# US 2013/0153632 A1 · Surgical Instrument Including Firing Indicator

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- Number: US 2013/0153632 A1
- Document ID: US20130153632A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/325,364
- Filed: 2011-12-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14
- Assignees: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
- Inventors: Elias Hartoumbekis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153632A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder}
- 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 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the indicator assembly is inhibited from transitioning from the second position to the first position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the indicator assembly includes an indicator pin, the indicator pin substantially flush with a surface of cartridge when the indicator assembly is in the first position, and extending past the surface of the cartridge when the indicator assembly is in the second position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein distal translation of the drive assembly causes the indicator assembly to transition to the second position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein translation of the indicator pin is inhibited prior to ejection of the fasteners.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the cartridge includes a distal portion, and a longitudinally extending aperture is defined within the distal portion, the indicator pin translatable through the aperture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the longitudinally extending aperture narrows from a proximal end to a distal end of the aperture.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein distal translation of the indicator pin through the aperture frictionally secures the indicator pin within the aperture, thereby inhibiting proximal translation of the indicator pin back through the aperture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the loading unit is separable from the body portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the indicator assembly further includes a ring, the ring positioned within the aperture, the ring disposed around the indicator pin, one or more frangible fingers joining the indictor pin and the ring, the one or more frangible fingers inhibiting transitioning of the indicator pin form the first to the second position prior to actuation of the surgical instrument, the one or more frangible fingers breaking in response to actuation of the surgical instrument.

### Claim 11

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.