Patent ID: 11963679
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion; and
an implement portion responsive to the firing motions from the handle portion, the implement portion comprising:
an elongate channel coupled to the handle portion and including a channel slot;
a staple cartridge received by the elongate channel and incorporating a proximally positioned wedge member aligned to cam upward a driver supporting a staple during a staple firing stroke, wherein the wedge member is movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during the staple firing stroke;
an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel and including an anvil channel;
a firing device including an upper member engageable to the anvil channel, a lower member engaging the channel slot, and a middle member, the firing device positively engaging both the elongate channel and the anvil during longitudinal firing travel to provide spacing therebetween for staple formation;
a lockout portion, wherein the surgical instrument is unable to perform the staple firing stroke when the wedge member is not in its proximal unfired position at the outset of the staple firing stroke, and wherein the wedge member abuts the firing device to permit the surgical instrument to perform the staple firing stroke when the staple cartridge is received in the elongate channel and the wedge member is in the proximal unfired position; and
an articulation joint proximally coupled to the elongate channel.