Closure plate lockout for a curved cutter stapler

A surgical instrument adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

• an anvil;
• a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge housing and anvil being relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second closed position;
• a firing mechanism associated with the cartridge housing for ejecting the surgical fasteners from the cartridge housing to be driven against the anvil;
• and
• a lockout mechanism interacting with the cartridge housing for activation and deactivation;
• the lockout mechanism including reapproximation means for preventing movement of the cartridge housing to its second closed position, but permitting relative reapproximation movement of the cartridge housing and anvil, whereby reapproximation provides an indicator that the instrument is not malfunctioning.

A surgical instrument adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

• an anvil;
• a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge housing and anvil being relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second position in close approximation with one another;
• a firing mechanism associated with the cartridge housing for ejecting the surgical fasteners from the cartridge housing to be driven against the anvil;
• and
• a lockout mechanism interacting with the cartridge housing for selective activation and deactivation;
• the lockout mechanism preventing movement of the cartridge housing to its second closed position, but permitting relative reapproximation movement of the cartridge housing and anvil, whereby reapproximation provides an indicator that the instrument is not malfunctioning, and the lockout mechanism includes a lockout lever rotationally mounted on a closure member of the surgical instrument, the lockout lever includes a distal end and a proximal end with a central section therebetween, the central section being pivotally mounted to the closure member allowing the lockout arm to rotate in a controlled manner.

A method for use of a surgical instrument, comprising the following steps:

• providing a surgical instrument adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue, the surgical instrument including:
• an anvil;
• a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge housing and anvil being relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second position in close approximation with one another;
• a firing mechanism associated with the cartridge housing for ejecting the surgical fasteners from the cartridge housing to be driven against the anvil;
• firing the surgical instrument to dispense the surgical fasteners;
• attempting to reapproximate the cartridge housing and anvil;
• and
• determining, based upon the ability to reapproximate, whether the surgical instrument is properly functioning.