Tissue stapler safety switch feature to prevent premature jaw opening

摘要

A surgical stapler comprises an anvil assembly, an anvil shaft, a driver, an actuating arm, a safety switch, and a safety feature. The anvil assembly couples with the anvil shaft. The driver drives a plurality of staples into tissue. The actuating arm is in communication with the surgical stapler and is configured to actuate the driver to drive the plurality of staples into tissue. The safety switch is moveable between a locked and an unlocked position. The safety switch prevents operation of the actuating arm when the safety switch is in the locked position. The safety switch enables operation of the actuating arm when the safety switch is in the unlocked position. The safety feature may prevent operation of the driver even when the safety switch is in the unlocked position or prevent operation of the safety switch.

主权项

1. A surgical stapler comprising:
(a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is operable to drive a plurality of staples into tissue; (b) a driver operable to actuate the end effector to drive the plurality of staples into tissue; (c) a trigger in communication with the driver, wherein the trigger is operable to actuate the driver to thereby actuate the end effector; (d) a safety switch in communication with the trigger, wherein the safety switch is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the safety switch is operable to prevent operation of the trigger when the safety switch is in the locked position, wherein the safety switch is operable to enable operation of the trigger when the safety switch is in the unlocked position; and (e) a safety feature in communication with the safety switch, wherein the safety feature is configured to prevent operation of the driver when the safety switch is in the unlocked position;
wherein the safety feature is configured to engage the driver after a portion of tissue has been stapled.