28486 results about "Locking mechanism" patented technology

The present invention relates to an improved surgical stapler that prevents refiring of a spent staple cartridge. More specifically, this invention includes a simple, inexpensive mechanical locking mechanism which prevents refiring of a spent staple cartridge by blocking the path of the firing and / or cutting means of the stapler.

A disposable loading unit is provided which includes a tool assembly and a body portion. A drive assembly is movably positioned at least partly within the body portion and is operably associated with the tool assembly to operate the tool assembly. A locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the drive assembly in a prefired position prior to and during attachment of a DLU to a surgical instrument. The locking mechanism includes a locking member and a locking member actuator. The locking member actuator is movable to move the locking member to an unlocked position in response to linear insertion of an insertion tip of the DLU into a surgical instrument.

A surgical instrument particularly suited to endoscopic use articulates an end effector by including a laterally sliding member in a proximal portion of a shaft that pivots the end effector to a selected side. Differentially opposing actuating forces (e.g., hydraulic, fluidic, mechanical) act against the laterally sliding member without binding by incorporating guidance mechanisms between the laterally sliding member and a frame of the shaft. A locking member advantageously unlocks automatically as articulation is commanded by resists backdriving of the mechanism.

A medical instrument has a set of opposing jaws that can be articulated, both left and right, from centerline. The instrument has a proper bend radius and support for the jaw actuation member and cutter driving member. The bendable support for the drive members comprises tightly wound coil springs. Another embodiment of the invention controls the degree of articulation at the handle of the laparoscopic instrument. A further embodiment of the invention incorporates a locking mechanism to prevent motion of the wrist while the user performs other operations on the device. The locking mechanism also includes an indexing feature with which the user can index and choose the necessary amount of angle between preset angles.

A surgical device for performing surgery generally includes a handle assembly, an elongate member extending from the handle assembly, an articulation mechanism operatively associated with the handle assembly, and an end effector. The elongate member has an articulating section and straight section. The articulating section is configured to articulate with respect to the straight section. The articulation mechanism is operatively associated with the handle assembly and the articulating section such that the articulating section articulates toward a first direction relative to the straight section upon movement of the handle assembly towards the first direction with respect to the straight section. The end effector is operatively coupled to the articulating section of the elongate member and includes first and second jaw members. The surgical device further includes a locking mechanism configured for fixing a relative position of first and second jaw members.

A surgical instrument having a locking mechanism for preventing an output shaft of the surgical instrument from rotating and a further locking mechanism for mounting a battery pack to a distal end of a housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument further includes a clutch mechanism for limiting the torque of a drive shaft of the surgical instrument. The locking mechanism for preventing the output shaft from rotating includes a locking switch which mates with a locking cap disposed on the output shaft. The locking mechanism for mounting the battery pack to the housing includes a groove at the distal end of the housing and a retaining ring which engages the groove when the battery pack is mounted on the housing. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch plate that interfaces with both the output shaft and the drive shaft and prevents failure of the motor shaft.

A method and apparatus for enabling the use of a non-sterile battery with a sterile surgical instrument. The sterile transfer container has a tubular body with a closed distal end and an open proximal end. The container is provided with a cover and a locking mechanism for locking the cover to the body. The container is adapted to be attached to a surgical instrument in such a way that the latch assembly is prevented from opening until the container is removed from the instrument.

An instrument guide device comprises an elongated guide shaft having proximal and distal ends and including an instrument lumen for receiving therethrough a manually operated instrument having an instrument shaft. A distal bendable member is disposed at the distal end of the guide shaft and a proximal bendable member is disposed at the proximal end of the guide shaft. Actuation means extends between the distal and proximal bendable members and provides a bending of the distal bendable member controlled from the proximal bendable member. The proximal bendable member is controlled from the manually operated instrument to cause a corresponding bending of said distal bendable member. A locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions and includes a ball and socket arrangement disposed about the proximal bendable member and a cinch member for locking the ball and socket arrangement.

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To avoid theft and tampering of the portable electrical energy storage devices, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is locked in and operably connected to the vehicle to which it provides power unless the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as that in a service center. Once within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device a locking mechanism in the vehicle or within the portable electrical energy storage device unlocks and allows the portable electrical energy storage device to be exchanged or serviced.

