Surgical instruments with lockout arrangements for preventing firing system actuation unless an unspent staple cartridge is present

• US 10,639,034 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Harris, Jason L., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rushing-Tucker, Chinyere J
• Application Number:
  US15/385,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• 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
• 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 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/2927 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 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 : Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical end effector that includes a first jaw that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and a second jaw. The first and second jaws are supported for selective movement between an open position and a closed position relative to each other. A lock member is movable between an unlocked configuration that corresponds to an open position of the jaws and a locked configuration wherein the lock member prevents a firing member from being moved from a starting position within the end effector unless a surgical staple cartridge that has cam assembly located in an unfired position is supported within the first jaw.

Claims

1. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

a second jaw supported relative to said first jaw such that at least one of said first and second jaws is selectively movable relative to the other one of said first and second jaws between an open position and a closed position relative to each other;

a firing member supported for axial movement within the second jaw between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

a lock member supported within said surgical end effector and being movable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration wherein said lock member prevents said firing member from being distally advanced from said starting position, said lock member operably interfacing with said end effector so as to be biased into said unlocked configuration when said at least one of said first and second jaws is in said open position, said lock member being moved to said locked configuration when said at least one of said first and second jaws is moved to said closed position unless a surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said first jaw to thereby retain said lock member in said unlocked configuration.

2. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said surgical staple cartridge comprises an elongate slot configured to slidably receive said firing member therein as said firing member is moved between said starting and ending positions and wherein said lock member is configured to axially align said firing member with said elongate slot.

3. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member comprises two lateral sides and wherein said lock member is configured to retainingly engage each lateral side of said firing member when said lock member is in said locked configuration.

4. The surgical end effector of claim 3, wherein said lock member comprises:

a spring arm corresponding to each said lateral side of said firing member; and

a lock notch in each said spring arm configured to releasably engage a corresponding lock lug on each said lateral side of said firing member.

5. The surgical end effector of claim 4, wherein each said spring arm comprises an unlocking tab configured to engage a corresponding portion of a cam assembly supported in the unfired position within a surgical staple cartridge mounted within said first jaw.

6. The surgical end effector of claim 1, further comprising a tissue cutting surface on said firing member.

7. The surgical end effector of claim 6, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

8. The surgical end effector of claim 7, wherein said anvil comprises:

an anvil body;

an axial slot in said anvil body to permit a portion of said firing member to axially pass therethrough; and

an axial passage within said anvil body on each side of said axial slot.

9. The surgical end effector of claim 8, wherein said firing member comprises:

a firing member body;

a foot configured to slidably pass within a corresponding passage within said first jaw; and

laterally extending anvil engagement features extending laterally from a top portion of said firing member body and configured to pass through a corresponding one of said axial passages within said anvil body, and wherein said firing member further comprises first and second engagement features located between said foot and said anvil engagement features.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an elongate channel coupled to said shaft assembly and being configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel such that at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel is selectively movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to the other of said anvil and said elongate channel;

a firing member supported for axial movement within the elongate channel between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

a lock member movable between an unlocked configuration that corresponds to said fully open position of said at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel and a locked configuration wherein said lock member prevents said firing member from being distally advanced from said starting position, said lock member being biased into said unlocked configuration when said at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel is in said fully open position and being moved to said locked configuration by one of said anvil and said elongate channel when said at least one of said anvil and elongate channel is moved to said fully closed position unless a surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said elongate channel to thereby retain said lock member in said unlocked configuration.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said lock member is configured to axially align said firing member along said shaft axis when said at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel is in said fully open position.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said lock member comprises a firing member alignment tab corresponding to each lateral side of said firing member.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said lock member further comprises at least one anvil spring in biasing contact with said anvil to bias said lock member towards said locked configuration as said anvil is moved from said fully open position to said fully closed position.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said firing member comprises two lateral sides and wherein said lock member is configured to retainingly engage each said lateral side of said firing member when said lock member is in said locked configuration.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said lock member comprises:

a spring arm corresponding to each said lateral side of said firing member; and

a lock notch in each said spring arm configured to releasably engage a corresponding lock lug on each said lateral side of said firing member.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein each said spring arm comprises an unlocking tab configured to engage a corresponding portion of a cam assembly supported in the unfired position within a surgical staple cartridge mounted within said elongate channel.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a tissue cutting surface on said firing member.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said anvil comprises:

an anvil body;

an axial slot in said anvil body to permit a portion of said firing member to axially pass therethrough; and

an axial passage within said anvil body on each side of said axial slot.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein said firing member comprises:

a firing member body;

a foot configured to slidably pass within a corresponding passage within said elongate channel; and

laterally extending anvil engagement features extending laterally from a top portion of said firing member body and configured to pass through a corresponding one of said axial passages within said anvil body, and wherein said firing member further comprises first and second engagement features located between said foot and said anvil engagement features.

20. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an elongate channel coupled to said shaft assembly and being configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel such that at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel is selectively movable between a fully opened position and a fully closed position relative to the other of said anvil and said elongate channel;

a firing member supported for axial movement within the elongate channel between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

means for preventing said firing member from being distally advanced from said starting position unless a surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said elongate channel, wherein said means for preventing is movable between an unlocked configuration that corresponds to said fully opened position of said anvil and said elongate channel and a locked configuration, wherein said means for preventing prevents said firing member from being distally advanced from said starting position when said at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel is moved from said fully opened to said fully closed position.

21. A surgical end effector, comprising:

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

an anvil supported relative to said channel, wherein said anvil is selectively movable relative to said channel between an open position and a closed position;

a firing member supported for axial movement between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

a lock member supported within said surgical end effector, wherein said lock member is movable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, wherein when said lock member is in said locked configuration, said lock member prevents said firing member from being distally advanced from said starting position, wherein said lock member is biased into said unlocked configuration when said anvil is in said open position, wherein said lock member is configured to operably interface with said anvil such that when said anvil is moved to said closed position, said lock member is moved into said locked configuration unless a surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said channel to thereby retain said lock member in said unlocked configuration.

22. The surgical end effector of claim 21, wherein said firing member comprises two lateral sides, and wherein said lock member is configured to retainingly engage each lateral side of said firing member when said lock member is in said locked configuration.

23. The surgical end effector of claim 22, wherein said firing member further comprises a central lock lug protruding from each said lateral side of said firing member, and wherein said lock member further comprises a lateral lock arm corresponding to each said central lock lug, wherein each said lateral lock arm is configured to move between a locked position, wherein said lateral lock arm lockingly engages said corresponding central lock lug and an unlocked position, wherein said lateral lock arm is not in locking engagement with said corresponding central lock lug.

24. The surgical end effector of claim 23, wherein each said lateral lock arm is configured to move in a first direction when moving between said locked and unlocked position.

25. The surgical end effector of claim 24, wherein each said lateral lock arm is configured to move in a second direction when said firing member is moved into said starting position.

26. The surgical end effector of claim 25, wherein said first direction comprises a vertical direction, and wherein said second direction comprises a lateral direction.

27. The surgical end effector of claim 25, wherein each said central lock lug comprises a proximal chamfered end configured to bias said corresponding lateral lock arm laterally when said firing member is returned to said starting position.