Linear stapling mechanism with cutting means

A surgical stapler for endoscopic application comprising:

• a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a stapling portion connected to the handle portion by said shaft portion,
• said stapling portion having a stapling assembly including a replaceable staple-filled staple cartridge, and a movable anvil operable to cooperate with said staple cartridge to clamp and staple tissue disposed therebetween,
• said stapling assembly including at least one firing wedge movable distally along a longitudinal axis of said staple cartridge for firing staples therein, and knife means movable distally of said staple cartridge for cutting tissue clamped by said anvil said knife having a first edge portion near said anvil and a second edge portion near said cartridge,
• said stapler assembly including a lockout mechanism for preventing refiring of said stapler, including notch means defined along said first edge portion of said knife means, said knife means being movable in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis so that said notch means is movable from a first disengaged position to a second engaged position;
• said lockout mechanism further including a movable lockout member mounted on said staple cartridge and engageable with said first edge portion,
• said lockout member being movable from a first position to a second position during movement of said knife means relative to said cartridge, wherein in said first position of said lockout member, said notch means is disposed in said first disengaged position so that said knife means is movable distally of said staple cartridge, and in said second position of said lockout member, said notch means is positionable in said second engaged position when said knife means is moved proximally to a retracted position, wherein said notch means prevents distal movement of said knife means to prevent refiring of said stapler wherein said lockout member is slidably mounted in said staple cartridge for movement in a direction generally distally of said cartridge;
• and
• said lockout member includes at least one projection, and said cartridge includes a retaining member engageable with said projection in said second position of said lockout member to retain said lockout member in said second position.

A surgical stapler comprising:

• a cartridge having a plurality of staples, frame means for carrying said cartridge, firing means including a pusher assembly movable relative to said frame means in an initial longitudinal firing movement of the pusher assembly down a path to fire the staples, a lockout mechanism for preventing a subsequent longitudinal firing movement of the pusher assembly after the pusher assembly has been moved to a retracted position by longitudinal movement of said pusher assembly along said path in a direction opposite to a direction of said firing movement, said lockout mechanism including barrier means for preventing refiring movement of said pusher assembly, said barrier means being movable from a first position to a second position, and restraining means for engaging said barrier means, wherein when said barrier means is in said first position said pusher assembly can be advanced along said path to effect firing of said staples, said restraining means being movable in response to movement of said pusher assembly relative to said frame means so that said barrier means is movable to said second position to prevent refiring after the pusher assembly has been moved to said retracted position, wherein said barrier means comprises a knife movable with said pusher assembly during firing movement thereof, and said restraining means comprises a lockout member slidably movably mounted on said staple cartridge for non-rotational movement in a direction generally distally of said cartridge.

A surgical stapler comprising:

• a cartridge having a plurality of staples, frame means for carrying said cartridge, firing means including a pusher assembly movable relative to said frame means in an initial longitudinal firing movement of the pusher assembly down a path to fire the staples, a lockout mechanism for preventing a subsequent longitudinal firing movement of the pusher assembly after the pusher assembly has been moved to a retracted position by longitudinal movement of said pusher assembly along said path in a direction opposite to a direction of said firing movement, said lockout mechanism including barrier means for preventing refiring movement of said pusher assembly, said barrier means being movable from a first position to a second position, and restraining means for engaging said barrier means, wherein when said barrier means is in said first position said pusher assembly can be advanced along said path to effect firing of said staples, said restraining means being movable in response to movement of said pusher assembly relative to said frame means so that said barrier means is movable to said second position to prevent refiring after the pusher assembly has been moved to said retracted position, said restraining means being movable in response to movement of said pusher assembly toward said retracted position;
• and
• wherein said restraining means comprises a lockout member pivotally mounted on said cartridge.