The invention provides a surgical cutting and binding apparatus, comprising an upper closed forces clip, a lower closed forces clip, a closed handle, a pushing button and a releasing button. The upper and lower closed forces clips are matched and connected with a pin on one of the closed forces clips by a hook on the closed handle; the pushing button is arranged at the closer end of the apparatus and can slide relative to the closed forces clip so as to push a cutter and trigger matching pins; the releasing button is arranged at the closer end of the closed handle and opens the apparatus when being pressed; the binding apparatus comprises a locking mechanism, when the pushing button of the apparatus dose not return to the initial position, the locking mechanism enables the apparatus not to be opened. The structure of the invention can ensure that the apparatus cannot be opened accidently to cause serious results during the process of triggering, thereby further improving the safety of the apparatus.

An electronic device comprises a housing and a battery arrangement. The housing has a recess which is shaped to receive a removable battery. The battery arrangement includes a locking mechanism automatically securing the battery within the recess from an initial position into a final position. The battery arrangement prevents a removal of the battery until a powering down procedure of the device is completed.

Apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve, including: a replacement valve adapted to be delivered endovascularly to a vicinity of the heart valve; an expandable anchor adapted to be delivered endovascularly to the vicinity of the heart valve; and a lock mechanism configured to maintain a minimum amount of anchor expansion. The invention also includes a method for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of: endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve; expanding the anchor to a deployed configuration; and locking the anchor in the deployed configuration.

A spine stabilization system having one or more flexible elements with tubular structures with openings or slits. The flexible elements may limit rotation, flexion-extension, or lateral bending of the spine. The system also may have a locking mechanism that secures one or more flexible elements in a rigid configuration. A flexible element may be disposed within another flexible element, and the slits may form helical patterns on the tubular structures. The flexible element may be conformable to the natural spinal movement.

A suture anchor (e.g. 100) for knotlessly securing nearby tissue to bone is formed from an anchor body (e.g. 101 / 102) that includes a mechanism for being securely anchored to the bone, an elongated suture puller (e.g. 122) extending through the anchor body with a proximal end for being pulled in a proximal direction by a surgeon and a distal end (e.g. 125) with a suitable mechanism for engaging suture (e.g. 127), suture (e.g. 132) carried by the engaging mechanism (e.g. 127) at the distal end (e.g. 125) of the elongated suture puller (e.g. 122), and a suture locking mechanism (e.g. 110) that substantially prevents the suture (e.g. 122) from moving in at least a first direction after being pulled into and through the anchor body (e.g. 101 / 102) by the elongated suture puller (e.g. 122).

A polyaxial orthopedic device for use with rod implant apparatus includes a screw having a curvate head, a two-piece interlocking coupling element which mounts about the curvate head, and a rod receiving cylindrical body member having a tapered socket into which both the screw and the interlocking coupling element are securely nested. The interlocking coupling element includes a socket portion which is slotted and tapered so that when it is radially compressed by being driven downwardly into the tapered socket in the cylindrical body it crush locks to the screw. The securing of the rod in the body member provides the necessary downward force onto the socket portion through a contact force on the top of the cap portion. Prior to the rod being inserted, therefore, the screw head remains polyaxially free with respect to the coupling element and the body. In a preferred embodiment, the cap portion and the socket portion are formed and coupled in such a way that when the cap portion is compressed toward the socket portion, there is an additional inward radial force applied by the cap portion to the socket portion, thereby enhancing the total locking force onto the head of the screw.

The present disclosure is directed to an endoscopic surgical stapler having an articulation locking mechanism that functions to prevent straightening of a tool assembly of the surgical stapler when the surgical stapler is fired with the tool assembly in an articulated position. In embodiments, a mounting assembly supports a notched member on a proximal end of the tool assembly and the notched member defines a series of notches. An articulation member supported adjacent to the mounting assembly includes a locking member defining protrusions or teeth that are movable from a first unlocked position spaced from the notches of the mounting assembly to a second locked position received within the notches to lock the tool assembly in one of a plurality of articulated positions. In embodiments, the locking member is biased towards the unlocked position by a biasing member and is urged toward and retained in the locked position via engagement with a drive assembly of the surgical stapler.

A system for delivering at least one medical device to a desired location for treatment, and then selectively deploy it in position, includes an improved handle. One of the possible features of the handle may be to selectively hold the delivery system components at any desired configuration during deployment and positioning of the medical device. Another possible feature of the handle may be more than one mode of operation, in which the deployment of the medical device can selectively proceed at more than one speed. Yet another possible feature of the handle may be a locking mechanism that resists inadvertent or accidental movement or retraction of the stent delivery system components during packaging, sterilization, shipping, storage, handling and preparation of the stent delivery system.