Surgical stapler

• US 6,131,789 A
• Filed: 04/25/1994
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schulze, Dale R., Sherman, Jon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHLEY, BOYER DOLINGER
• Application Number:
  US08/232,906
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/175.4, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/178.1, 606/220
• US Class Current: 227/175.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/1686 using pre-loaded cassettes

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved surgical stapler that prevents refiring of a spent staple cartridge. More specifically, this invention includes a simple, inexpensive mechanical locking mechanism which prevents refiring of a spent staple cartridge by blocking the path of the firing and/or cutting means of the stapler.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler comprising:

a cartridge having a plurality of rows of staples disposed along a longitudinal axis of said cartridge;

at least one pusher bar movable distally within said cartridge for ejecting said staples;

a lockout member movable distally in said stapler, said lockout member being further movable generally perpendicularly to the direction of distal movement of said lockout member; and

a barrier engageable by said lockout member in a retracted position of said lockout member, subsequent to an initial distal movement of said lockout member.

2. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lockout member comprises an elongated member having a notched surface.

3. The stapler of claim 1 wherein said barrier comprises a first surface extending generally transversely to said longitudinal axis for engagement by said lockout member.

4. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a knife.

5. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lockout member comprises a knife blade.

6. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 1 further including a stop member comprising a roof assembly.

7. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lockout member is spring biased generally perpendicularly to the direction of distal movement thereof toward a position for engaging said barrier.

8. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 7, wherein said lockout member is biased by a leaf spring.

9. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a movable restraint on said stapler engaged with said lockout member during a portion of the distal movement of said lockout member.

10. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 9, wherein said restraint comprises a rotatable member.

11. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 9, wherein said lockout member is spring biased generally perpendicularly to the direction of distal movement thereof toward a position for engaging said barrier, said restraint acting to prevent engagement of said lockout member with said barrier prior to at least a portion of a distal movement of said lockout member.

12. A surgical stapler comprising:

a frame means and a cartridge having a plurality of rows of staples defining a longitudinal axis of said stapler;

firing means movable relative to said frame means to fire the staples along said axis; and

a lockout mechanism for preventing a subsequent longitudinal firing movement of the firing means after at least a portion of said firing means has been moved to a retracted longitudinal position opposite to a direction of firing movement of said firing means, said lockout mechanism comprising a lockout member movable distally within said stapler and movable generally perpendicular to the direction of distal movement from a first position to a second position, a restraint for maintaining said lockout member in said first position thereof during at least a portion of a distal movement of said lockout member so that said firing means fires said staples, said restraint being movable in response to firing movement of said firing means so that said lockout member is moved to said second position to prevent refiring after at least a portion of said firing means moves to said retracted position.

13. A surgical stapler of claim 12 further comprising a knife blade.

14. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 12, wherein said restraint comprises a member movably mounted on said stapler.

15. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 14, wherein said movably mounted member is rotatable.

16. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 12, wherein said lockout member comprises a notched surface engageable with a barrier for preventing subsequent longitudinal movement of said firing means.

17. A surgical stapler in accordance with claim 16, wherein said lockout member is located on said knife blade.

18. A surgical stapler comprising:

a cartridge having a plurality of rows of staples disposed along a longitudinal axis of said cartridge;

at least one pusher bar movable distally within said cartridge for ejecting said staples;

a lockout member movable distally in said stapler, said lockout member being further movable generally perpendicularly to the direction of distal movement of said lockout member; and

a barrier member engageable by said lockout member in a retracted position of said lockout member, subsequent to an initial distal movement of said lockout member; and

wherein said lockout member is spring biased generally perpendicularly to the direction of distal movement thereof toward a position for engaging said barrier, said restraint acting to prevent engagement of said lockout member with said barrier prior to at least a portion of a distal movement of said lockout member.

19. A surgical stapler for applying a plurality of rows of staples, said rows of staples being housed in a disposable cartridge having a front portion and a rear portion, said cartridge having a cartridge slot disposed between adjacent rows of staples and extending substantially the entire length of said rows, said stapler including firing means for said staples, cutting means movable in said slot and a locking mechanism for preventing movement of said cutting means in said slot, said cutting means having a bottom surface, a top surface, and a cutting edge, said locking mechanism comprising a leaf spring disposed in said stapler and engaging the bottom surface of said cutting means, to place said cutting means in a first position out of alignment with said slot, means disposed on said cartridge for engaging the top surface of the cutting means to depress said leaf spring and move said cutting means from said first position to a second position in alignment with said slot whereby said cutting means may move within said slot.