includes a first flange configured to translate through a channel in the anvil jaw assembly, and a second flange configured to translate through a channel in the staple jaw assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 1, wherein the locking member is generally L-shaped.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 1, wherein the locking member is substantially linear.

### Claim 8

A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
an anvil jaw assembly;
a staple jaw assembly;
a drive member configured to releasably engage a shuttle, the shuttle being configured to disengage from the drive member upon subsequent distal movement of the drive member;
a locking member supported by the drive member and pivotable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drive member;
a shuttle including an inclined distal portion that, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position, the shuttle being configured to disengage from the locking member after the drive member has been driven distally;
a knife; and
a slot configured to engage the locking member when the locking member is in the second position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 8, wherein the locking member is generally L-shaped.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 8, wherein the locking member is substantially linear.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 8, wherein the staple jaw assembly includes a removable staple cartridge.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

A surgical stapling instrument as in claim 8, wherein the slot resides in the staple jaw assembly.