IP Library › Granted Patent US 12690866
Granted Patent B2
US 12690866 · App. 18/531,313 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Surgical instrument with lockout mechanism

Inventor: Matthew Wixey (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
A61B17/07207A61B17/2841A61B2017/07271A61B2017/07278A61B2017/07285A61B2017/2845
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12690866
App. No.
18/531,313
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Surgical instruments, such as clamping and cutting instruments, are provided. In one aspect, a surgical stapling instrument comprises first and second jaws and a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws. The instrument further includes a locking member movable between a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, and a second position impeding distal translation of the drive member, and a switch movable from a proximal position to a distal position. When the switch is in the proximal position, it releasably maintains the locking member in the first position, and when the switch is in the distal position, it allows the locking member to move to the second position. This inhibits or prevents actuation of a knife when there is a spent or previously fired cartridge loaded in the instrument.

Claims (33)

1 . A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis and an end effector with a first jaw comprising an anvil and a second jaw having a cavity for receiving a staple cartridge, at least one of the first and second jaws configured to rotate relative to each other about a jaw rotation axis;

a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws;

a locking member rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the jaw rotation axis between a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, and a second position impeding distal translation of the drive member;

a switch movable from a proximal position to a distal position, wherein when the switch is in the proximal position the switch releasably maintains the locking member in the first position, and wherein when the switch is in the distal position the switch allows the locking member to move to the second position; and

a wall extending laterally through a portion of the end effector and positioned to prevent distal movement of the switch.

2 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the wall extends laterally through the end effector and is positioned to prevent further distal movement of the switch when the switch is in the distal position.

3 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2 , wherein the end effector comprises a knife channel for receiving a knife on the drive member, wherein the wall comprises first and second walls disposed laterally outward from the knife channel.

4 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a stop member within the end effector, the stop member configured to inhibit proximal movement of the switch.

5 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 4 , wherein the stop member comprises a ramped surface that allows distal movement of the switch to the distal position and a distal face that prevents proximal movement of the switch from the distal position.

6 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the switch disengages from the locking member when moved to the distal position.

7 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the locking member engages a slot in one of the first and second jaws when in the second position.

8 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the drive member is configured to pass through a portion of the switch as the drive member is moved in the distal direction through one of the jaws.

9 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 further comprising a spring configured to bias the locking member towards the second position.

10 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the drive member is actuated by a control device of a robotic surgical system.

11 . A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis and an end effector with a first jaw comprising an anvil having a tissue clamping surface and a second jaw having a cavity for receiving a staple cartridge;

a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws;

a locking member rotatable about an axis parallel to the tissue clamping surface of the anvil between a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, and a second position impeding distal translation of the drive member;

a switch movable from a proximal position to a distal position, wherein when the switch is in the proximal position the switch releasably maintains the locking member in the first position, and wherein when the switch is in the distal position the switch allows the locking member to move to the second position; and

a stop member within the end effector configured to inhibit proximal movement of the switch.

12 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 11 , wherein the stop member comprises a ramped surface that allows distal movement of the switch to the distal position and a distal face that prevents proximal movement of the switch from the distal position.

13 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 12 , wherein the ramped surface extends along the longitudinal axis in the distal direction.

14 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 11 , further comprising a wall extending laterally through a portion of the end effector and positioned to prevent distal movement of the switch.

15 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 14 , wherein the wall comprises a blocking wall extending laterally through the end effector and positioned to prevent further distal movement of the switch when the switch is in the distal position.

16 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 15 , wherein the end effector comprises a knife channel for receiving a knife on the drive member, wherein the blocking wall comprises first and second walls disposed laterally outward from the knife channel.

17 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 11 , wherein the drive member is actuated by a control device of a robotic surgical system.

18 . A surgical stapling instrument comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis and an end effector with a first jaw comprising an anvil having a tissue clamping surface and a second jaw having a cavity for receiving a staple cartridge;

a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws;

a locking member having at least a portion that is movable in a direction orthogonal relative to the tissue clamping surface of the anvil between a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, and a second position impeding distal translation of the drive member;

a switch movable from a proximal position to a distal position, wherein when the switch is in the proximal position the switch releasably maintains the locking member in the first position, and wherein when the switch is in the distal position the switch allows the locking member to move to the second position, wherein the end effector is configured to prevent the switch from moving distally of the distal position.

19 . The surgical stapling instrument of claim 18 , wherein the end effector is configured to prevent the switch from moving from the distal position to the proximal position.