Surgical stapling instrument having a single lockout mechanism for prevention of firing

• US 7,044,352 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Weisenburgh, William Bruce II, Setser, Michael Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEEKS, GLORIA R
• Application Number:
  US10/441,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.4
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A surgical instrument for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures simultaneously severs and staples tissue clamped in an end effector comprising an elongate channel, which holds a staple cartridge, and a pivotally attached anvil. An E-beam firing bar engages the channel and selectively engages the anvil during distal firing movements, wherein the tissue is severed and stapled driven upward from the staple cartridge to form against the anvil. In particular, a wedge integral to the staple cartridge is driven distally by a middle pin of the firing bar to effect stapling. A single lockout of the elongate channel responds to the presence of the wedge sled in its unfired position to allow the firing bar to fire. Otherwise, the single lockout prevent firing when the staple cartridge is missing or spent.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce a firing motion;

an elongate channel coupled to the handle portion;

an anvil pivotally attached to the elongate channel;

a staple device engaged by the elongate channel and including a plurality of staple drivers and a wedge member distally positionable in the staple device to cam the staple drivers toward the anvil;

a firing device responsive to the firing motion to drive the wedge member distally, the firing device including a lower portion having a laterally projecting pin that passes through and engages the elongate channel;

a lockout disabled by the proximally positioned wedge member and operably configured to prevent distal movement of the pin of firing device.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the staple device comprises a replaceable device.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the staple device includes a firing drive slot through which at least a portion of the firing device distally traverses to drive the wedge member, the lockout means resiliently intruding into the firing drive slot from the elongate channel.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the lockout means presents a surface in the firing drive slot ramped from the elongate channel proximally.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the lockout means comprises a proximally directed spring finger.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the elongate channel includes a recess under the spring finger to receive a portion of the firing device.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the lockout means comprises a spring-biased plunger.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the lockout means comprises a ramped hook springedly attached to the elongate channel.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce a closing motion and a firing motion;

a shaft attached to the handle motion and operably configured for transferring the closing motion and the firing motion;

an elongate channel attached to the shaft;

an anvil pivotally attached to the elongate channel and responsive to the closing motion;

a firing bar coupled to the shaft and responsive to the firing motion to distally traverse between the elongate channel and the anvil the firing bar including a lower portion having a laterally projecting pin that passes through and engagages the elongate channel;

a staple device engaged by the elongate channel and including a wedge member displaced by the firing bar during firing; and

a lockout disabled by the nondisplaced wedge member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the staple device comprises a replaceable device.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the staple device includes a firing drive slot through which at least a portion of the firing bar distally traverses to drive the wedge member, the lockout means resiliently intruding into the firing drive slot from the elongate channel.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the lockout means presents a surface in the firing drive slot ramped from the elongate channel proximally.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the lockout means comprises a proximally directed spring finger.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the elongate channel includes a recess under the spring finger to receive a portion of the firing device.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the lockout means comprises a spring-biased plunger.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the lockout means comprises a ramped hook springedly attached to the elongate channel.