Surgical stapling instruments and replaceable tool assemblies thereof

• US 10,639,035 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US15/386,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• 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 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• 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 2017/00464 for use with different instruments
• 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 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• 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 2017/07242 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 2017/2903 : transferring rotary motion
• 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 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• 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 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 : Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• 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 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

Interchangeable surgical tool assemblies are disclosed. The interchangeable surgical tool assemblies can include an end effector including a first jaw, a second jaw, and a sled configured to translate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw. The interchangeable surgical tool assemblies can also include a firing member comprising a first flange configured to engage the first jaw and a second flange configured to engage the second jaw. The interchangeable surgical tool assemblies can further include a pusher plate and a firing bar selectively coupled to the pusher plate, wherein the firing bar is configured to move through a plurality of successive firing strokes including a first distal firing stroke, a first proximal firing stroke, a second distal firing stroke, a second proximal firing stroke. Additionally or alternatively, the interchangeable surgical tool assemblies can include a rotatable end effector and a flexible spine.

Claims

1. An interchangeable surgical tool assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw rotatably coupled to said first jaw; and

a sled configured to translate relative to said first jaw and said second jaw;

a firing member, comprising;

a first flange configured to engage said first jaw; and

a second flange configured to engage said second jaw;

a pusher plate; and

a firing bar selectively coupled to said pusher plate, wherein said firing bar is configured to move through a plurality of successive firing strokes, and wherein the plurality of successive firing strokes comprises;

a first distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to push said firing member distally;

a first proximal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to retract proximally into engagement with said pusher plate;

a second distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to advance said pusher plate distally past said firing member; and

a second proximal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to retract said pusher plate and said firing member proximally.

2. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 1, wherein said firing member is configured to push said sled distally during the first distal firing stroke.

3. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 2, wherein said pusher plate is configured to push said sled distally during the second distal firing stroke.

4. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 3, wherein said pusher plate comprises a leaf spring comprising an end, and wherein said end is configured to engage said firing member when said pusher plate is retracted proximally during the second proximal firing stroke.

5. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 4, wherein said leaf spring is movable between a stressed position and an unstressed position, wherein said firing member comprises a notch, and wherein said notch is configured to deflect said leaf spring toward said stressed position during the second distal firing stroke.

6. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 1, wherein said sled comprises a cutting edge.

7. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 6, further comprising a staple cartridge removably positioned in said first jaw, wherein said first jaw comprises a distal cavity configured to receive said cutting edge at the completion of the second distal firing stroke.

8. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring configured to bias said pusher plate laterally into engagement with said firing bar during the first proximal firing stroke.

9. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 8, wherein said firing bar comprises a distal key, wherein said pusher plate comprises a slot, and wherein said spring is configured to bias said slot laterally into engagement with said distal key.

10. An interchangeable surgical tool assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw rotatably coupled to said first jaw; and

a sled configured to translate relative to said first jaw and said second jaw;

a firing member, comprising;

a first shoulder configured to engage said first jaw; and

a second shoulder configured to engage said second jaw;

a pusher bar; and

a firing bar configured to move through a plurality of firing strokes, wherein the plurality of firing strokes comprises;

a first distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to advance said firing member to a first distal position; and

a second distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to advance a portion of said pusher bar beyond said firing member to a second distal position.

11. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of firing strokes further comprises a proximal firing stroke after the first distal firing stroke and prior to the second distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to retract proximally into engagement with said pusher bar.

12. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 11, wherein said firing bar comprises a distal key, wherein said pusher bar comprises an aperture, and wherein said aperture is configured to retract proximally into engagement with said distal key.

13. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 12, further comprising a spring configured to bias said aperture into engagement with said distal key.

14. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of firing strokes further comprises a proximal firing stroke after the second distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to retract said pusher bar and said firing member proximally.

15. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 14, wherein said pusher bar comprises a spring-loaded barb movable relative to said pusher bar between a stressed configuration and an unstressed configuration.

16. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 15, wherein said firing member comprises a notch, and wherein said spring-loaded barb is deployable toward said unstressed configuration after said spring-loaded barb passes distally through said notch.

17. An interchangeable surgical tool assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw rotatably coupled to said first jaw; and

a sled configured to translate relative to said first jaw and said second jaw;

a firing member, comprising;

a first flange configured to engage said first jaw; and

a second flange configured to engage said second jaw;

a pusher plate comprising a distal end; and

a firing bar selectively coupled to said pusher plate, wherein said firing bar is configured to move through a plurality of successive firing strokes, and wherein the plurality of successive firing strokes comprises;

a first distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to push said firing member distally;

a first proximal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to retract proximally into operable alignment with said pusher plate;

a second distal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to advance said distal end of said pusher plate distally past said firing member; and

a second proximal firing stroke in which said firing bar is configured to retract said pusher plate and said firing member proximally.

18. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 17, wherein said firing bar comprises an engagement end, wherein said pusher plate comprises a receiving portion, and wherein said receiving portion is configured to retract proximally into operable alignment with said engagement end.

19. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 18, further comprising a biasing member configured to bias said receiving portion into operable alignment with said engagement end.

20. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly of claim 17, wherein said pusher plate comprises a catch movable between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein said firing member comprises a recess, and wherein said catch is deployable toward the deployed configuration after said catch passes distally through said recess.