Closure lockout systems for surgical instruments
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a jaw closure lockout system. The first jaw can comprise a pivot pin slot and a slide pin slot. The second jaw can comprise an anvil and, in addition, a mounting portion comprising a pivot pin, which can be movably positioned in the pivot pin slot. A shiftable guide can be movably positioned in the first jaw and can comprise a body and a barrier wall. The body can comprise a slide pin movably positioned in the slide pin slot. The barrier wall can be aligned with a portion of the pivot pin slot when the slide pin is positioned within a range of positions in the slide pin slot, and the barrier wall can be offset from the pivot pin slot when the slide pin is positioned outside the range of positions.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a first jaw comprising a pivot slot, wherein the pivot slot comprises a closure path portion and a lock portion;
(b) a second jaw, wherein one of the first jaw or the second jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge and the other of the first jaw or the second jaw is configured to form staples ejected by the staple cartridge, and wherein the second jaw comprises a trunnion movably positioned in the pivot slot; and
(c) a spring configured to bias the trunnion into the lock portion to prevent the second jaw from moving from an open position to a closed position when a staple cartridge is absent from the one of the first jaw or the second jaw,
wherein in response to insertion of the staple cartridge into the one of the first jaw or the second jaw, the second jaw is configured to be actuated by the staple cartridge such that the trunnion advances out of the lock portion into the closure path portion of the pivot slot, wherein the trunnion is movable within the closure path portion to thereby permit the second jaw to move from the open position to the closed position.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spring includes a leaf spring.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured to directly contact the second jaw and is fixed relative to the first jaw.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spring is positioned proximal to the second jaw.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw is positioned above the first jaw, wherein the spring is positioned above the second jaw.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured to apply a downward force onto the second jaw.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument includes the staple cartridge.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw includes a second jaw mounting portion positioned distally to the trunnion, wherein the second jaw mounting portion is configured to engage the staple cartridge.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw is configured to be urged in a proximal direction upon engagement with the staple cartridge.
10 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a first jaw comprising a pivot slot, wherein the pivot slot comprises a closure path portion and a lock portion;
(b) a staple cartridge insertable into the first jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored therein;
(c) a second jaw movably mounted to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises a staple forming portion configured to deform staples, wherein the second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the second jaw comprises a protrusion movably positioned in the pivot slot; and
(d) a spring configured to contact the second jaw to thus bias the protrusion distally and into the lock portion to prevent the second jaw from moving from the open position to the closed position when a staple cartridge is absent from the first jaw.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the spring includes a leaf spring.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the spring is configured to directly contact the second jaw and is fixed relative to the first jaw.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the spring is positioned proximal to the second jaw.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the spring is positioned above the second jaw, wherein the first jaw is positioned below the second jaw.
15 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the spring is configured to apply a distal force onto the second jaw.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the second jaw includes a second jaw mounting portion positioned distally to the protrusion, wherein the second jaw mounting portion is configured to engage the staple cartridge.
17 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the second jaw is configured to be urged in a proximal direction upon engagement with the staple cartridge.
18 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a first jaw comprising a pivot slot, wherein the pivot slot comprises a closure path portion and a lock portion;
(b) a staple cartridge insertable into the first jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored therein;
(c) a second jaw movably mounted to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises a staple forming portion configured to deform staples, wherein the second jaw comprises a trunnion movably positioned in the pivot slot, and wherein said second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position with the trunnion along the closure path portion; and
(d) a spring configured to apply a force onto the second jaw in a downward and distal direction to thereby bias the trunnion into the lock portion to thereby lock the second jaw into the open position such that the second jaw is inhibited from transitioning into the closed position until the staple cartridge has been inserted into the first jaw.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the second jaw includes a second jaw mounting portion positioned distally to the trunnion, wherein the second jaw mounting portion is configured to engage the staple cartridge.
20 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the second jaw is configured to be urged in a proximal direction upon engagement with the staple cartridge.