Firing assembly comprising a lockout

• US 10,695,055 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• 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., Baber, Daniel L., Rector, Jason M., Fanelli, Nicholas, Zerkle, Jason E., Bakos, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel C
• Application Number:
  US15/385,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 2271754, 227 19, 2271811, 2271791
• 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

Surgical instruments are disclosed which comprise a firing assembly configured to apply a firing force to an end effector. The surgical instruments further comprise a firing force lockout configured to stop and/or prevent a firing stroke of the firing assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke; and

a firing assembly configured to apply a pushing force to said sled during said staple firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises;

a first portion;

a second portion, wherein said second portion is displaceable relative to said first portion; and

a pushing force lockout system at least partially positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said pushing force lockout system is configured to engage said shaft and stop said staple firing stroke if said pushing force exceeds a threshold.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said biasing member is configured to apply a biasing force to said second portion which opposes said pushing force.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said threshold comprises a pre-selected difference between said pushing force and said biasing force.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said pushing force lockout system comprises:

a lock mounted to said shaft, wherein said lock is displaceable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and wherein said lock is configured to prevent said firing assembly from performing said staple firing stroke when said lock is in said locked position;

a spring configured to bias said lock into said locked position; and

an actuator rotatably mounted to said firing assembly, wherein said second portion is configured to rotate said actuator toward said lock and displace said lock into said unlocked position when said threshold is exceeded.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said actuator is rotatably mounted to said first portion and said lock is configured to engage said second portion.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further comprising an actuator spring configured to bias said actuator out of engagement with said lock, wherein said second portion overcomes said actuator spring when said second portion is moved toward said first portion.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge comprises a replaceable staple cartridge.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said staple cartridge comprises a spent cartridge lockout configured to block said firing assembly from performing said staple firing stroke if said staple cartridge has been at least partially spent.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an electric motor configured to drive said firing assembly through said staple firing stroke.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a frame;

an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body during a firing stroke;

a firing assembly configured to apply a firing force to said sled during said firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises;

a first portion; and

a second portion, wherein said second portion is displaceable relative to said first portion; and

a firing force lockout system configured to engage said frame and prevent said firing stroke if said firing force exceeds a threshold.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a biasing member positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said biasing member is configured to apply a biasing force to said second portion which opposes said firing force.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said threshold comprises a pre-selected difference between said firing force and said biasing force.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said firing force lockout system comprises:

a lock mounted to said frame, wherein said lock is displaceable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and wherein said lock is configured to prevent said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke when said lock is in said locked position;

a spring configured to bias said lock into said locked position; and

an actuator rotatably mounted to said firing assembly, wherein said second portion is configured to rotate said actuator toward said lock and displace said lock into said unlocked position when said threshold is exceeded.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said actuator is rotatably mounted to said first portion and said lock is configured to engage said second portion.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising an actuator spring configured to bias said actuator out of engagement with said lock, wherein said second portion overcomes said actuator spring when said second portion is moved toward said first portion.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said staple cartridge comprises a replaceable staple cartridge.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said staple cartridge comprises a spent cartridge lockout configured to block said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke if said staple cartridge has been at least partially spent.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a frame;

an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke; and

a firing assembly configured to apply a pushing force to said firing member during said staple firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises;

a first portion;

a second portion, wherein said second portion is displaceable relative to said first portion; and

a pushing force lockout system at least partially positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said pushing force lockout system is configured to engage said frame and block said staple firing stroke if said pushing force exceeds a threshold.

19. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a frame;

an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises;

a cartridge body;

staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body during a firing stroke;

a firing assembly configured to apply a firing force to said firing member during said firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises;

a proximal portion; and

a distal portion, wherein said proximal portion is displaceable relative to said distal portion; and

a firing force lockout system configured to engage said frame and prevent said firing stroke if said firing force exceeds a threshold.