Patent ID: 11937812
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. A surgical stapler comprising:
(a) a first half comprising a first elongate member, and a surface configured to form staples;
(b) a second half configured to releasably couple with the first half, wherein the second half comprises a second elongate member having a distal cartridge channel;
(c) a staple cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the distal cartridge channel of the second elongate member, wherein the staple cartridge assembly comprises a cartridge body defining a central slot;
(d) a firing assembly comprising a firing beam configured to actuate within the central slot of the staple cartridge assembly, wherein the firing assembly is configured to actuate from a pre-fired proximal position toward a distal position in order to staple and sever tissue captured between the surface of the first half and the staple cartridge assembly;
(e) a lockout assembly configured to prevent firing of the firing assembly in a locked configuration and allow firing of the firing assembly in an unlocked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly comprises a swing gate pivotally coupled with the staple cartridge assembly and configured to extend across the central slot in a first position and extend along one side of the central slot in a second position, wherein the swing gate is configured to drive the firing assembly into the unlocked configuration while in the first position, wherein the swing gate is configured to permit the firing assembly to assume the locked configuration while the swing gate is in the second position, wherein the firing beam is configured to drive the swing gate from the first position into the second position in response to actuating from the pre-fired proximal position toward the distal position; and
(f) a bridge member integrally connected with the cartridge body, wherein the bridge member is located proximal to the swing gate and extends across the central slot, wherein the bridge member is configured to inhibit the firing beam from driving the swing gate into the second position as the staple cartridge assembly is inserted into the distal cartridge channel.