Articulation lock arrangements for locking an end effector in an articulated position in response to actuation of a jaw closure system

• US 10,582,928 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hunter, Morgan R., Wise, Austin E., Hoffman, Douglas B., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US15/385,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821, 606139, 606142, 606143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• 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 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• 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 2017/2912 : transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of 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 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 : Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 : Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• 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 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 : coded with symbols, e.g. text

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is articulatable relative to an elongate shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is movable between an open position and closed positions when a closure member is moved in a closing direction. An articulation lock is configured to move from a locked configuration wherein the end effector is prevented from articulating and an unlocked configuration wherein the end effector is articulatable. The articulation lock is configured to move from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration when the closure member is moved from the open position in the closing direction.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft comprising a distal end portion and defining a shaft axis;

a surgical end effector comprising an end effector mounting portion, wherein one of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said end effector mounting portion comprises a pivot hole and the other of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said end effector mounting portion defines an articulation pin pivotally received within said pivot hole and defining an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis about which said surgical end effector is articulatable relative to said elongate shaft upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

an articulation lock arrangement supported within said pivot hole between said articulation pin and an inner wall of said pivot hole, said articulation lock arrangement movable from a locked configuration wherein said articulation lock arrangement frictionally engages said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole to prevent relative pivotal travel of said articulation pin and said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and an unlocked configuration wherein said articulation pin and said distal end portion are pivotable relative to each other; and

an articulation member interfacing with said surgical end effector such that actuation of said articulation member causes said articulation member to apply said articulation motions to said surgical end effector, said articulation member interfacing with said articulation lock arrangement such that an initial actuation of said articulation member causes said articulation lock arrangement to move from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration and upon deactivation of said articulation member, said articulation lock arrangement moves from said unlocked configuration to said locked configuration;

wherein said articulation lock arrangement comprises a torsion spring supported between said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said torsion spring is rotatable from a first position wherein said torsion spring frictionally engages said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole to prevent relative pivotal travel of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said surgical end effector and positions wherein said torsion spring does not prevent said relative pivotal travel.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said articulation lock arrangement comprises at least one locking ball movably supported between said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole between a first position wherein each said locking ball frictionally engages said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole to prevent relative pivotal travel of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said surgical end effector and positions wherein each said locking ball does not prevent said relative pivotal travel.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said surgical end effector comprises:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw supported for movable travel relative to said first jaw.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said articulation member comprises an axially movable articulation member that is pivotally linked to said surgical end effector such that axial movement thereof in a first axial direction causes said surgical end effector to articulate in a first articulation direction about said articulation axis and movement of said axially movable articulation member in a second axial direction causes said surgical end effector to articulate in a second articulation direction about said articulation axis.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft comprising a distal end portion and defining a shaft axis;

a surgical end effector comprising an end effector mounting portion, wherein one of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said end effector mounting portion comprises a pivot hole and the other of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said end effector mounting portion defines an articulation pin pivotally received within said pivot hole and defining an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis about which said surgical end effector is articulatable relative to said elongate shaft upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

an articulation lock arrangement supported within said pivot hole between said articulation pin and an inner wall of said pivot hole, said articulation lock arrangement movable from a locked configuration wherein said articulation lock arrangement frictionally engages said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole to prevent relative pivotal travel of said articulation pin and said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and an unlocked configuration wherein said articulation pin and said distal end portion are pivotable relative to each other; and

an articulation member interfacing with said surgical end effector such that actuation of said articulation member causes said articulation member to apply said articulation motions to said surgical end effector, said articulation member interfacing with said articulation lock arrangement such that an initial actuation of said articulation member causes said articulation lock arrangement to move from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration and upon deactivation of said articulation member, said articulation lock arrangement moves from said unlocked configuration to said locked configuration;

wherein said articulation lock arrangement comprises at least one locking ball movably supported between said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole between a first position wherein each said locking ball frictionally engages said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole to prevent relative pivotal travel of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said surgical end effector and positions wherein each said locking ball does not prevent said relative pivotal travel.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said articulation lock arrangement comprises a torsion spring supported between said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said torsion spring is rotatable from a first position wherein said torsion spring frictionally engages said articulation pin and said inner wall of said pivot hole to prevent relative pivotal travel of said distal end portion of said elongate shaft and said surgical end effector and positions wherein said torsion spring does not prevent said relative pivotal travel.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said surgical end effector comprises:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw supported for movable travel relative to said first jaw.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said articulation member comprises an axially movable articulation member that is pivotally linked to said surgical end effector such that axial movement thereof in a first axial direction causes said surgical end effector to articulate in a first articulation direction about said articulation axis and movement of said axially movable articulation member in a second axial direction causes said surgical end effector to articulate in a second articulation direction about said articulation axis.