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US 2013/0153632 A1Published application
Surgical Instrument Including Firing Indicator
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorElias Hartoumbekis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument including a loading unit and an indicator that provides an indication whether the loading unit has been used. The indicator provides an indication by transitioning from a first position to a second position that is viewable by a user to prevent inadvertent reloading of the loading unit after use.
Claims11
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a body portion;
- a loading unit operatively coupled to the body portion, the loading unit including a cartridge, the cartridge housing a plurality of fasteners;
- a drive assembly configured to translate through the cartridge to eject the fasteners from the cartridge;
- and
- an indicator assembly transitionable from a first position to a second position after ejection of the fasteners.
2 more elements
A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:
- providing a surgical instrument including:
- a body portion;
- a loading unit operatively coupled to the body portion, the loading unit including a cartridge, the cartridge housing a plurality of fasteners, and an anvil movable relative to the cartridge;
- a drive assembly translatable through the cartridge to eject the fasteners from the cartridge;
- and
- an indicator assembly transitionable from a first position to a second position after ejection of the fasteners;
- placing tissue between the cartridge and the anvil;
- actuating the surgical instrument to fasten the tissue placed between the cartridge and the anvil;
- observing the indicator assembly in the second position;
- and
- separating the loading unit from the surgical instrument.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.