Surgical stapler cartridge lockout device

Claim 2

In a surgical stapler in which a cartridge containing staples is loaded, a lockout mechanism actuable upon the firing of said staples by said stapler such that said lockout mechanism prevents the refiring of said stapler when loaded with said spent cartridge.

Claim 3

In the stapler of Claim 1 wherein said stapler contains a firing means, said lockout mechanism being spring loaded before the firing of said staples, such that upon said firing, said spring is actuated to cause said lockout mechanism to prevent the refiring of said firing means.

Claim 4

In a cartridge containing surgical staples, a lockout mechanism comprising a firing barrier loaded by a first spring, said barrier preloaded before the insertion of said cartridge into a surgical stapler, said first spring actuable upon the firing of said stapler by a firing means located on said stapler, such that said barrier is caused by said first spring to move into the path of said firing means to prevent the refiring of said staples loaded with said spent cartridge.

Claim 5

In a cartridge containing surgical staples, a lockout mechanism comprising a firing barrier loaded by a first spring, said barrier preloaded before the insertion of said cartridge into a surgical stapler, said first spring actuable upon the firing of said stapler by a firing means located on said stapler, such that said barrier is caused by said first spring to move into the path of said firing means to prevent the refiring of said staples loaded with said spent cartridge.

Claim 6

The lockout mechanism of Claim 3 further comprising a reloading barrier movable between a firing position in which said reloading barrier is loaded by a second spring, and a blocking position, such that the firing of said firing means activates said second spring to cause said reloading barrier to pass from said firing position to said blocking position, said reloading barrier in said blocking position capable of preventing the reloading of said spent cartridge in any stapler upon the removal of said spent cartridge from said stapler.

Claim 7

The lockout mechanism of Claim 4 further comprising an indicator flag actuable upon the firing of said staples to indicate said firing.

Claim 8

In a staple cartridge containing staples and comprising an elongated body including one or more longitudinal slots for slidably receiving the pusher bars of a surgical stapler and a plurality of drivers engageable by said pusher bars for ejecting the staples from the cartridge, said staple cartridge releasably fastened to a surgical stapler, the improvement comprising a lockout mechanism for preventing said pusher bars from passing more than one time through said longitudinal slots.

Claim 9

In a staple cartridge containing staples and comprising an elongated body including one or more longitudinal slots for slidably receiving the pusher bars of a surgical stapler and a plurality of drivers engageable by said pusher bars for ejecting the staples from the cartridge, said staple cartridge releasably fastened to a surgical stapler, the improvement comprising a lockout mechanism for preventing said pusher bars from passing more than one time through said longitudinal slots.

Claim 10

In the staple cartridge of Claim 6, the lockout mechanism comprising a strip slidable within said cartridge comprising: a front end emplaced within a narrow hollow located toward the front of said cartridge, said front end comprising a folded spring loaded strip such that said pusher bars can contact said front end and cause said front end to slide further toward the front of said cartridge such that said spring is actuated to open within said hollow; and a spring loaded barrier lock located on the rear end of said strip, said barrier lock placed under a detent means within said cartridge in order to avoid contact with said pusher bars, said barrier lock loosened from said detent means upon the sliding of said front end, such that said barrier lock moves within the path of said pusher bars to prevent said pusher bars from passing within said cartridge upon the retraction of said pusher bars from said cartridge.

Claim 11

In the staple cartridge of Claim 7, said cartridge held within a narrow channel of said stapler, said cartridge having parallel side walls fitting within said narrow channel, the improvement further comprising a lockout spring attached to the side walls of said cartridge, said lockout spring comprising a resilient ear held in place by a cover moved by said pusher bars upon the actuation of said stapler to expose said ear, such that said ear becomes urged outside the width of said channel upon the removal of said cartridge, to prevent reinsertion of said spent cartridge within said channel.

Claim 12

The staple cartridge of Claim 8 wherein said cover is pivotable within said cartridge such that the pivoting of said cover causes the exposing of said ears.

Claim 13

In the staple cartridge of Claim 6, the improvement comprising a spring loaded bar emplaced within and held by said drivers such that when said pusher bar engages said drivers to activate said staples and said pusher bar is retracted from said cartridge, said spring loaded bar moves into the path of said pusher bars to prevent motion of said pusher bars with said cartridge.