Patent ID: 11864762
Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
a shaft having a longitudinal axis;
first and second jaws;
a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws; and
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, 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 switch comprises a proximal shelf extending in a substantially parallel direction to the longitudinal axis and wherein a distal portion of the locking member contacts the proximal shelf when the locking member is in the first position.