US 12,279,767 B2
Surgical stapler having shaft recognition mechanism
Stephen Eldridge, San Clemente, CA (US); Timothy M. Hopkins, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Eric J. Weiss, San Clemente, CA (US); Bruno Vu, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Jonathan R. Nash, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Andrew Krasts, San Clemente, CA (US); Isabella Hidalgo, Irvine, CA (US); and Anay Pandit, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Assigned to Applied Medical Resources Corporation, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed by Applied Medical Resources Corporation, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/575,986.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/137,652, filed on Jan. 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218331 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/068 (2013.01) 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a movable handle pivotably coupled to the handle body, the handle body comprising a coupler configured to removably couple to an instrument shaft having a stapler jaw assembly;
an actuation shaft mechanically coupled to the movable handle for manual actuation thereof, the actuation shaft slidable within the handle body along a longitudinal axis, the actuation shaft selectively positionable in a first orientation wherein movement of the movable handle relative to the stationary handle distally advances the actuation shaft and a second orientation wherein movement of the movable handle relative to the stationary handle proximally retracts the actuation shaft;
a shaft coupling firing lockout mechanism, the shaft coupling firing lockout mechanism preventing selective positioning of the actuation shaft in the first orientation when no instrument shaft is coupled to the coupler and allowing selective positioning of the actuation shaft in the first orientation when the instrument shaft is coupled to the coupler; and
a rotation mechanism to selectively position the actuation shaft in one of the first position and the second position, the rotation mechanism comprising a gear rotatably fixed to the actuation shaft, and wherein the shaft coupling firing lockout mechanism is engageable with the gear to prevent rotation of the actuation shaft to the first orientation when no instrument shaft is coupled to the coupler, wherein the gear comprises a slot formed therein, the shaft coupling firing lockout mechanism engageable with the slot.