Handle actuator for surgical instrument having clamp lock and emergency release
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for applying one or more surgical fasteners to tissue, comprising:
- a fastener applying assembly including fastener holding means for holding one or more surgical fasteners, means for driving said surgical fasteners into the tissue, means for capturing and clamping said tissue prior to forming said fasteners and for releasing said tissue after forming said fasteners;
a shaft assembly for mounting to the distal end thereof said fastener applying assembly;
an actuator handle assembly mounted to the proximal end of said shaft assembly and including first actuator means for actuating said means for capturing, clamping, and releasing said tissue, and further including second actuator means in cooperation with said first actuator means, said second actuator means operable to drive said surgical fasteners, wherein said first actuator means is pivotally mounted about a first pivot point to said actuator handle assembly, and said second actuator means is pivotally mounted about a second pivot point to said first actuator means, wherein said first actuator means includes clamp locking means for locking said first actuator means after said tissue is clamped.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument for applying one or more surgical fasteners to tissue, comprising:
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a fastener applying assembly including fastener holding means for holding one or more surgical fasteners, means for driving said surgical fasteners into the tissue, means for capturing and clamping said tissue prior to forming said fasteners and for releasing said tissue after forming said fasteners; a shaft assembly for mounting to the distal end thereof said fastener applying assembly; an actuator handle assembly mounted to the proximal end of said shaft assembly and including first actuator means for actuating said means for capturing, clamping, and releasing said tissue, and further including second actuator means in cooperation with said first actuator means, said second actuator means operable to drive said surgical fasteners, wherein said first actuator means is pivotally mounted about a first pivot point to said actuator handle assembly, and said second actuator means is pivotally mounted about a second pivot point to said first actuator means, wherein said first actuator means includes clamp locking means for locking said first actuator means after said tissue is clamped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification