Surgical instruments with jaws that are pivotable about a fixed axis and include separate and distinct closure and firing systems

• US 10,568,624 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US15/385,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• 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 2017/2825 : Inserts of different material in jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2934 : arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots

Abstract

A surgical instrument with first and second jaws that are pivotally supported relative to each other for pivotal travel about a fixed pivot axis between open and closed positions. A firing member is movably supported for selective axial travel between starting and ending positions within at least one the jaws and is configured to engage both jaws when the jaws are in a closed position. A firing system operably interfaces with the firing member to selectively axially move the firing member between the starting and ending positions and a closure system that operably interfaces with at least one of the jaws to move the jaw between the open and closed positions without actuating the firing system.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective pivotal travel relative to said first jaw about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and closed positions;

a firing member movably supported for selective axial travel within at least one of said first and second jaws between a starting position and an ending position, said firing member comprising;

a body portion;

a first flange assembly protruding from said body portion and configured to slidably engage said first jaw; and

a second flange assembly protruding from said body portion and configured to slidably engage said second jaw and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

an elongate shaft assembly operably coupled to said surgical end effector and comprising;

a firing system operably interfacing with said firing member to selectively axially move said firing member between said starting and ending position; and

a closure system operably interfacing with said second jaw to move said second jaw between said open and closed positions without actuating said firing system and firing member,

wherein said closure system is configured to cammingly engage said second jaw when said closure system is applying closure motions thereto,

wherein said second jaw comprises a first cam surface thereon and wherein said closure system comprises an axially movable closure member supported for selective axial travel relative to said second jaw, said closure member comprising a second cam surface configured for camming engagement with said first cam surface,

wherein said closure member comprises a closure body defining an outer surface and an inner surface, said closure body further defining an upper portion comprising an upper wall thickness between said outer and inner surfaces and a lower portion comprising a lower wall thickness between said outer and inner surfaces wherein said upper wall thickness differs from said lower wall thickness and wherein said second cam surface is formed on said upper portion for selective camming contact with said first cam surface,

wherein said closure member further comprises diametrically opposed sidewall portions extending between said upper portion and said lower portion and wherein said sidewall portions each have a sidewall thickness that differs from said upper wall thickness and said lower wall thickness.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis and wherein said fixed pivot axis is transverse to said shaft axis.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said second jaw comprises a mounting portion pivotally coupled to said first jaw about said pivot axis, said mounting portion including said first cam surface thereon.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said axially movable closure member and said mounting portion defines a firing member parking area therebetween wherein at least a portion of said firing member is supported when said firing member is in said starting position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said outer surface is a first radial distance from a first center axis and wherein said inner surface is a second radial distance from a second center axis that is offset from said first center axis.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said upper wall thickness is greater than said lower wall thickness.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said sidewall thickness is greater than said upper wall thickness and said lower wall thickness.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein each said sidewall portion defines an inner sidewall and wherein said inner sidewall of one said sidewall portions is parallel to said inner sidewall of the other said sidewall portion.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said closure member is hollow and is configured to receive therein a mounting portion of said second jaw.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a channel and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on said body portion.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective pivotal travel relative to said first jaw about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and closed positions;

a firing member movably supported for selective axial travel within at least one of said first and second jaws between a starting position and an ending position, said firing member comprising;

a body portion;

a first flange assembly protruding from said body portion and configured to slidably engage said first jaw; and

a second flange assembly protruding from said body portion and configured to slidably engage said second jaw and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

an elongate shaft assembly operably coupled to said surgical end effector and comprising;

firing means for selectively axially moving said firing member between said starting and ending position; and

closure means for moving said second jaw between said open and closed positions without actuating said firing means, wherein said closure means comprises a closure body comprising;

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

an upper portion defining an upper wall thickness between said outer surface and said inner surface;

a lower portion defining a lower wall thickness between said outer surface and said inner surface, wherein said upper wall thickness differs from said lower wall thickness; and

diametrically opposed sidewall portions extending between said upper portion and said lower portion, wherein each said sidewall portion defines a sidewall thickness that differs from said upper wall thickness and said lower wall thickness.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis and wherein said fixed pivot axis is transverse to said shaft axis.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said first jaw comprises a channel and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil movably supported relative to said elongate channel for selective pivotal travel relative to said elongate channel about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and closed positions;

a firing member movably supported for selective axial travel within the elongate channel between a starting position and an ending position, said firing member comprising;

a body portion;

a first flange assembly protruding from said body portion and configured to slidably engage said elongate channel; and

a second flange assembly protruding from said body portion and configured to slidably engage said anvil and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

an elongate firing bar coupled to said body portion and configured for axial travel relative to said elongate channel in response to firing motions applied thereto by a source of firing motions; and

a closure member supported for selective axial travel relative to said anvil for moving the anvil between said open position and closed position in response to closure motions applied thereto by a source of closure motions such that said anvil is movable between open and closed positions without moving said firing member, wherein said closure member comprises;

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

an upper portion defining an upper wall thickness between said outer surface and said inner surface;

a lower portion defining a lower wall thickness between said outer surface and said inner surface; and

sidewall portions extending between said upper portion and said lower portion, wherein each said sidewall portion defines a sidewall thickness that is greater than said upper wall thickness and said lower wall thickness.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein said firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on said body portion.