Multiple firing stroke surgical instrument incorporating electroactive polymer anti-backup mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector;
a longitudinally reciprocating firing rod distally coupled to the end effector;
a shaft having a distal end attached to the end effector and operatively configured to guide the firing rod;
a handle attached to a proximal end of the shaft operatively configured to distally advance the firing rod in a sequence of strokes; and
an electrical actuator physically grounded to the handle and responsive to an electrical signal to move between a non-binding and a binding position with the firing member to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. In particular, the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e., staple and sever) the end effector. A firing member reciprocates within an elongate shaft to the end effector to transfer this firing motion. A retraction spring retracts the firing member after full firing. Between firing strokes as the firing trigger is released, an anti-backup mechanism activates an electrical actuator (e.g., elecroactive polymer actuator) that is physically grounded to the handle to bind the firing member preventing inadvertent retraction.
753 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector;
a longitudinally reciprocating firing rod distally coupled to the end effector;
a shaft having a distal end attached to the end effector and operatively configured to guide the firing rod;
a handle attached to a proximal end of the shaft operatively configured to distally advance the firing rod in a sequence of strokes; and
an electrical actuator physically grounded to the handle and responsive to an electrical signal to move between a non-binding and a binding position with the firing member to prevent longitudinal movement thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector;
a handle;
an elongate shaft comprising a frame ground attaching the end effector to the handle and a firing member guided for longitudinal reciprocating motion between the handle and the end effector;
a firing trigger attached for movement to the handle;
a multiple stroke firing mechanism in the handle operatively configured to distally advance the firing member incrementally with each firing stroke of the firing trigger;
a retraction biasing member positioned in the handle to assert a retraction bias on the firing member;
an anti-backup mechanism comprising an electrical actuator operatively configured to move between a locking and an unlocking state with the firing member; and
control circuitry operatively configured to activate the electrical actuator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification