# US 2014/0191013 A1 · Indicator for surgical stapler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191013 A1 - Document ID: US20140191013A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/207,787 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-31 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Anandram Natarajan; Srinivasan Selvaraj - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191013A1 ## CPC - 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 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 2017/07214: {Stapler heads} - 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 stapler for visually indicating to a user the stage of operation of the stapler. The surgical stapler includes a body, a stapling assembly positioned on a distal end of the body including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, and a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body. The thrust bar is configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position during approximation of the cartridge assembly towards the anvil assembly and advance further to a second advanced position to cause the release of staples from the cartridge assembly. An indicator member is connected to the thrust bar and configured to provide visual indication to a user upon complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and upon release of staples from the cartridge assembly. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19. (canceled) ### Claim 20 A surgical instrument comprising: a body; a trigger pivotally secured to the body; a tool assembly positioned on a distal portion of the body; a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and configured to advance distally from a retracted position to a first advanced position during a first actuation of the trigger and advance further to a second advanced position during a second actuation of the trigger; and at least one indicator member connected to the thrust bar and configured to provide indication to a user upon completion of the first actuation of the trigger and upon completion of the second actuation of the trigger. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20, wherein the at least one indicator member includes a base and a pair of extensions extending from the base laterally beyond the thrust bar. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the body defines a pair of windows for viewing the pair of extensions of the indicator member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20, wherein the tool assembly includes a stapling assembly having an anvil assembly and a removable cartridge assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein the first actuation of the trigger is an approximation stroke. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein the second actuation of the trigger is a firing stroke. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The surgical instrument of claim 25, wherein a distal end of the thrust bar is configured for operable engagement with the stapling assembly to cause the ejection of staples from the cartridge assembly. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20, wherein the body includes at least one window for viewing the indicator member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The surgical instrument of claim 25, wherein the indicator member is further configured to indicate that the cartridge assembly is ready to be approximated towards the anvil assembly. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20, wherein the at least one indicator member is slidably mounted within the body. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20, wherein the at least one indicator member is rotatably mounted within the body. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20, wherein the at least one indicator member includes a first symbol to indicate completion of the first actuation of the trigger and a second symbol to indicate the completion of the second actuation of the trigger. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The surgical instrument of claim 30, further comprising a rack operably connected to the thrust bar and having at least one extension, the at least one extension being operably engaged with the at least one indicator member such that advancement of the thrust bar causes rotation of the indicator member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The surgical instrument of claim 32, wherein the rack extends from a base positioned distal of the at least one indicator member, the base being mounted to the thrust bar. ### Claim 34 A surgical instrument comprising; a body; a tool assembly positioned on a distal portion of the body; a thrust bar slidably disposed within the body and configured to advance distally from a retracted position to at least a first advanced position; a pair of indicator members configured to provide indication to a user upon advancement of the thrust bar to the first position; and a rack operably connected to the thrust bar and having a pair of extensions, the pair of extensions being operably engaged with the pair of indicator members such that advancement of the thrust bar causes rotation of the indicator members. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The surgical instrument of claim 34, wherein each of the pair of indicator members is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the thrust bar. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the indicator member includes a first symbol to indicate complete approximation of the cartridge assembly and a second symbol to indicate release of staples from the cartridge assembly. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The surgical instrument of claim 34, wherein the rack extends from a base positioned distal of the indicator member, the base being mounted to the thrust bar.