Surgical stapler cartridge containing lockout mechanism

摘要

Contained on a stapler cartridge there is at least one distal slot capable of accommodating at least one firing wedge or the knife blade which is thereby capable of moving through the distal slot. There is further contained at least one proximal slot capable of accommodating at least the one firing wedge or the knife blade. The firing wedge or knife blade is able to move into the proximal slot exclusively in a proximal direction. Once the firing wedge or the knife blade is moved into the slot, the firing wedge is no longer able to move distally, thereby locking end of proximal section of the stapler cartridge.