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AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsRodney Bays, Michael L. Boulton, John H. Pascaloff, Gregory C. Stalcup, Dai N. Vu
Estimating the term…
A control lever assembly adapted for use with a powered surgical instrument which prevents the instrument from being inadvertently or accidentally activated. The assembly 10 includes a depressible control lever 20 for controlling the action of the instrument and a second safety lever or latch 30 which engages the trigger pin 6 of instrument only when selectively positioned with respect to control lever 20. Control lever 20 is secured to cutting device 2 by a mounting bracket 12. Safety latch 30 is pivotally carried by control lever 20 for shiftable movement between a safety position and an operational position. In the operational position, safety latch 30 engages trigger pin 6 when control lever 20 is depressed. Safety latch 30 cannot be switched from its safety position to its operational position when control lever 20 is depressed; therefore, the instrument is "locked-out" and cannot be inadvertently activated even when control lever 20 is depressed. Safety latch 30 can only be manually shifted from the safety position to the operational position when control lever 20 is released, which ensures safe handling of the instrument.
In combination, a powered surgical instrument including a body and a depressible pin extending from said body which activates said instrument when depressed and an apparatus for depressively engaging said pin, said apparatus comprising:
The combination of claim wherein said second lever includes an arm part adapted for facilitating pivotal movement of said second lever between its said first position and its said second position,
An apparatus adapted for use with a powered device having a body and a depressible pin extending from said body which activates said device when depressed,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.