Patent ID: 9717497
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A stapling apparatus, comprising: (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is operable to apply at least one staple at a surgical site; (b) a blade assembly operable to move along a first direction between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the blade assembly is further operable to translate along a second direction through the end effector in the unlocked position, wherein the blade assembly comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; (c) a lockout feature, wherein the lockout feature is configured to prevent the blade assembly from translating along the second direction through the end effector in the locked position; (d) a resilient member configured to bias the upper portion of the blade assembly into engagement with the lockout feature, wherein at least a portion of the lockout feature is interposed between at least part of the upper portion of the blade assembly and at least part of the resilient member, wherein the blade assembly is operable to translate relative to the portion of the lockout feature; and (e) a staple cartridge configured to fit in the end effector, wherein the staple cartridge further includes a sliding member, wherein the sliding member is configured to slide along at least part of a length of the staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge contains the at least one staple, wherein the staple cartridge includes a lockout bypass feature configured to maintain the blade assembly in the unlocked position to thereby enable the blade assembly to clear the lockout feature.