Surgical stapler cartridge lockout device
First Claim
1. In a surgical stapler having firing means for firing staples and in which a removable cartridge containing staples may be loaded and replaced by another removable cartridge, a lockout mechanism on said stapler actuable by said firing means upon the firing of said staples by said stapler such that said lockout mechanism blocks said firing means and prevents the refiring of said stapler when loaded with said spent cartridge.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A lockout mechanism actuable upon the firing of staples in a surgical staple cartridge such that the lockout mechanism prevents the refiring of the spent staple cartridge when that cartridge remains loaded within the surgical stapler. In addition, the lockout mechanism will prevent reloading of a spent staple cartridge within a surgical stapler after the spent staple cartridge has been removed from the surgical stapler.
2444 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. In a surgical stapler having firing means for firing staples and in which a removable cartridge containing staples may be loaded and replaced by another removable cartridge, a lockout mechanism on said stapler actuable by said firing means upon the firing of said staples by said stapler such that said lockout mechanism blocks said firing means and prevents the refiring of said stapler when loaded with said spent cartridge.
- 3. In a cartridge containing surgical staples and a path wherein a firing means from a surgical stapler can move in order to fire said stapler, a lockout mechanism comprising a firing barrier loaded by a first spring, said barrier preloaded on said cartridge before the insertion of said cartridge into a surgical stapler, said first spring actuable upon the firing of said stapler by said firing means located on said stapler, such that said barrier is caused by said first spring to move into said path to prevent the refiring of said staples loaded with said spent cartridge.
- 6. In a staple cartridge insertable within a surgical stapler and containing staples and comprising an elongated body including one or more longitudinal slots for slidably receiving one or more longitudinal pusher bars comprising a firing mechanism of said surgical stapler, and a plurality of drivers engageable by said pusher bars for ejecting the staples from the cartridge, said staple cartridge releasably fastened to a said surgical stapler, the improvement comprising a lockout mechanism connected to said longitudinal slots for preventing said pusher bars from passing more than one time through said longitudinal slots.
Specification