# US 12,004,745 B2 · Surgical instrument system comprising an end effector lockout and a firing assembly lockout

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- Number: US 12,004,745 B2
- Document ID: US12004745B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/737,566
- Filed: 2022-05-05
- Published: 2022-12-01
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-21
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Cilag GmbH International
- Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Gregory J. Bakos; Jason L Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004745B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 17/0682: {for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil}
- A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
- A61B 17/2816: {Pivots}
- A61B 17/2833: {Locking means}
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 90/94: coded with symbols, e.g. text
- A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00})
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 34/37: Leader-follower robots (A61B34/35 takes precedence)
- A61B 90/92: coded with colour
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00039: {Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/00469: {for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated}
- A61B 2017/00818: {Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system}
- A61B 2017/07214: {Stapler heads}
- A61B 2017/07221: {curved}
- A61B 2017/07228: {Arrangement of the staples}
- A61B 2017/07235: {containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials}
- A61B 2017/07242: {achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes}
- A61B 2017/0725: {with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots}
- A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil}
- A61B 2017/07264: {characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder}
- A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter}
- A61B 2017/2912: {transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston}
- A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft}
- A61B 2017/2933: {camming or guiding means}
- A61B 2017/2934: {arcuate shaped guiding means}
- A61B 2017/2936: {Pins in guiding slots}
- A61B 2017/2937: {with flexible part}
- A61B 2017/2939: {Details of linkages or pivot points}
- A61B 2017/2943: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2017/2946: {Locking means}
- A61B 2017/2947: {Pivots}
- A61B 2090/032: {pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic}
- A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus}
- A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument}
- A61B 2090/0814: {Preventing re-use}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Surgical stapling instruments are disclosed comprising a staple cartridge, a firing member, and a cartridge lockout configured to prevent the firing member from being advanced through the staple cartridge if the staple cartridge has been already spent. The stapling instruments further comprise a lockout in the shaft that responds to the cartridge lockout blocking the firing member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical instrument, comprising:
a firing assembly movable through a firing stroke, the firing assembly including a firing rod having a lock notch defined therein;
an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body including a longitudinal slot, wherein at least a portion of the firing assembly is configured to travel within the longitudinal slot during the firing stroke;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and
a sled movable within the longitudinal slot between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position to eject said staples from said cartridge body during said firing stroke;
a spent cartridge lockout comprising a clip having a mounting end mounted to the cartridge body and a lock end deflectable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock end extends into the longitudinal slot of the cartridge body when lock end is deflected into the locked position to block said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke if said sled is not in said proximal unfired position at the initiation of said firing stroke; and
a firing force lockout system different from the spent cartridge lockout and configured to assist said spent cartridge lockout in preventing said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke when said firing assembly is blocked by said spent cartridge lockout, wherein said firing force lockout system comprises a deployable lock that is moved from an undeployed position into a deployed position in response to said firing assembly being blocked by said spent cartridge lockout during the firing stroke and wherein, when in the deployed position, a lock shoulder of the deployable lock engages the lock notch of the firing rod of the firing assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein said firing force lockout system is at least partially positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion of said firing assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said second portion is movable relative to said first portion, and wherein said second portion is configured to deploy said firing force lockout system into a locked configuration when said second portion is moved toward said first portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The surgical instrument of claim 3, further comprising a biasing member positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said biasing member is configured to push said second portion away from said first portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said firing force lockout system is biased into an unlocked configuration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an electric motor configured to move said firing assembly through said firing stroke.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said firing force lockout system is deployable into a locked configuration when said firing assembly is blocked by said spent cartridge lockout, and wherein said electric motor is operable to retract said firing assembly to reset said firing force lockout system into an unlocked configuration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said sled is configured to hold said lock end in said unlocked position when said sled is in said proximal unfired position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said lock end is biased toward said locked position, and wherein said sled is configured to release said lock porti end on when said sled is advanced distally during said firing stroke.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge is a replaceable staple cartridge.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge is not a replaceable staple cartridge.