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AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsGregory J. Bakos, Chad P. Boudreaux, Chad E. Eckert, Morgan R. Hunter
Estimating the term…
A retainer for use with a staple cartridge that is configured for use with a stapling device is disclosed. The retainer comprises a retainer body that is configured to be removably coupled to the staple cartridge to form a cartridge assembly. The retainer further comprises an authentication key that is oriented in a first configuration to defeat a lockout in the surgical stapling device when the cartridge assembly is seated in the surgical stapling device. The authentication key is movable to a second configuration after the cartridge assembly is removed from the stapling device such that the authentication key is unable to return to the first configuration.
A retainer for use with a staple cartridge configured for use with a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing operation of the surgical stapling device, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body configured to be operably supported in the surgical stapling device, wherein the cartridge body defines a cartridge deck surface and stores a plurality of surgical staples therein that are configured to be ejected from the cartridge body through openings in the cartridge deck surface, and wherein said retainer comprises a retainer body configured to be removably mounted to the staple cartridge to cover at least a portion of the cartridge deck surface to form a cartridge assembly, wherein said retainer body comprises an authentication key oriented in a first configuration in which said authentication key is positioned to defeat the lockout when said cartridge assembly is seated in the surgical stapling device, and wherein said authentication key is movable to a second configuration in which said authentication key is unable to return to said first configuration when said retainer body is supported on another cartridge deck surface of another staple cartridge.
A retainer for use with a staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body in which a plurality of surgical staples are stored therein and are configured to be ejected therefrom through corresponding openings in a deck of the staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge is configured for use with a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing operation of the surgical stapling device, wherein said retainer comprises:
A retainer for use with a staple cartridge configured for use with a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing operation of the surgical stapling device, wherein said retainer comprises a retainer body configured to be mounted to the staple cartridge to form a cartridge assembly, wherein said retainer body comprises an authentication key oriented in a first configuration wherein said authentication key is positioned to defeat the lockout when said cartridge assembly is seated in the surgical stapling device, wherein said authentication key is movable to a second configuration wherein said authentication key is unable to return to said first configuration when said retainer body is supported on another staple cartridge, wherein said retainer body is fabricated from a first material that degrades at a first rate, and wherein at least a portion of said authentication key is fabricated from a second material that degrades at a second rate that is greater than the first rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.