A surgical

• a cartridge having a plurality of staples, frame means for carrying said cartridge, firing means including a pusher assembly movable relative to said frame means in an initial longitudinal firing movement of the pusher assembly down a path to fire the staples, a lockout mechanism for preventing a subsequent longitudinal firing movement of the pusher assembly after the pusher assembly has been moved to a retracted position by longitudinal movement of said pusher assembly along said path in a direction opposite to a direction of said firing movement, said lockout mechanism including barrier means for preventing refiring movement of said pusher assembly, said barrier means being movable from a first position to a second position, and restraining means for engaging said barrier means, wherein when said barrier means is in said first position said pusher assembly can be advanced along said path to effect firing of said staples, said restraining means being movable in response to movement of said pusher assembly relative to said frame means so that said barrier means is movable to said second position to prevent refiring after the pusher assembly has been moved to said retracted position, said restraining means being movable in response to movement of said pusher assembly toward said retracted position;
• and
• wherein said pusher assembly comprises knife means comprising said barrier means, said knife means being movable in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by movement of said pusher assembly thereof for movement of said barrier means between said first and second positions.

An endoscopic surgical tissue fastening instrument comprising:

• a tissue fastening portion;
• a handle portion having a handle;
• and
• an elongated shaft portion connecting said tissue fastening portion and said handle portion,
• wherein said tissue fastening portion contains a cartridge portion having a plurality of fasteners arranged to be placed into tissue and an anvil portion arranged to clamp tissue between said anvil portion and said cartridge portion so as to permit the firing of said tissue fasteners into tissue;
• and
• said cartridge portion and anvil portion pivotable one with respect to the other;
• a knife in said tissue fastening portion, said knife further connected to a firing trigger, and said knife capable of severing tissue contained between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion;
• and
• a lockout mechanism which contacts said knife during an intermediate point along the motion of said knife as said knife passes between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion such that said knife causes said lockout mechanism to move to a position wherein said firing trigger is prevented from being refired.

An endoscopic surgical tissue fastening instrument comprising:

• a tissue fastening portion;
• a handle portion having a handle;
• and
• an elongated shaft portion connecting said tissue fastening portion and said handle portion,
• wherein said tissue fastening portion contains a cartridge portion having a plurality of fasteners arranged to be placed into tissue and an anvil portion arranged to clamp tissue between said anvil portion and said cartridge portion so as to permit the firing of said tissue fasteners into tissue;
• and
• said cartridge portion and anvil portion pivotable one with respect to the other;
• a knife in said tissue fastening portion, said knife further connected to a firing trigger, and said knife capable of severing tissue contained between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion;
• and
• a lockout mechanism which contacts said knife during motion of said knife as said knife passes between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion such that said knife causes said lockout mechanism to move to a position wherein said firing trigger is prevented from being refired;
• and
• wherein said lockout mechanism comprises a tab on said cartridge portion, said tab contacting said knife at an intermediate point along the motion of said knife as said knife passes between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion, such that said tab moves from an initial position to a second position, wherein when in said second position, said knife is not capable of moving within said cartridge after retraction from said cartridge.

An endoscopic surgical tissue fastening instrument comprising:

• a tissue fastening portion;
• a handle portion having a handle;
• and
• an elongated shaft portion connecting said tissue fastening portion and said handle portion,
• wherein said tissue fastening portion contains a cartridge portion having a plurality of fasteners arranged to be placed into tissue and an anvil portion arranged to clamp tissue between said anvil portion and said cartridge portion so as to permit the firing of said tissue fasteners into tissue;
• and
• said cartridge portion and anvil portion pivotable one with respect to the other;
• a knife in said tissue fastening portion, said knife further connected to a firing trigger, and said knife capable of severing tissue contained between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion;
• and
• a lockout mechanism which contacts said knife during motion of said knife as said knife passes between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion such that said knife causes said lockout mechanism to move to a position wherein said firing trigger is prevented from being refired;
• wherein said handle portion containing a closure trigger and a firing trigger, said closure trigger remotely connected to said anvil portion, said closure trigger capable of causing said anvil portion to pivot so as to bring said anvil portion into proximity with said cartridge portion, and said firing trigger connected to said cartridge portion and capable of firing said fasteners from said cartridge portion into said tissue so as to fasten said tissue, and
• wherein said firing trigger and said closure trigger are pivotable with respect to said handle, and said closure trigger having an initial position and a clamping position pivotally displaced from said initial position, and said firing trigger having an initial position, an intermediate position pivotally displaced from said initial position, and a final position pivotally displaced from said intermediate position, wherein the initial position of said closure trigger is pivotally displaced from the initial position of said firing trigger, and further including engagement means on said closure trigger for actuating said firing trigger from its initial position to its intermediate position and further during motion of said closure trigger from its initial position to its clamping position.