Lockout mechanisms for surgical devices
First Claim
1. A surgical device, comprising:
- an end effector having first and second jaws configured to move relative to one another between an open position in which the first and second jaws are spaced a distance apart from one another and a closed position in which the first and second jaws are configured to grasp tissue therebetween; and
a handle portion havinga first actuator operatively associated with the first and second jaws and movable between a first position and a second position, movement of the first actuator from the first position to the second position being effective to move the first and second jaws from the open position to the closed position, anda second actuator configured to advance a cutting element distally along the first and second jaws to cut the tissue grasped therebetween, the second actuator having an opening configured to receive a user'"'"'s finger; and
at least one blocking member configured to move relative to the second actuator, movement of the first actuator from the first position to the second position being effective to move the at least one blocking member from an obstruction position in which the at least one blocking member obstructs the opening of the second actuator so that a user is hindered from actuating the second actuator, to a firing position in which the at least one blocking member is displaced away from the opening of the second actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various surgical devices are provided having mechanisms for preventing premature actuation of a cutting mechanism. These devices generally include a handle having one or more actuators and an effector disposed at a distal end of the device and configured to grasp tissue. When the end effector is in an open position, a firing actuator can be positioned so that it cannot be actuated by a user. For example, the firing actuator can be obstructed by a shield or arm when the end effector is in the open position. In other embodiments, the firing actuator can be hidden in a recess formed in the closure actuator until the end effector is moved to the closed position. When the end effector is in the closed position, the firing actuator can be engaged to advance a cutting mechanism, thereby cutting the tissue grasped by the end effector.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A surgical device, comprising:
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an end effector having first and second jaws configured to move relative to one another between an open position in which the first and second jaws are spaced a distance apart from one another and a closed position in which the first and second jaws are configured to grasp tissue therebetween; and a handle portion having a first actuator operatively associated with the first and second jaws and movable between a first position and a second position, movement of the first actuator from the first position to the second position being effective to move the first and second jaws from the open position to the closed position, and a second actuator configured to advance a cutting element distally along the first and second jaws to cut the tissue grasped therebetween, the second actuator having an opening configured to receive a user'"'"'s finger; and at least one blocking member configured to move relative to the second actuator, movement of the first actuator from the first position to the second position being effective to move the at least one blocking member from an obstruction position in which the at least one blocking member obstructs the opening of the second actuator so that a user is hindered from actuating the second actuator, to a firing position in which the at least one blocking member is displaced away from the opening of the second actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A surgical device configured to grasp and cut tissue, comprising:
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an end effector including first and second jaws configured to move relative to one another between an open position in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart and a closed position in which the first and second jaws are configured to engage the tissue therebetween; and a handle assembly coupled to the end effector with the end effector being located distal of the handle assembly, the handle assembly having; a closure actuator configured to move the jaws between the open and closed positions, a firing actuator configured to advance a cutting member distally along the jaws to cut tissue engaged between the first and second jaws, and a blocking member configured to extend longitudinally across a finger recess of the firing actuator from a distal end of the finger recess to a proximal end of the finger recess when the first and second jaws are in the open position to thereby hinder a user from accessing the firing actuator, the distal end of the finger recess being more proximate to the end effector than the proximal end of the finger recess. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for actuating a surgical device, comprising:
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moving a closure actuator on a surgical device from a first position to a second position to cause first and second jaws of the surgical device to move from an open configuration in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart to a closed configuration in which the first and second jaws grasp tissue therebetween, wherein moving the closure actuator from the first position to the second position moves a blocking member from a first position, in which the blocking member extends across a finger recess of a firing actuator such that the finger recess is inaccessible to a user, to a second position, in which the blocking member is moved away from the finger recess such that the firing actuator is accessible to the user; and with the first and second jaws in the closed position, moving the firing actuator on the surgical device to advance a cutting assembly along the first and second jaws to thereby cut the tissue grasped therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification