US 11,723,658 B2
Staple cartridge comprising a firing lockout
Gregory J. Bakos, Mason, OH (US); Jason L. Harris, Lebanon, OH (US); and Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/208,385.
Prior Publication US 2022/0296236 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/072 (2013.01) [A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument including a staple firing member and a spent cartridge firing lockout, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body, comprising
a proximal cartridge end comprising a cartridge tail, wherein said cartridge tail comprises a cantilever extending proximally from said proximal cartridge end;
a distal cartridge end comprising a nose;
a deck extending between said proximal cartridge end and said distal cartridge end;
a longitudinal slot defined in said deck extending from said proximal cartridge end toward said distal cartridge end; and
staple cavities defined in said deck;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
staple drivers configured to drive said staples from said staple cavities during a staple firing stroke; and
a sled positioned in said cartridge body, wherein said sled is movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position by the staple firing member to engage said staple drivers and drive said staples during said staple firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a sled tail extending proximally therefrom, wherein said sled tail extends under and supports said cartridge tail when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, wherein said sled tail does not extend under or support said cartridge tail when said sled is in said distal fired position, wherein said cartridge tail and said sled tail co-operatively hold the spent cartridge firing lockout in an unlocked state when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said cartridge tail is unable to hold the spent cartridge firing lockout in the unlocked state by itself when said sled is in said distal fired position such that the spent cartridge firing lockout enters into a locked state and prevents the staple firing member from entering into said longitudinal slot when said sled is in said distal fired position and said staple firing stroke is initiated.