US 5,397,046 A · Lockout mechanism for surgical apparatus

Abstract

A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil member and a surgical fastener cartridge member mounted to the distal end of an elongated endoscopic portion. A tubular collar of the endoscopic portion moves distally to engage the anvil member and bias the anvil member and the cartridge member into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and the cartridge member. A self contained pneumatic system is disposed in the surgical apparatus and is actuable to eject and/or form the surgical fasteners in the clamped body tissue. The apparatus further comprises a locking member for preventing approximation of the anvil member and the cartridge. In one embodiment a clamping interlock is shown which prevents approximation of the jaws when the jaws are either misaligned or improperly inserted into the instrument. In a second embodiment a clamping interlock is shown which directly engages the tubular collar preventing approximation of the jaws when a cartridge member is not fully inserted. In a third embodiment a clamping interlock is shown which directly engages the tubular collar when an unfired cartridge is not present or properly inserted into the instrument.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A surgical apparatus for approximating surgical jaw structure comprising:

a) a handle;
b) an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle;
c) first jaw means mounted to said elongated portion and having a first tissue engaging surface for supporting tissue;
d) second jaw means, mounted to said elongated portion, having a second tissue engaging surface and a distal end and a proximal end, said second jaw means being mounted with respect to said elongated housing such that at least the distal end of said second jaw means is movable in directions generally transverse to said longitudinal axis between an open position spaced from said first tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said second tissue engaging surface is in close cooperative alignment with said first tissue engaging surface;
e) a camming member associated with said elongated portion and engagable with said second jaw means for moving said second jaw means between said open position and said closed position;
and
f) lockout means associated with said elongated portion for arresting movement of said camming member, said lockout means including a latch member movably mounted with respect to said elongated housing, said latch member being movable from a locked position engaging said camming member to an unlocked position wherein said latch member is disengaged from said camming member.

4 more elements

A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising:

a) a handle;
b) an endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle, said endoscopic portion including:
i) an elongated housing having a distal portion which includes a member to support a plurality of surgical fasteners for slidable movement generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, said distal portion having a tissue engaging surface for supporting tissue to be fastened,
ii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface and a distal end and a proximal end, said anvil member being mounted with respect to said elongated housing such that at least the distal end of said anvil member is movable in directions generally transverse to said longitudinal axis between an open position spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface,
iii) a camming member engagable with said anvil member for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position,
iv) means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said fastener support member, whereby said fasteners engage tissue positionable between said tissue engaging surface and said fastener forming surface, and
v) lockout means engagable with said camming member for arresting movement of said camming member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lockout mechanism for surgical apparatus

Life of this patent

Lockout mechanism for surgical apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26