Closure plate lockout for a curved cutter

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A surgical instrument adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners is provided. The instrument comprises an anvil and a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners which are ejected by a firing mechanism and driven against the anvil. The cartridge housing and anvil are moveable relative to each other. The instrument includes a lockout mechanism interacting with the cartridge housing for selective activation and deactivation comprising a lockout lever rotationally mounted on a closure member of the instrument. A central section of the lockout lever is pivotally mounted to the closure member allowing the lockout arm to rotate in a controlled manner.