Surgical instrument comprising systems for permitting the optional transection of tissue

• US 10,524,795 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nalagatla, Anil K., Patel, Sudhir B., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US14/813,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20170027573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2915 arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed which comprises a staple firing system and a tissue cutting system. The surgical instrument is configured to permit a surgeon to elect whether to actuate the tissue cutting system after the staple firing system has been actuated.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis;

an end effector extending from said shaft, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is distally movable relative to said first jaw to clamp the patient tissue during a clamping stroke;

a cartridge body including staple cavities, wherein said cartridge body is transverse to said longitudinal axis;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein said anvil is transverse to said longitudinal axis;

a firing system configured to;

distally eject said staples from said staple cavities toward said anvil during a firing stroke after said clamping stroke has been completed; and

cut the tissue during a cutting stroke after said firing stroke has been completed, wherein said cutting stroke is in a distal direction, and wherein said firing system is inoperable to perform said cutting stroke until after said firing stroke has been completed; and

means for permitting the user of the surgical instrument to elect whether to perform said cutting stroke with said surgical stapler after said firing stroke.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said firing stroke has been completed.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said firing system is nearing the end of said firing stroke.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said cutting stroke has been completed.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said firing system is nearing the end of said cutting stroke.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator bar including a first range and a second range, wherein said first range demonstrates the progression of said firing stroke and said second range demonstrates the progression of said cutting stroke.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said means for permitting comprises a stop configured to stop said firing system after said firing stroke, and wherein said stop is selectively releasable by the user of said surgical stapler.

8. A surgical stapler for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis;

an end effector extending from said shaft, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable along said longitudinal axis relative to said first jaw to clamp patient tissue during a clamping stroke;

a cartridge body including staple cavities, wherein said cartridge body is transverse to said longitudinal axis;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein said anvil is transverse to said longitudinal axis;

a firing system configured to distally eject said staples from said staple cavities toward said anvil during a firing stroke after said clamping stroke has been completed;

a cutting system configured to cut the tissue during a cutting stroke, wherein said firing system is inoperable to perform said cutting stroke until after said firing stroke has been completed; and

means for pausing said surgical stapler to allow the user of said surgical stapler to elect whether or not to perform said cutting stroke after said firing stroke with said surgical stapler.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said firing stroke has been completed.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said firing system is nearing the end of said firing stroke.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said cutting stroke has been completed.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising feedback means for indicating when said cutting system is nearing the end of said cutting stroke.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 8, further comprising a visual indicator bar including a first range and a second range, wherein said first range demonstrates the progression of said firing stroke and said second range demonstrates the progression of said cutting stroke.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein said firing system comprises:

a firing trigger;

a firing bar operably engaged with said firing trigger, wherein an actuation of said firing trigger advances said firing bar toward said end effector during said firing stroke; and

a tactile feedback generator engaged with said firing bar.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 14, wherein said tactile feedback generator is configured to generate a series of sounds which become increasingly louder as said firing stroke progresses.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 14, wherein said tactile feedback generator is silent during a first portion of said firing stroke and audible during a second portion of said firing stroke.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 14, wherein said tactile feedback generator is configured to generate a series of sounds at a rate which increases as said firing stroke progresses.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 14, wherein said tactile feedback generator generates haptic feedback when said firing bar reaches the end of its firing stroke.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 8, wherein said means for pausing comprises a stop configured to stop said firing system after said firing stroke, and wherein said stop is selectively releasable by the user of said surgical stapler.