Lockout mechanisms and surgical instruments including same

• US 20070102475A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark, Boudreaux, Chad
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle portion, a channel, an anvil, and staple cartridge, a wedge member, a reciprocating firing device, and a lockout arm. The handle portion is operably configured to produce a firing motion and is coupled to the channel portion. The staple cartridge is engaged by the channel and includes a plurality of staple drivers to cam the staples toward the anvil, which is pivotally attached to the channel. The wedge member is proximal to and longitudinally aligned with the staple drivers, and the reciprocating firing device is responsive to the firing motion to progressively drive the wedge member from an unfired to a fired position. The lockout arm is pivotally attached to the channel and operably configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the firing device based upon a position of the wedge member.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce a firing motion;

a channel coupled to the handle portion;

an anvil pivotally attached to the channel;

a staple cartridge engaged by the channel and including a plurality of staple drivers and staples, the staple drivers for camming the staples toward the anvil;

a wedge member proximal to and longitudinally aligned with the staple drivers;

a reciprocating firing device responsive to the firing motion to progressively drive the wedge member from an unfired position to a fired position; and

a lockout arm pivotally attached to the channel and operably configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the firing device based upon a position of the wedge member.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a shaft for connecting the handle portion to the channel, the shaft comprising an articulation mechanism.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the lockout arm comprises a first end, a second end, and pivot means located between the first and second ends, the pivot means cooperative with the channel.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the lockout arm defines an open-ended slot passing through the first end and entering a portion of the second end.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the first end of the lockout arm is operably configured for depressible engagement by the wedge member when present in the unfired position such that the second end of the lockout arm is pivoted in an elevated position with respect to the firing device, the depressed engagement of the first end and the elevation of second end corresponding to the unlocked position of the lockout arm.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising biasing means for applying a force for elevating the first end of the lockout arm such that the second end thereof is pivoted in a depressed position with respect to the firing device when the wedge member is not present in the unfired position, the elevation of the first end and the depression of the second end corresponding to the locked position of the lockout arm.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the second end of the lockout arm is operably configured to engage the firing device when the lockout arm is in the locked position such that distal movement of the firing device is prevented.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the second end of the lockout arm comprises a lock pin for engaging a notch defined by the firing device when the lockout arm is in the locked position.

9. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce a firing motion;

a channel coupled to the handle portion;

an anvil pivotally attached to the channel;

a staple cartridge engaged by the channel and including a plurality of staple drivers and staples, the staple drivers for camming the staples toward the anvil;

a wedge member proximal to and longitudinally aligned with the staple drivers;

a reciprocating firing device responsive to the firing motion to progressively drive the wedge member from an unfired position to a fired position; and

at least one lockout assembly positioned in the channel and adjacent to a corresponding lateral surface of the firing device, each lockout assembly comprising a lockout cartridge moveably disposed within a corresponding recess defined by the channel, wherein the lockout cartridge is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the firing device based upon a position of the wedge member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising a shaft for connecting the handle portion to the channel, the shaft comprising an articulation mechanism.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein each lockout assembly further comprises biasing means for applying a force to the lockout cartridge such that a portion of the lockout cartridge is caused to protrude from the corresponding recess when the wedge member is not present in the unfired position, the protrusion of the lockout cartridge from the recess corresponding to the locked position thereof.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the biasing means of each lockout assembly comprises a spring finger having a first end attached to the lockout cartridge and a second end attached to the channel.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the lockout cartridge of each lockout assembly comprises a first surface configured for engaging a corresponding pin of the firing device when the lockout cartridge is in the locked position such that distal movement of the firing device is prevented.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the lockout cartridge of each lockout assembly further comprises a second surface configured for engagement by the wedge member when present in the unfired position such that the lockout cartridge is depressed into the corresponding recess, the depression of the lockout cartridge corresponding to the unlocked position thereof.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the lockout cartridge of each lockout assembly further comprises a third surface configured for slidingly engaging the corresponding pin on the firing device during reciprocating movement thereof.

16. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce a firing motion;

a channel coupled to the handle portion;

an anvil pivotally attached to the channel;

a staple cartridge engaged by the channel and including a plurality of staple drivers and staples, the staple drivers for camming the staples toward the anvil;

a wedge member proximal to and longitudinally aligned with the staple drivers; and

a reciprocating firing device responsive to the firing motion to progressively drive the wedge member from an unfired position to a fired position, wherein the firing device comprises a distal portion, a proximal portion, and pivot means connecting the proximal and distal portions, wherein distal portion is configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the channel based upon a position of the wedge member.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising a shaft for connecting the handle portion to the channel, the shaft comprising an articulation mechanism.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the distal portion is operatively configured for engagement by the wedge member during distal movement of the firing device such that the distal portion is pivotally elevated with respect to the channel, the pivotal elevation of the distal portion corresponding to the unlocked position thereof.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, further comprising biasing means for applying a force to urge the distal portion into a depressed position with respect to the channel during distal movement of the firing device when the distal portion is not engaged by the wedge member, the depressed position of the distal portion corresponding to the locked position thereof.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the distal portion of the firing device comprises at least one pin configured for receipt into a corresponding recess defined by a bottom portion of the channel when the distal portion is in the locked position such that further distal movement of the firing device is prevented.

21. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge;

a reciprocating firing device responsive to a firing motion produced by the surgical instrument for progressively driving a wedge member of the staple cartridge from an unfired position to a fired position; and

a lockout arm pivotally attached to the channel and operably configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the firing device based upon a position of the wedge member.

22. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge;

a reciprocating firing device responsive to a firing motion produced by the surgical instrument for progressively driving a wedge member of the staple cartridge from an unfired position to a fired position; and

at least one lockout assembly positioned in the channel and adjacent to a corresponding lateral surface of the firing device, each lockout assembly comprising a lockout cartridge moveably disposed within a corresponding recess defined by the channel, wherein the lockout cartridge is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the firing device based upon a position of the wedge member.

23. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge; and

a reciprocating firing device responsive to a firing motion produced by the surgical instrument to progressively drive a wedge member of the staple cartridge from an unfired position to a fired position, wherein the firing device comprises a distal portion, a proximal portion, and pivot means connecting the proximal and distal portions, and wherein distal portion is configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the channel based upon a position of the wedge member.