Surgical instrument having a rotary lockout mechanism

• US 6,773,438 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Thompson, Bennie, Kuhns, Jesse, Knodel, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US09/692,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a surgical fastening instrument. The instrument includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The shaft contains a plurality of surgical fasteners therein. The instrument also has a mechanism for first distally deploying a penetrating member from the distal end of the shaft and thereafter feeding at least one of the surgical fasteners distally from the penetrating member. The instrument further includes a lockout mechanism for preventing the penetrating member from deploying from the shaft upon feeding all of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the shaft.

Claims

1. A surgical fastening instrument comprising:

a. a handle;

b. a shaft extending from the handle and containing a plurality of surgical fasteners therein;

c. a penetrating member separate and distinct from said surgical fasteners for penetrating tissue, and a mechanism for first distally deploying said penetrating member from said distal end of said shaft and thereafter feeding at least one of said surgical fasteners distally from said penetrating member;

d. a means for preventing said penetrating member from deploying from said shaft upon feeding all of said plurality of surgical fasteners from said shaft;

e. a trigger pivotally extending from said handle, said trigger operably coupled to said mechanism and actuatable from a first position to a second position and back to the first position to feed a surgical fastener from said shaft for each actuation of said trigger; and

f. wherein said means for preventing said penetrating member from deploying from said shaft upon feeding all of said plurality of surgical fasteners from said shaft comprises a wheel which incrementally rotates in a first direction with each actuation of said trigger, and locks said trigger when all of said fasteners are delivered.

2. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 1 wherein said wheel has a plurality of ratchet teeth extending outwardly around a rim of said wheel.

3. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 2 wherein said trigger further includes a lockout arm contacting said rim of said wheel, wherein upon each actuation of said trigger brings said lockout arm into contacts with a successive tooth of said lockout wheel.

4. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 1 further including a means for preventing rotation of said locking wheel in a direction opposite to the first direction.

5. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 2 wherein the number of teeth on said locking wheel is the same as the number of fasteners within the instrument.

6. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 4 wherein one of said ratchet teeth has a locking tab extending therefrom for locking said lockout arm and said trigger in said triggers second position when said last surgical fastener is fed from said shaft.

7. A surgical fastening instrument comprising:

a. a handle;

b. a shaft extending from the handle and containing a plurality of surgical fasteners therein;

c. a penetrating member separate and distinct from said surgical fasteners for penetrating tissue, and a mechanism for first distally deploying said penetrating member from said distal end of said shaft and thereafter feeding at least one of said surgical fasteners distally from said penetrating member;

d. a lockout mechanism for preventing said penetrating member from deploying from said shaft upon feeding all of said plurality of surgical fasteners from said shaft;

e. a trigger pivotally extending from said handle, said trigger operably coupled to said mechanism and actuatable from a first position to a second position and back to the first position to feed a surgical fastener from said shaft for each actuation of said trigger; and

f. wherein said a lockout mechanism includes a wheel which incrementally rotates in a first direction with each actuation of said trigger, and locks said trigger when all of said fasteners are delivered.

8. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 7 wherein said wheel has a plurality of ratchet teeth extending outwardly around a rim of said wheel.

9. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 8 wherein said trigger further includes a lockout arm contacting said rim of said wheel, wherein upon each actuation of said trigger brings said lockout arm into contacts with a successive tooth of said lockout wheel.

10. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 8 further including a means for preventing rotation of said locking wheel in a direction opposite to the first direction.

11. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 8 wherein the number of teeth on said locking wheel is the same as the number of fasteners within the instrument.

12. The surgical fastener instrument of claim 9 wherein one of said ratchet teeth has a locking tab extending therefrom for locking said lockout arm and said trigger in said triggers second position when said last surgical fastener is fed from said shaft.