US 12,076,011 B2
Surgical stapler knife motion controls
Austin E. Wise, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Morgan R. Hunter, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Aug. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/458,967.
Application 17/458,967 is a continuation of application No. 15/797,200, filed on Oct. 30, 2017, granted, now 11,134,944.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117602 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0814 (2016.02)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector;
a firing member movable distally from a home position to effect a first firing motion in the end effector, wherein the firing member is movable proximally toward the home position in a return motion, and wherein the firing member comprises:
a cam slot;
a protrusion; and
a retaining pocket; and
a lockout pawl comprising a cam feature receivable in the cam slot during the return motion, wherein the cam slot is configured to guide the cam feature and move the lockout pawl toward a locking engagement with the protrusion to prevent a second firing motion of the firing member, and wherein the retaining pocket is configured to receive the cam feature to releasably secure the firing member to the lockout pawl when the firing member is in the home position.