Feature to reengage safety switch of tissue stapler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10631867-B2
Application number	US-201715433266-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2017
Priority date	Dec 16, 2011
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an anvil selectively coupleable to a stapling head assembly and a trigger operable to fire staples into tissue compressed between the anvil and the stapling head assembly. In some versions, a lockout member may engage a securing feature to prevent actuation of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. For instance, a tab may engage a slot on an actuator, a screen door lock may provide frictional resistance or engage teeth on the actuator, a door may actuate into engagement with one or more recesses, geared teeth may mesh with teeth on the actuator, the lockout member may include a ratcheting assembly to engage actuator, and/or a push button may actuate into a recess while disengaging the lockout member. Alternatively, in some versions, the trigger actuation assembly may be disengaged prior to firing. An anvil position indicator may restrict engagement of the trigger actuation assembly.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a trigger movably mounted to the body, wherein the trigger is actuatable to fire at least one staple from an end effector of the apparatus;
(c) an actuator extending longitudinally within the body and operable to move proximally and distally relative to the body to actuate the end effector between an open position and a closed position;
(d) a lockout member movably mounted to the body, wherein the lockout member is movable between a locked position in which the lockout member is engaged with the trigger to prevent firing of the apparatus, and an unlocked position in which the lockout member is disengaged from the trigger to permit firing of the apparatus; and
(e) a securing feature operatively associated with the lockout member and the actuator, wherein the securing feature is configured to move relative to the actuator in response to movement of the lockout member between the locked and unlocked positions,
wherein the securing feature is operable to engage the actuator and thereby restrict proximal and distal movement of the actuator when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature is configured to translate relative to the actuator in response to movement of the lockout member between the locked and unlocked positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature comprises a brake having an engagement tab, wherein the actuator comprises a slot, wherein the lockout member is operable to cam the brake such that the engagement tab inserts into the slot when the lockout member is moved to the unlocked position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is configured to move longitudinally relative to the brake when the lockout member is in the unlocked position, wherein the longitudinal movement of the actuator is confined to a predetermined distance defined at least in part by a length of the slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature comprises a lock, wherein the lockout member is operable to engage the lock with the actuator when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the lock includes an edge, wherein the edge includes a friction material configured to resist movement of the actuator relative to the lock.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the lock includes an edge, wherein the actuator includes a plurality of teeth disposed on an exterior surface of the actuator, wherein the edge is configured to engage the teeth when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature comprises a cam surface of the lockout member, wherein the cam surface is configured to directly contact the actuator and thereby restrict actuation thereof when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature comprises a movable door, wherein the movable door includes an opening through which the actuator extends, wherein the actuator includes one or more recesses, wherein the movable door is configured to engage the one or more recesses when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature comprises one or more teeth disposed on the lockout member, wherein the actuator includes one or more complementary teeth configured to engage the one or more teeth of the lockout member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes one or more ratchet teeth, wherein the securing feature comprises a catch member extending from the lockout member, the catch member is operable to engage the one or more ratchet teeth when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing feature comprises a button assembly having a movable button, wherein the actuator includes a longitudinal recess sized to receive the button, wherein the button assembly is operable to move the lockout member to the unlocked position when the button is moved into the recess.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) a stapling head assembly coupled to a distal end of the body, wherein the stapling head assembly is operable to drive at least one staple in response to actuation of the trigger; and
(b) an anvil selectively coupleable to a distal end of the actuator;
wherein the actuator is operable to longitudinally actuate the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly.

14. An apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) an end effector operable to clamp and staple tissue;
(c) a trigger movably mounted to the body, wherein the trigger is actuatable to fire at least one staple from the end effector apparatus;
(d) an actuator extending longitudinally within the body and operable to translate therein along a longitudinal axis to actuate the end effector between an open position and a closed position;
(e) a lockout member movably mounted to the body, wherein the lockout member is movable between a locked position in which the lockout member is configured to engage the trigger to prevent firing of the apparatus, and an unlocked position in which the lockout member is configured to disengage the trigger to permit firing of the apparatus; and
(f) a securing feature operatively associated with the lockout member and the actuator, wherein the securing feature is movable relative to the actuator in response to movement of the lockout member between the locked and unlocked positions,
wherein the securing feature is movable between an activated position in which the securing feature is configured to engage the actuator and thereby restrict translation of the actuator along the longitudinal axis, and a deactivated position in which the securing feature is configured to disengage the actuator and thereby permit translation of the actuator along the longitudinal axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the lockout member is configured to pivot between the locked and unlocked positions.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the securing feature comprises a cam surface of the lockout member, wherein the cam surface is configured to directly contact the actuator when the lockout member is in the unlocked position.

17. An apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a trigger movably mounted to the body, wherein the trigger is actuatable to fire at least one staple from an end effector of the apparatus;
(c) an actuator extending longitudinally through the body, wherein the actuator includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a recess arranged between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the actuator is operable to actuate the end effector between an open position and a closed position;
(d) a lockout member movably mounted to the body, wherein the lockout member is movable between a locked position in which the lockout member is configured to engage the trigger to prevent firing of the apparatus, and an unlocked position in which the lockout member is configured to disengage the trigger to permit firing of the apparatus; and
(e) a securing feature operatively associated with the lockout member and the actuator, wherein the securing feature is movable relative to the actuator in response to movement of the lockout member between the locked and unlocked positions,
wherein the recess in the actuator is sized to receive an engagement portion of the securing feature, wherein the securing feature is configured to restrict movement of the actuator relative to

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Miller Christopher C
• Chekan Edward G
• Alexander Iii Johnny H
• Cummings John F
• Shurtleff Carl J
• Dunki-Jacobs Adam R
• Jamison Barry T
• Young Joseph E
• Henderson Cortney E

Classifications

• A61B17/115 Primary

  Staplers for performing anastomosis, e.g. in a single operation · CPC title

• A61B2090/034

  abutting on parts of the device itself · CPC title

• A61B2017/00367

  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 title

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/00407

  Ratchet means · CPC title