# US 2017/0281155 A1 · Surgical stapling instrument comprising multiple lockouts

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- Number: US 2017/0281155 A1
- Document ID: US20170281155A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/089,335
- Filed: 2016-04-01
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
- Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Anil K. Nalagatla; Sudhir B. Patel; Jason L. Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281155A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position}
- 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 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling}
- A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
- A61B 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)}
- A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples}
- A61B 17/07292: {Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets}
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output}
- 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 2017/0038: {Simultaneous actuation of two tools by pushing one button or the like}
- A61B 2017/00393: {with means for switching between functions}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means}
- A61B 2017/00424: {ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated}
- A61B 2017/07221: {curved}
- A61B 2017/07228: {Arrangement of the staples}
- A61B 2017/07235: {containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials}
- A61B 2017/07242: {achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes}
- A61B 2017/0725: {with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots}
- A61B 2017/07264: {characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder}
- A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter}
- A61B 2017/2903: {transferring rotary motion}
- A61B 2017/2908: {Multiple segments connected by articulations}
- A61B 2017/291: {the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2017/2912: {transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston}
- A61B 2017/2922: {toggle linkages}
- A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2017/293: {with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod}
- A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members}
- A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself}
- A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus}
- 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 stapling attachment is disclosed. The surgical stapling attachment comprises an attachment portion, a shaft assembly, an articulation joint, and an end effector assembly. The end effector assembly comprises a drive system comprising a main drive and a lockout drive driven by a single rotary input. The main drive is configured to capture, clamp, and staple tissue. The lockout drive is configured to prevent the main drive from being driven in the event a staple cartridge is not installed within the end effector assembly. Another lockout is provided to prevent the drive system from being actuated when a spent staple cartridge is installed within the end effector assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an articulation joint; and
an end effector assembly, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;
an anvil configured to deform staples;
a drive system, comprising:
a rotary input;
a closure drive configured to move said second jaw;
a firing drive configured to fire staples from a staple cartridge; and
a first lockout comprising an unlocked configuration when a staple cartridge is installed within said end effector assembly and a locked configuration where a staple cartridge is not installed within said end effector assembly, wherein, when in said unlocked configuration, said first lockout is configured to permit actuation of said closure drive and said firing drive, and wherein, when in said locked configuration, said first lockout is configured to prevent said closure drive and said firing drive from being actuated; and
a second lockout comprising an unlocked configuration where an unfired staple cartridge is installed within said end effector assembly and a locked configuration, wherein, when in said unlocked configuration, said second lockout is configured to permit actuation of said closure drive and said firing drive, and wherein, when in said locked configuration, said second lockout is configured to prevent actuation of said closure drive and said firing drive.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein said first lockout further comprises a lockout shaft operably engaged with said rotary input such that when said first lockout is in said locked configuration, said first lockout prevents said rotary input from rotating.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein said lockout shaft comprises a spring-loaded interference gear configured to engage said second jaw when said first lockout is in said locked configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge driver, wherein said second lockout further comprises a cartridge driver engagement arm configured to move said second lockout from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration when said cartridge driver engagement arm is engaged by a staple driver of a staple cartridge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 4, wherein said second lockout is configured to prevent retraction of the staple driver when said cartridge driver is retracted from a fired position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein said closure drive and said firing drive share a common drive axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further comprising a staple cartridge.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 7, wherein said staple cartridge comprises a status indicator configured to illustrate firing status during a surgical stapling operation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 8, wherein said staple cartridge comprises a window, and wherein said status indicator comprises visual indicia visible within said window.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 7, wherein said end effector assembly further comprises a tissue-retention pin mechanism configured to automatically deploy and retract a tissue-retention pin of said staple cartridge during actuation of said closure drive.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein said tissue-retention pin mechanism comprises a manual override system configured to provide a user with the ability to retract said tissue-retention pin manually

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 11, wherein said tissue-retention pin mechanism comprises a pair of lever arms each comprising an actuation projection interfacing with said second jaw, and wherein said manual override system is configured to disengage each said actuation projection from said second jaw.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 12, wherein said second jaw comprises a closure frame comprising corresponding slots engaged with said actuation projections to automatically control said tissue-retention pin mechanism during actuation of said closure drive.

### Claim 14

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an articulation joint; and
an end effector assembly, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw movable relative to the said first jaw;
an anvil configured to deform staples;
a drive system, comprising:
a rotary input;
a main drive comprising a first input gear configured to be driven by said rotary input, wherein said main drive is configured to move said second jaw and fire a plurality of staples from a staple cartridge; and
a lockout drive, comprising:
a second input gear configured to be driven by said rotary input;
an unlocked configuration when a staple cartridge is installed within said end effector assembly, wherein said lockout drive is configured to permit said main drive to be driven when said lockout drive is in said unlocked configuration; and
a locked configuration when a staple cartridge is not installed within said end effector assembly and said lockout drive prevents said main drive from being driven; and
a second lockout comprising an unlocked configuration when an unfired staple cartridge is installed within said end effector assembly and a locked configuration, wherein, when in said unlocked configuration, said second lockout is configured to permit actuation of said main drive, and wherein, when in said locked configuration, said second lockout is configured to prevent actuation of said main drive.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, further comprising said staple cartridge.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, wherein said lockout drive comprises an interference gear configured to be locked by said second jaw.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14, wherein said main drive and said lockout drive comprise a common drive input.

### Claim 18

A surgical stapling attachment configured to be attached to a surgical instrument handle, said surgical stapling attachment comprising:
an attachment portion;
a shaft; and
an end effector assembly, comprising:
an unclamped configuration and a clamped configuration;
a replaceable staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body and a plurality of staples removably stored within said cartridge body, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge is configured to be installed into said end effector assembly;
an anvil configured to deform said staples;
a drive system, comprising:
a rotary input;
a main drive in driving engagement with said rotary input, wherein said main drive is configured to approximate said cartridge body and said anvil and fire said staples; and
a lockout drive in driving engagement with said rotary input, wherein said lockout drive is configured to prevent said main drive from being driven when said end effector assembly is in said unclamped configuration and said replaceable staple cartridge is not installed within said end effector assembly; and
a lockout member configured to prevent actuation of said main drive when said end effector assembly is in said unclamped configuration and said replaceable staple cartridge has been fired.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The surgical stapling attachment of claim 18, further comprises a closure frame, wherein said lockout drive comprises an interference gear, and wherein said closure frame is configured prevent said interference gear from rotating when said staple cartridge is not installed within said end effector assembly.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The surgical stapling attachment of claim 18, wherein said main drive comprise a first axis and said lockout drive comprises a second axis, and wherein said first axis and said second axis are parallel.