US 11,998,201 B2Granted

Stapling instrument comprising a firing lockout

AssigneeCilag CmbH International

InventorsZhifan F. Huang, Richard L Leimbach, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Nicholas J. Ross, Brian K. Spinneweber, Joshua R. Ruoff, Robbin B. Johnson, Daniel L. Baber, Pierre R. Mesnil

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Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument comprising a tissue cutting knife movable through a staple cartridge to perform a staple firing stroke is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises a lockout system configured to prevent the tissue cutting knife from being moved through the staple firing stroke if the staple cartridge is missing from the stapling instrument and/or if the staple cartridge has been previously fired. The lockout system comprises a flexible spring that acts on the bottom of the tissue cutting knife at the initiation of the staple firing stroke to push the tissue cutting knife into a lockout recess if the staple cartridge is missing or has been previously fired.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

an anvil jaw;
a cartridge channel jaw;
a staple cartridge seatable in said cartridge channel jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body including a proximal end, a distal end, and rows of staple cavities extending between said proximal end and said distal end;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
and
a sled positioned in an unfired position in said proximal end, wherein said sled is movable distally during a firing stroke to deploy said staples from said staple cavities;
a firing assembly actuatable to move said sled through said firing stroke to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge, wherein said firing assembly comprises:
a firing shaft;
and
a distal portion connected to said firing shaft, wherein said distal portion comprises:
an upper cam positioned to engage said anvil jaw during said firing stroke;
a lower cam positioned to engage said cartridge channel jaw during said firing stroke;
and
a tail portion extending proximally from said distal portion below said firing shaft;
a knife positioned to be driven by said firing assembly;
a lockout;
and
a lockout spring, wherein said lockout spring is in an initially-unloaded state prior to a beginning of said firing stroke, wherein said tail portion contacts said lockout spring during the beginning of said firing stroke such that said lockout spring applies a downward biasing force to said tail portion to bias said distal portion toward said lockout, wherein said lockout is configured to block said firing assembly from moving distally past said lockout when said staple cartridge is not seated in said cartridge channel jaw, and wherein said sled is configured to support said distal portion from being blocked by said lockout when said staple cartridge is seated in said cartridge channel jaw and said sled is in said unfired position.

16 more elements

A surgical end effector assembly, comprising:

an anvil jaw;
a cartridge channel jaw;
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge is installed in said cartridge channel jaw;
a firing assembly actuatable through a firing stroke to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge, wherein said firing stroke comprises a beginning where said firing assembly moves distally from a proximal-most position to an intermediate position, and wherein said firing assembly comprises:
a firing bar;
and
a distal head connected to said firing bar, wherein said distal head comprises:
a first cam and a second cam configured to control a tissue-gap distance between said anvil jaw and said cartridge channel jaw during said firing stroke;
a knife;
and
a tail extension extending proximally from said distal head portion below said firing bar;
a lockout configured to selectively stop said firing assembly from moving distally beyond said lockout;
and
a lockout spring, wherein said lockout spring is configured to:
apply no force to said firing assembly when said firing assembly is in said proximal-most position;
and
apply a locking force to said tail extension during the beginning of said firing stroke to bias said firing assembly toward said lockout.

14 more elements

A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

a proximal shaft frame;
an anvil jaw;
a cartridge channel jaw;
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within said staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge is installed in said cartridge channel jaw;
a firing assembly actuatable through a firing stroke to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge, wherein said firing stroke comprises a beginning where said firing assembly moves distally from an unfired position to an intermediate position, and wherein said firing assembly comprises:
a firing shaft;
and
a coupler connected to said firing shaft, wherein said coupler comprises:
a first cam and a second cam configured to control a tissue-gap distance between said anvil jaw and said cartridge channel jaw during said firing stroke;
a knife;
and
a tail portion extending proximally from said coupler below said firing bar;
a lockout configured to selectively stop said firing assembly from moving distally beyond said lockout;
and
a lockout trigger attached to said proximal shaft frame, wherein said lockout trigger is configured to:
apply no force to said firing assembly when said firing assembly is in said unfired position;
and
apply a locking force to said tail portion during the beginning of said firing stroke to bias said firing assembly toward said lockout.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/728,076Filed 25 Apr 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 May 2021
Published: US 2022/0378424 A11 Dec 2022
Granted: 4 Jun 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification31 codes

A61B 17/07207
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: the staples being applied sequentially
A61B 17/0686
For applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil: having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
A61B 17/072
Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied…
A61B 17/068
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps

Family

Application63/194,621Us provisional application · filed 28 May 2021
Application63/234,396Us provisional application · filed 18 Aug 2021
US 2022/0378424 A1Pre-grant publication · published 1 Dec 2022
US 11,998,201 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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