# US 2013/0153630 A1 · Feature to reengage safety switch of tissue stapler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153630 A1 - Document ID: US20130153630A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/328,344 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher C. Miller; Edward G. Chekan; Johnny H. Alexander, III; John F. Cummings; Carl J. Shurtleff; Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs; Barry T. Jamison; Joseph E. Young; Cortney E. Henderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153630A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples} - A61B 17/115: Staplers for performing anastomosis, e.g. in a single operation - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - 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: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for stapling tissue comprising: (a) a body; (b) a trigger pivotably mounted to the body; (c) an actuator extending longitudinally within the body and operable to actuate longitudinally therein; (d) a lockout member pivotably mounted to the body, wherein the lockout member is pivotable from a first position, in which the lockout member is engaged with the trigger, to a second position, in which the lockout member is disengaged from the trigger; and (e) a securing feature associated with the lockout member and the actuator, wherein the securing feature is operable to restrict the longitudinal actuation of actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises a brake having an engagement tab, wherein the actuator comprises a longitudinal slot, wherein the lockout member is operable to cam the brake such that the engagement tab inserts into the slot when the lockout member is pivoted to the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the actuator is operable to actuate longitudinally along a predetermined range while engagement tab is inserted therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises a lock, wherein the lockout member is operable to engage the lock with the actuator when the lockout member is pivoted to the second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the lock comprises an edge, wherein the edge comprises a friction material that resists longitudinal actuation of actuator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the lock comprises an edge, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of teeth disposed on an exterior surface of the actuator, wherein the edge engages the teeth when the lockout member is pivoted to the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises a cam surface of the lockout member, wherein the cam surface comprises a friction material that resists longitudinal actuation of actuator when the lockout member is pivoted to the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises an actuatable door, wherein the door comprises an opening through which actuator extends, wherein the actuator comprises one or more recesses, wherein a portion of the door engages the one or more recesses of the actuator when the lockout member is pivoted to the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the door is coupled to a spring, wherein the spring biases the door such that the portion of the door is disengaged from the one or more recesses. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises a plurality of teeth disposed about a portion of the lockout member, wherein the actuator comprises one or more teeth complementary to the teeth of the lockout member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises one or more ratchet teeth disposed on an outer surface of the actuator, wherein the lockout member comprises a catch rod operable to engage the one or more ratchet teeth when the lockout member is pivoted to the second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more ratchet teeth comprise helical ledges disposed on the outer surface of the actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more ratchet teeth comprise a plurality of annular ledges disposed on the outer surface of the actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing feature comprises a button assembly, wherein the actuator comprises a longitudinal recess sized to receive a button of the button assembly, and wherein the button assembly is operable to pivot the lockout member to the second position when the button is actuated into the recess of the actuator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a stapling head assembly coupled to a distal end of the body, wherein the trigger is operable to activate the stapling head assembly; and (b) an anvil selectively coupleable to a distal end of the actuator; wherein the actuator is operable to longitudinally actuate the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. ### Claim 16 A handle assembly for a surgical instrument comprising: (a) a body; (b) a trigger pivotably mounted to the body; (c) an anvil position indicator; and (d) a trigger actuation assembly comprising: i. a trigger carriage member, and ii. a driver actuator; wherein the anvil position indicator is operable to disengage the trigger from the trigger carriage member or the driver actuator from the trigger carriage member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a release, wherein the driver actuator comprises a resiliently biased rod biased away from longitudinal alignment with trigger carriage member, wherein the anvil position indicator comprises a slot, wherein the release is operable to bend the driver actuator through the slot and into longitudinal alignment with the trigger carriage member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a ratchet member, wherein the driver actuator comprises a ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet tooth engages the ratchet member when the driver actuator is actuated distally via the trigger. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the anvil position indicator comprises a release member, wherein the trigger carriage member comprises a tab, wherein the release member is configured to engage the tab of the trigger carriage member when anvil position indicator is in a first position, wherein the release member is configured to disengage from the tab when anvil position indicator is in a second position. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for stapling tissue comprising: (a) a body; (b) a stapling head assembly coupled to a distal end of the body, wherein the stapling head assembly is operable to drive staples distally relative to the body; (c) an actuator extending longitudinally through the body and stapling head assembly; (d) an anvil selectively coupleable to the actuator; and (e) means for selectively longitudinally securing the actuator relative to the body.