Surgical stapling instrument having separate distinct closing and firing systems

• US 20040232196A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Setser, Michael Earl, Hemmelgarn, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter

Abstract

A surgical severing and stapling instrument clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar affirmatively maintains a desired spacing while severing and stapling tissue by longitudinally engaging the anvil and elongate channel. Separate closing action and firing (i.e., severing and stapling) action of the end effector allows a clinician to selectively position and clamp tissue. The end effector enables this advantageous separate firing while affirmatively spacing the end effector by having an upper pin of the firing bar reside within an anvil pocket before firing. When the anvil is closed and clamped, the upper pin of the E-beam firing bar may move longitudinally and distally from the anvil pocket to an anvil slot thereby engaging the anvil.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion operable to separately produce a firing motion and a closing motion; and

an implement portion responsive to the separate firing and closing motions from the handle portion, the implement portion comprising;

an elongate channel coupled to the handle portion,

an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel, and

a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil, an upper member engageable to the anvil channel and a lower portion longitudinally engaging the elongate channel

wherein the upper member remains retracted and disengaged from the anvil during closing thereof.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the implement portion further comprises a staple cartridge received in the elongate channel, the firing device operable to actuate the staple cartridge during firing.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the anvil includes a recess proximate to the firing device when in an unfired position and a longitudinal anvil channel communicating with the recess for receiving the upper member of the firing device when fired.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the elongate channel includes a longitudinal channel and lower portion of the firing device further comprises a middle member and a lower member opposingly engaging the longitudinal channel.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the elongate channel includes a longitudinal channel and lower portion of the firing device further comprises a middle member and a lower member opposingly engaging the longitudinal channel.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the elongate channel includes a longitudinal channel slidingly engaged by a lower portion of the firing device.

13. The surgical device of claim 12, wherein the longitudinal channel comprises a longitudinal slot and the lower portion of the firing device comprises a middle member and a lower member opposingly engaging the longitudinal slot of the elongate channel.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle portion further comprises a firing actuator coupled to the firing device and a closure actuator, the shaft further comprising a closure member communicating a closure motion from the closure actuator to the anvil to effect closure, wherein the firing device remains proximally retracted during transmission of the closure motion through the closure member to the anvil.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the closure actuator comprises a closure trigger and the firing actuator comprises a firing trigger.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the closure member comprises a closure tube distally engaged to the pivotal coupling of the anvil to the elongate channel to effect closure.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the anvil includes a recess proximate to the firing device when in an unfired position and a longitudinal anvil channel communicating with the recess for selective engaging the upper member of the firing device when fired.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the implement portion further comprises a staple cartridge received in the elongate channel, the firing device operable to actuate the staple cartridge during firing.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the anvil includes a recess proximate to the firing device when in an unfired position and a longitudinal anvil channel communicating with the recess for receiving the upper member of the firing device when fired and wherein the elongate channel includes a longitudinal channel and the lower portion of the firing device further comprises a middle member and a lower member opposingly engaging the longitudinal channel.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the elongate channel includes a longitudinal channel and the lower portion of the firing device further comprises a middle member and a lower member opposingly engaging the longitudinal channel.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion operable to separately produce a firing motion and a closing motion; and

an implement portion responsive to the separate firing and closing motions from the handle portion, the implement portion comprising;

an end effector means for repeatedly closing upon and clamping tissue, and

a firing means for allowing repeated closing upon tissue and for engaging the end effector during firing for severing tissue.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, further comprising:

a stapler cartridge held by the end effector means and responsive to the firing means for forming staples in the clamped tissue.

8. An endo-surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion operable to separately produce a firing motion and a closing motion;

an end effector sized for insertion through an endo-surgical cannula passageway; and

a shaft attached between the handle portion and the end effector and operably configured to separately transfer the firing and closing motions therebetween;

the end effector further comprising;

an elongate channel coupled to the shaft,

an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel, and

a firing device longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil and including an upper member engageable to the anvil channel during distal movement for firing.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprises a staple cartridge received in the elongate channel, the firing device operable to actuate the staple cartridge during firing.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the anvil includes a recess proximate to the firing device when in an unfired position and a longitudinal anvil channel communicating with the recess for receiving the upper member of the firing device when fired.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the elongate channel includes a longitudinal slot and the firing device further comprises a middle member and a lower member opposingly engaging the longitudinal slot of the elongate channel.