Shipping wedge with lockout

• US 8,967,445 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kostrzewski, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US14/228,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 606/139, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking

Abstract

A shipping wedge for use with a surgical instrument includes a base configured to be detachably secured with a body portion of the surgical instrument, a blocking member depending from the base and engageable with a movable operative member of the surgical instrument, and a locking member depending from the base and engageable with a lockout mechanism of the surgical instrument.

Claims

1. A tool assembly for use with a surgical instrument comprising:

a loading unit engageable with the surgical instrument, the loading unit including;

a body portion;

a movable operative device disposed in the body portion; and

a lockout mechanism including a locking plate movably mounted to the body portion; and

a shipping wedge including;

a blocking member configured to engage the movable operative device of the loading unit to inhibit movement of the movable operative device; and

a lockout member engageable with the locking plate, wherein the shipping wedge is selectively detachable from the loading unit.

2. The tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking plate is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

3. The tool assembly according to claim 2, wherein the shipping wedge is detachable from the body portion of the loading unit when the locking plate is in the unlocked position.

4. The tool assembly according to claim 3, wherein the loading unit further includes a biasing member configured to bias the locking plate toward the locked position.

5. The tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lockout member includes a neck portion and a flange portion extending from the neck portion.

6. The tool assembly according to claim 5, wherein the flange portion is a circular disc.

7. The tool assembly according to claim 5, wherein the locking plate defines a keyhole slot engageable with the lockout member.

8. The tool assembly according to claim 7, wherein the keyhole slot includes a narrow portion configured to receive the neck portion of the lockout member and an enlarged portion configured to receive the neck portion and the flange portion of the lockout member.

9. The tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable operative device is a knife member.

10. The tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein the loading unit further includes an actuator configured to move the locking plate upon actuation of the actuator.

11. The tool assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shipping wedge further includes a pair of arms configured to securely engage the body portion of the loading unit.

12. The tool assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pair of arms is flexible.

13. The tool assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the pair of arms is shaped to cooperate with the body portion of the loading unit.