FASTENING SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRING MEMBER LOCKOUT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
- an anvil including a distal end;
a firing member movable toward said distal end;
a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of said firing member toward said distal end;
a biasing member configured to bias said firing member into engagement with said firing lockout; and
a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising;
a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;
a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities;
a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fastener drivers are configured to eject said fasteners from said cartridge body;
a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said deck; and
a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said proximal unfired position and said distal fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold said firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said tissue thickness compensator when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to pull said sled from said proximal unfired position toward said distal fired position if said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The fastener cartridge assembly can include a cartridge body, a plurality of fasteners removably stored within the cartridge body, and an implantable layer. The fastener cartridge assembly and/or the surgical instrument can include a lockout system configured to deactivate the fastener cartridge assembly and/or surgical instrument in the event that the implantable layer is prematurely removed from the fastener cartridge.
281 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
-
an anvil including a distal end; a firing member movable toward said distal end; a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of said firing member toward said distal end; a biasing member configured to bias said firing member into engagement with said firing lockout; and a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising; a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities; a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fastener drivers are configured to eject said fasteners from said cartridge body; a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said deck; and a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said proximal unfired position and said distal fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold said firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said tissue thickness compensator when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to pull said sled from said proximal unfired position toward said distal fired position if said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, a movable firing member, and a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward a distal end of said fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge comprising:
-
a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities; a layer positioned relative to said deck; and a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil when said sled is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said layer when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said layer is configured to pull said sled from said unfired position toward said fired position if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.
-
-
20. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
-
an anvil including a distal end; a firing member movable toward said distal end; a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of said firing member toward said distal end; a biasing member configured to bias said firing member into engagement with said firing lockout; and a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising; a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said cartridge body; a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fastener drivers are configured to eject said fasteners from said cartridge body; a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said deck, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a key; and a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said proximal unfired position and said distal fired position, wherein said key and said sled are configured to co-operatively hold said firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to pull said key away from said sled if said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke so that said firing member engages said firing lockout. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
-
23. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, a movable firing member, and a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward a distal end of said fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge comprising:
-
a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said cartridge body; a layer positioned relative to said deck, wherein said layer comprises a key; and a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil when said sled is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said key is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said layer is configured to pull said key away from the firing member if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke so that the firing member engages the firing lockout.
-
-
24. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, and a movable firing member, said fastener cartridge comprising:
-
a distal end; a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward said distal end; a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities; a layer positioned relative to said deck; and a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil when said sled is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said layer when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said layer is configured to pull said sled from said unfired position toward said fired position if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.
-
-
25. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
-
a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising; a cartridge body comprising a distal end, a deck, and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities; and an implantable portion positioned relative to said deck; a firing member movable toward said distal end to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities during a firing stroke; and means for preventing said firing member from ejecting said fasteners from said fastener cavities if said implantable portion is at least partially removed from said fastener cartridge assembly prior to said firing stroke.
-
-
26. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, a movable firing member, and a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward a distal end of said fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge comprising:
-
a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities; a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities; a layer positioned relative to said deck; and a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil during said firing stroke, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said layer when said sled is in said unfired position, wherein said sled comprises a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein said sled is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said first configuration, wherein said sled is unable to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said second configuration, and wherein said sled is configured to enter into said second configuration if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.
-
Specification