Vessel Sealer and Divider with Knife Lockout
First Claim
1. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:
- a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof;
a drive assembly disposed in the housing and operable to move the jaw members relative to one another from an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the drive assembly including a drive shaft having a proximal end;
a knife assembly operable to advance a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a mechanical interface disposed thereon; and
a knife lockout including a first mechanical interface configured to operably engage the proximal end of the drive shaft and a second mechanical interface configured to operably engage the mechanical interface of the knife assembly and prevent movement thereof, wherein movement of the jaw members to the closed position causes the proximal end of the drive shaft to engage the first mechanical interface which, in turn, causes the second mechanical interface to disengage the mechanical interface on the knife assembly to permit selective advancement of the knife.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto that supports a pair of jaws disposed at a distal end thereof. A drive assembly having a drive shaft with a proximal end is operable to move the jaws relative to one another from an open to closed positions. A knife assembly is operable to advance a knife through tissue disposed between the jaws and includes a flange disposed thereon. A knife lockout is included that has a flange configured to engage the proximal end of the drive shaft and a lockout arm configured to engage the flange of the knife assembly to prevent movement thereof. Movement of the jaws to the closed position causes the proximal end of the drive shaft to engage the flange on the lockout which causes the lockout arm to disengage the flange on the knife assembly to permit advancement of the knife.
138 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:
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a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof; a drive assembly disposed in the housing and operable to move the jaw members relative to one another from an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the drive assembly including a drive shaft having a proximal end; a knife assembly operable to advance a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a mechanical interface disposed thereon; and a knife lockout including a first mechanical interface configured to operably engage the proximal end of the drive shaft and a second mechanical interface configured to operably engage the mechanical interface of the knife assembly and prevent movement thereof, wherein movement of the jaw members to the closed position causes the proximal end of the drive shaft to engage the first mechanical interface which, in turn, causes the second mechanical interface to disengage the mechanical interface on the knife assembly to permit selective advancement of the knife. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing a device for dividing tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing a forceps having; a housing including a shaft attached thereto, the shaft having a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof; a drive assembly disposed in the housing and operable to move the jaw members relative to one another from an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the drive assembly including a drive shaft having a proximal end; a knife assembly operable to advance a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a mechanical interface disposed thereon; and a knife lockout including a first mechanical interface configured to operably engage the proximal end of the drive shaft and a second mechanical interface configured to operably engage the mechanical interface of the knife assembly and prevent movement thereof; and actuating the drive assembly to move the jaw members to the closed position causing the proximal end of the drive shaft to engage the first mechanical interface which, in turn, causes the second mechanical interface to disengage the mechanical interface on the knife assembly and permit selective advancement of the knife. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of separating tissue, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a knife lockout to prevent translation of a knife blade through a knife channel defined between a pair of jaw members; actuating a drive assembly to close the pair of jaw members about tissue and position a proximal end of a drive shaft of the drive assembly to a proximal-most position; and engaging a first mechanical interface extending from the knife lockout with the proximal end of the drive shaft to reposition a second mechanical interface of the knife lockout to allow translation of the knife blade. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification