Surgical instrument with partial trigger lockout

摘要

An end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a firing beam, and a lockout feature. The second jaw pivots relative to the first jaw from an open position to a closed position. The firing beam has a sharp distal end and translates between the first and second jaws. The firing beam translates from a proximal position to a first distal position to pivot the second jaw to the closed position. The end effector applies bipolar RF energy when the firing beam is in the first distal position. The firing beam then translates to a second distal position to sever tissue captured between the first and second jaws. The lockout feature prevents the firing beam from advancing from the first distal position to the second distal position until the lockout feature is actuated.

主权项

1. An instrument comprising:
(a) a first jaw; (b) a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw from an open position to a closed position, wherein the second jaw is operable to capture tissue between the first and second jaw in the closed position, wherein the end effector is operable to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue captured between the first and second jaws; (c) a firing beam, wherein the firing beam comprises a sharp distal end, wherein the firing beam is translatable between the first and second jaws among longitudinal positions comprising:
(i) a proximal position where the second jaw is in the open position,(ii) a first distal position where the second jaw is in the closed position, wherein the end effector is operable to apply bipolar RF energy when the firing beam is in the first distal position, and(iii) a second distal position where the sharp distal end of the firing beam is operable to sever tissue captured between the first and second jaws; and (d) a lockout feature, wherein the lockout feature is operable to allow the firing beam to travel from the proximal position to the first distal position, wherein the lockout feature is operable to prevent the firing beam from advancing from the first distal position to the second distal position until the lockout feature is actuated.