Clamping lockout for linear surgical stapler

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Diagnosis & Surgery (A61B)

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

The USPTO granted Patent US12588920B2 to Cilag GmbH International covering a clamping lockout mechanism for linear surgical staplers. The patent describes a lockout arm that prevents improper assembly and transitions to a bypass position only when the latch projection is properly captured. The patent contains 20 claims and was filed on November 8, 2023.

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What changed

USPTO granted Patent US12588920B2 to Cilag GmbH International for a clamping lockout mechanism used in linear surgical staplers. The invention includes a housing, lockout arm, and spring configured to prevent coupling of the clamp lever with the frame unless the latch projection is properly captured. The lockout arm is biased toward the lockout position and transitions to the bypass position only when proper capture occurs.

This is a patent grant notice rather than a regulatory action imposing compliance obligations. Medical device manufacturers developing surgical staplers may wish to review this patent to assess potential licensing needs or design-around considerations. The patent does not impose any filing, reporting, or compliance deadlines on regulated entities.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Clamping lockout for linear surgical stapler

Grant US12588920B2 Kind: B2 Mar 31, 2026

Assignee

Cilag GmbH International

Inventors

Brian D. Schings, Andrew C. Deck

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, a lockout arm, and a spring, and is configured for use with a linear surgical stapler having a first stapler half with a frame and a clamp lever, and a second stapler half with a latch projection. The lockout arm is rotatable between a lockout position and a bypass position and is biased toward the lockout position by the spring. In the lockout position the lockout arm inhibits a proximal end of the clamp lever in a closed state from coupling with a proximal end of the frame. In the bypass position the lockout arm permits the proximal end of the clamp lever in the closed state to couple with the proximal end of the frame. The lockout arm transitions from the lockout position to the bypass position only when the latch projection is properly captured by the clamp lever in the closed state.