EP0537498A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Surgical fastening apparatus with shipping interlock
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A surgical fastener applying apparatus is provided with a shipping interlock 200 to prevent premature actuation of the apparatus by the jostling and vibrations which normally occur during shipment of the apparatus to the user. The shipping interlock includes a projection 146 extending from the cam bar retainer 138 and initially disposed through an elongate aperture 208 in an interlock plate 201 having an open distal end. The aperture has a narrow neck portion 214 through which the projection can pass only with sufficient force applied to the cam bar retainer. The shipping interlock is adapted to permit passage of the projecting member when the force exceeds the normally expected forces from jostling of cargo to insure that actuation of the apparatus is intentional. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Geiste
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/07207; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
Surgical apparatus possessing an actuating assembly movable in response to user applied force for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue, and characterised by a shipping interlock for preventing premature actuation of the apparatus prior to its intended use, said shipping interlock including deformable means releasably engagable with the actuating assembly to permit actuation thereof only in response to applied actuation force which exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fasteners are applied sequentially.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said deformable means is resiliently deformable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said deformable means is a spring clip having at least two legs defining an aperture between them, said actuating assembly possessing a member receivable into said aperture, said legs being resiliently biased to a first position and movable to an expanded second position to permit passage through said aperture of said member of said actuating assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said aperture includes a first portion through which said member of said actuating assembly is initially disposed, a neck portion having a width less than the diameter of said member of said actuating assembly, and a distal portion having an opening to permit exit of said member of said actuating assembly from said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said deformable means is fixedly attached to a stationary carrier for the actuating assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said deformable means and said stationary carrier are integrally constructed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said actuating assembly includes a cam bar retainer, and said deformable means comprises a member having an aperture for receiving a projection of said cam bar retainer, said aperture being oriented in the direction of movement of said projection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said aperture comprises a first portion through which said projection is initially disposed, a second portion which is at least as wide as the diameter of the projection and which has an opening to permit exit of the projection from the aperture, and a neck portion located between said first portion and said distal portion and having a width less than the diameter of said projection, said neck portion being resiliently expandable so as to permit passage of the projection therethrough when urged by sufficient pressure applied to said cam bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein said projection and said cam bar retainer are integrally constructed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said aperture is elongate and longitudinally oriented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said aperture of the shipping interlock further includes an expansion facilitating portion located proximally of said first portion, at least part of said expansion facilitating portion located proximally of said first portion, at least part of said expansion facilitating portion having a width less than the diameter of said projection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the shipping interlock member comprises a rectangular plate, said rectangular plate having an inclined distal portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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