Lockout mechanism for surgical apparatus

• US 5,472,132 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zuzick, Joseph F. Jr., Blewett, Jeffrey J., Savage, Robert C., Kasarauskas, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/350,310
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/8, 227/176, 227/179, 227/178, 227/180, 227/181, 227/175
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil member and a surgical fastener cartridge member mounted to the distal end of an elongated endoscopic portion. A tubular collar of the endoscopic portion moves distally to engage the anvil member and bias the anvil member and the cartridge member into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and the cartridge member. A self contained pneumatic system is disposed in the surgical apparatus and is actuable to eject and/or form the surgical fasteners in the clamped body tissue. The apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism for preventing approximation of the anvil member and the cartridge. In one embodiment, a clamping interlock is shown which prevents approximation of the jaws when the jaws are either misaligned or improperly inserted into the instrument. In a second embodiment, a clamping interlock is shown which directly engages the tubular collar preventing approximation of the jaws when a cartridge member is not fully inserted. In a third embodiment, a clamping interlock is shown which directly engages the tubular collar when an unfired cartridge is not present or properly inserted into the instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus for approximating surgical jaw structure comprising:

a) a handle;

b) an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle;

c) first jaw means mounted to said elongated portion and having a first tissue engaging surface for supporting tissue, said first jaw means comprising a cartridge holding a plurality of ejectable surgical fasteners and a cam bar adapter removably mounting means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge;

d) second jaw means, mounted to said elongated portion, having a second tissue engaging surface and a distal end and a proximal end, said second jaw means being mounted with respect to said elongated housing such that at least the distal end of said second jaw means is movable in directions generally transverse to said longitudinal axis between an open position spaced from said first tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said second tissue engaging surface is in close cooperative alignment with said first tissue engaging surface;

e) means associated with said elongated portion for moving said second jaw means between said open position and said closed position comprising a camming member axially movable with respect to said second jaw means, said camming member being movable between a first position and a second position, said camming member cooperating with said second jaw means such that when said camming member is moved from said first position to said second position, said second jaw means is urged to said closed position;

f) lockout means associated with said elongated portion for arresting movement of said means for moving said second jaw means between said open position and said closed position, said lockout means comprising pawl member mounted with respect to said elongated portion; and

g) means for actuating said means for ejecting said surgical fasteners;

wherein said actuating means urges said pawl into engagement with said camming member when said cam bar adapter is located distally from a proximal-most end of said cartridge and said camming member is in said first position to arrest movement of said camming member.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pawl is pivotally mounted with respect to said elongated portion and said lockout means further comprises a spring mounted with respect to said elongated portion, said spring biasing said pawl member away from said camming member.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 2, wherein said camming member is a tubular collar disposed around at least a portion of said elongated portion, said spring urging said pawl member radially inward of said tubular collar.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pawl engages a notch in said collar.

5. A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue comprising:

a) a handle;

b) an endoscopic portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle, said endoscopic portion including;

i) an elongated housing having a distal portion which comprises means to support a plurality of surgical fasteners for slidable movement generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, said distal portion having a tissue engaging surface for supporting tissue to be fastened, said means to support a plurality of surgical fasteners comprising a cartridge holding a plurality of ejectable surgical fasteners and a cam bar adapter removably mounting means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said cartridge,

ii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface and a distal end and a proximal end, said anvil member being mounted with respect to said elongated housing such that at least the distal end of said anvil member is movable in directions generally transverse to said longitudinal axis between an open position spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface,

iii) means for moving said anvil member between said open position and said closed position comprising a tubular collar disposed around at least a portion of said housing and said anvil, said tubular collar being movable between a first position and a second position, said tubular collar cooperating with said anvil member such that when the collar is moved from said first position to said second position, said anvil member is urged to said closed position,

iv) means for ejecting said surgical fasteners from said fastener support means, whereby said fasteners engage tissue positionable between said tissue engaging surface and said fastener forming surface,

v) lockout means for arresting movement of said means for moving said anvil between said open position and said closed position, said lockout means comprising a radially inwardly spring biased pawl member pivotally mounted with respect to said elongated housing; and

vi) means for actuating said means for ejecting said surgical fasteners;

wherein said actuating means urges said pawl radially outward into a notch in said collar when said cam bar adapter is located distally from a proximal-most end of said cartridge and said collar is in said first position to arrest movement of said collar.