Surgical staple cartridges with integral authentication keys
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Gregory J. Bakos, Jason L. Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A staple cartridge configured for use with a surgical stapling device is disclosed. The staple cartridge includes an authentication ramp that extends from a proximal end of the cartridge body and defines a ramp axis that is transverse to an axis of the cartridge. The authentication ramp is aligned with a sled cavity in the cartridge and comprises first and second cam surfaces that are configured to move a lockout of the surgical stapling device in a direction away from the cartridge axis upon contact therewith when the staple cartridge is seated into the surgical stapling device.
Claims20
A staple cartridge configured for use with a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing operation of the surgical stapling device, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
- a cartridge body, comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal end portion;
- a centrally disposed longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end to said distal end portion, wherein said longitudinal slot defines a cartridge axis;
- and
- a plurality of longitudinal cam slots, wherein each said cam slot extends from said proximal end to said distal end portion, and wherein said staple cartridge further comprises:
- a sled movably supported in said cartridge body, wherein said sled is movable between an unfired position and a fired position within said cartridge body, wherein said sled comprises a plurality of cam members, and wherein each said cam member is slidably received in one of said longitudinal cam slots;
- and
- an authentication ramp extending from said proximal end of said cartridge body, wherein said authentication ramp comprises a ramp surface that extends from a location corresponding to one of said cam slots along a ramp axis that is transverse to said cartridge axis, and wherein said ramp surface comprises a first cam surface configured to move the lockout of the surgical stapling device in a direction away from said cartridge axis upon contact therewith when said staple cartridge is initially seated into the surgical stapling device.
A staple cartridge configured for use with a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing operation of the surgical stapling device, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
- a cartridge body, comprising:
- a proximal end, a distal end portion, a deck surface and a bottom;
- a centrally disposed longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end to said distal end portion;
- and
- a sled opening through said bottom of said cartridge body, wherein said sled opening comprises a plurality of longitudinal cam slots on each side of said longitudinal slot, wherein each said cam slot extends from said proximal end to said distal end portion, and wherein said staple cartridge further comprises:
- a sled movably supported in said sled opening in said cartridge body, wherein said sled is movable between an unfired position and a fired position within said cartridge body, wherein said sled comprises a plurality of cam members, and wherein each said cam member is slidably received in one of said longitudinal cam slots;
- and
- an authentication ramp comprising a top portion that is coplanar with said deck surface and extends proximally therefrom, wherein said authentication ramp further comprises a ramp body extending downward from said top portion and defining a ramp surface thereon, and wherein said ramp surface defines a first cam surface configured to move the lockout of the surgical stapling device laterally upon contact therewith when said staple cartridge is initially seated into the surgical stapling device.
A staple cartridge configured for use with a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing operation of the surgical stapling device, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
- a cartridge body, comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal end portion;
- a centrally disposed longitudinal slot extending from said proximal end to said distal end portion;
- and
- a plurality of longitudinal cam slots on each side of said longitudinal slot, wherein each said cam slot extends from said proximal end of said cartridge body to said distal end portion of said cartridge body, and wherein said staple cartridge further comprises:
- a sled movably supported in said cartridge body, wherein said sled is movable between an unfired position and a fired position within said cartridge body, wherein said sled comprises a plurality of cam members, and wherein each said cam member is slidably received in one of said longitudinal cam slots;
- and
- a cantilevered authentication ramp protruding proximally from said proximal end of said cartridge body and defining a ramp tip spaced from said proximal end of said cartridge body, wherein said authentication ramp further comprises a ramp body portion extending from said ramp tip and aligned with one of said cam slots in said cartridge body, wherein said ramp tip defines a first surface configured to move the lockout of the surgical stapling device laterally upon contact therewith when said staple cartridge is initially seated into the surgical stapling device, and wherein said ramp body portion defines a second cam surface configured to move the lockout of the surgical stapling device into an unlocked position upon contact therewith when said staple cartridge is fully seated in the surgical stapling device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.