Articulating surgical stapling instrument incorporating a firing mechanism

• US 10,292,707 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Setser, Michael E., Weisenburgh, II, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US15/679,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20180085123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271801, 2271754
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 : additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 : with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 : Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 : Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 : for collecting or disposing of used articles

Abstract

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector including an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. A firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. A firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion;

a shaft extending from the handle portion, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation joint; and

an implement portion responsive to the firing motion from the handle portion, the implement portion comprising;

an elongate channel coupled to the handle portion and including a channel slot;

a staple cartridge received by the elongate channel and incorporating a proximally-positioned wedge member aligned to cam upward a driver supporting a staple;

an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel and including an anvil channel;

a firing device including a distally-presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil, an upper member engageable to the anvil channel, a lower member engaging the channel slot, and a middle member operable to actuate the staple cartridge by distally translating the proximally-positioned wedge member of the staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke, the firing device positively engaging both the elongate channel and the anvil during longitudinal firing travel to provide spacing therebetween for staple formation; and

a lockout disabled by the proximally-positioned wedge member, wherein the lockout permits the staple firing stroke when the lockout is disabled, and wherein the lockout prevents the staple firing stroke when the lockout is not disabled.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an articulation actuator extending through the articulation joint, wherein the implement portion further comprises a mount, and wherein the articulation actuator is operably engaged with the mount.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising an electrically-actuated articulation driver, wherein the handle portion comprises an articulation control system configured to operate the electrically-actuated articulation driver.

4. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle operable to produce a firing motion;

a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation joint; and

an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint, comprising;

an elongate channel;

a staple cartridge received by the elongate channel, comprising;

staples removably stored therein;

staple drivers supporting the staples; and

a wedge sled aligned to cam the staple drivers and eject the staples from the staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke, wherein the wedge sled is stored in the staple cartridge in a proximal position and movable distally during the staple firing stroke;

an anvil;

a firing member responsive to the firing motion from the handle, comprising;

a distally-presented cutting edge;

a first member configured to engage the anvil;

a second member configured to engage the elongate channel, wherein the firing member engages both the elongate channel and the anvil during the staple firing stroke to space the anvil and staple cartridge for staple formation; and

a feature comprising a lateral face that passes through the elongate channel when the wedge sled is in its proximal position at the beginning of the staple firing stroke; and

a lockout that engages the lateral face of the firing member and prevents the staple firing stroke when the wedge sled is not in its proximal position at the beginning of the staple firing stroke.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further comprising an articulation actuator extending through the articulation joint, wherein the end effector further comprises a mount, and wherein the articulation actuator is operably engaged with the mount.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising an electrically-actuated articulation driver, wherein the handle comprises an articulation control system configured to operate the electrically-actuated articulation driver.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle operable to produce a firing motion;

a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation joint; and

an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint, wherein the end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein the end effector comprises;

an elongate channel;

a staple cartridge received by the elongate channel, comprising;

staples removably stored therein;

staple drivers supporting the staples; and

a wedge sled aligned to cam the staple drivers and eject the staples from the staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke, wherein the wedge sled is stored in the staple cartridge in a proximal position and movable distally during the staple firing stroke;

an anvil;

a firing member responsive to the firing motion from the handle, comprising;

a distally-presented cutting edge;

a first member configured to engage the anvil;

a second member configured to engage the elongate channel, wherein the firing member engages both the elongate channel and the anvil during the staple firing stroke to space the anvil and the staple cartridge for staple formation; and

a feature comprising a lateral face that passes through the elongate channel during the staple firing stroke; and

a lockout;

configured to prevent the staple firing stroke; and

configured to be disabled by the wedge sled when the wedge sled is in its proximal position at the beginning of the staple firing stroke and the end effector is in its closed configuration.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising an articulation actuator extending through the articulation joint, wherein the end effector further comprises a mount, and wherein the articulation actuator is operably engaged with the mount.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising an electrically-actuated articulation driver, wherein the handle comprises an articulation control system configured to operate the electrically-actuated articulation driver.