Feature to reengage safety switch of tissue stapler

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an anvil selectively coupleable to a stapling head assembly and a trigger operable to fire staples into tissue compressed between the anvil and the stapling head assembly. In some versions, a lockout member may engage a securing feature to prevent actuation of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. For instance, a tab may engage a slot on an actuator, a screen door lock may provide frictional resistance or engage teeth on the actuator, a door may actuate into engagement with one or more recesses, geared teeth may mesh with teeth on the actuator, the lockout member may include a ratcheting assembly to engage actuator, and/or a push button may actuate into a recess while disengaging the lockout member. Alternatively, in some versions, the trigger actuation assembly may be disengaged prior to firing. An anvil position indicator may restrict engagement of the trigger actuation assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.