SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LOCKOUT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
- an unspent staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein;
a firing drive comprising a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position to eject said staples from said unspent staple cartridge during a firing stroke;
an end effector, comprising;
a first jaw configured to receive said unspent staple cartridge; and
a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples;
a sensor system configured to detect whether said unspent staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw;
a firing drive lockout configurable in;
a locked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is engaged with said firing member and prevents said firing member from being moved through said firing stroke; and
an unlocked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is disengaged from said firing member;
a biasing member configured to bias said firing drive lockout into said locked configuration; and
a controller, wherein said sensor system and said firing drive lockout are in communication with said controller, and wherein said controller is configured to place said firing drive lockout in said unlocked configuration when said sensor system detects that said unspent staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling system comprising a lockout is disclosed. The lockout is configured to prevent the stapling system from performing a stapling firing function if an unspent staple cartridge is not fully seated in the stapling system. In various instances, the lockout is configured to permit the stapling system to perform a jaw clamping function even though an unspent staple cartridge is not fully seated in the stapling system.
261 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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an unspent staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein; a firing drive comprising a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position to eject said staples from said unspent staple cartridge during a firing stroke; an end effector, comprising; a first jaw configured to receive said unspent staple cartridge; and a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples; a sensor system configured to detect whether said unspent staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw; a firing drive lockout configurable in; a locked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is engaged with said firing member and prevents said firing member from being moved through said firing stroke; and an unlocked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is disengaged from said firing member; a biasing member configured to bias said firing drive lockout into said locked configuration; and a controller, wherein said sensor system and said firing drive lockout are in communication with said controller, and wherein said controller is configured to place said firing drive lockout in said unlocked configuration when said sensor system detects that said unspent staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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an unspent staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, wherein said unspent staple cartridge becomes a spent staple cartridge after at least one of said staples has been ejected therefrom; a firing drive comprising a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position to eject said staples from said unspent staple cartridge during a firing stroke to staple the tissue of a patient, wherein said firing drive comprises a cutting edge configured to incise the tissue being stapled; an end effector, comprising; a first jaw configured to receive said unspent staple cartridge; and a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples; a sensor system configured to detect whether said unspent staple cartridge has been seated in said first jaw and whether said unspent staple cartridge has become said spent staple cartridge; a firing drive lockout configurable in; a locked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is engaged with said firing member and prevents said firing member from being moved through said firing stroke; and an unlocked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is disengaged from said firing member; and a controller, wherein said sensor system and said firing drive lockout are in communication with said controller, wherein said controller is configured to place said firing drive lockout in said unlocked configuration when said sensor system detects that said unspent staple cartridge has been seated in said first jaw, and wherein said controller is configured to place said firing drive lockout in said locked configuration if said unspent staple cartridge has not been seated in said first jaw.
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18. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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an unspent staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein and a sled movable from an unfired position to a fired position to eject said staples therefrom during a firing stroke; a firing drive configured to move said sled; an end effector, comprising; a first jaw configured to receive said unspent staple cartridge; and a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples; a sensor system configured to detect whether said unspent staple cartridge has been seated in said first jaw; an electronic firing drive lockout configurable in; a locked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is locked to said firing drive and prevents said sled from being moved through said firing stroke; and an unlocked configuration in which said firing drive lockout is unlocked from said firing drive; and a controller, wherein said sensor system and said firing drive lockout are in communication with said controller, wherein said controller is configured to place said firing drive lockout in said unlocked configuration when said sensor system detects that said unspent staple cartridge has been seated in said first jaw, and wherein said controller is configured to place said firing drive lockout in said locked configuration if said unspent staple cartridge has not been seated in said first jaw.
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Specification