Lockout arrangements for surgical end effectors and replaceable tool assemblies
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos
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Abstract
Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw, a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, and a lockout arrangement configured to prevent rotational movement of the second jaw toward the first jaw unless an unfired staple cartridge is positioned in the first jaw. The lockout arrangement can comprise a pivotable lock configured to pivot between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation, a shiftable lock bar, and/or a spring-loaded lockout lever.
Claims20
A surgical end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw rotatably coupled to said first jaw;
- and
- a lockout arrangement configured to prevent rotational movement of said second jaw toward said first jaw unless an unfired staple cartridge is positioned in said first jaw, wherein said lockout arrangement comprises a pivotable lock configured to pivot between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation, and wherein said pivotable lock comprises:
- a first leg configured to engage said second jaw when said pivotable lock is in the locked orientation;
- and
- a second leg configured to engage the unfired staple cartridge when the unfired staple cartridge is positioned in said first jaw.
An interchangeable surgical tool assembly, comprising:
- an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge;
- and
- a shaft, comprising:
- a firing assembly, comprising:
- a distal portion;
- a proximal portion comprising a notch;
- and
- a spring intermediate said proximal portion and said distal portion;
- and
- a lockout lever movable between an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, wherein said lockout lever extends into said notch when said lockout lever is in the locked orientation, and wherein a displacement of said distal portion of said firing assembly is configured to move said lockout lever to the unlocked orientation.
A surgical end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw rotatably coupled to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises a pin movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;
- and
- a lockout arrangement configured to prevent rotational movement of said second jaw toward said first jaw unless a staple cartridge is positioned in said first jaw, wherein said lockout arrangement comprises a lock bar configured to translate within the first jaw from a distal position to a proximal position when the staple cartridge is positioned in said first jaw, and wherein said lock bar is configured to move said pin to the unlocked configuration when said lock bar moves to the proximal position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.