The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 28, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1995
Alan K Plyley, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Floyd L Foslien, Hudson, WI (US);
John M Barker, Ventura, CA (US);
Robert W Petrich, Woodbury, MN (US);
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a staple cartridge assembly adapted for use in a surgical stapler having a cartridge retention portion and an anvil portion which are movable between a closed position and an open position. The cartridge assembly comprises (1) a firing assembly for firing staples which is movable between a pre-fired and a fired position, (2) a safety member, (3) means mounting the safety member on the cartridge assembly for movement between a free-movement position which affords movement of the cartridge retention portion and the anvil portion between the open and closed position and a blocking position which prevents the cartridge retention portion and the anvil portion from being moved to the closed position, and (4) means for releasably retaining the safety member in the free-movement position and for releasing the safety member to afford movement of the safety member toward the blocking position when the firing assembly is moved from the pre-fired to the fired position such that upon movement of the cartridge retention portion and anvil portion to the open position, the safety member prevents the cartridge portion and the anvil portion from thereafter being moved to the closed position while the stapler is loaded with the spent cartridge.