Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a multi-stroke firing mechanism with a flexible rack
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector responsive to a longitudinal firing motion to perform a surgical operation;
a shaft distally connected to the end effector;
a shaft firing member slidingly received by the shaft to transfer the firing motion to the end effector; and
a handle proximally connected to the shaft and firing member, comprising;
a flexible firing member having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the shaft firing member, a firing actuator reciprocally positioned by an operator to distally translate a distal portion of the flexible firing member, and a handle housing comprising a barrel portion positioned to guide the distal portion of the flexible firing member and comprising a stowage area communicating with the barrel portion and positioned to guide a deflected proximal portion of the flexible firing member during retraction.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 flexible rack transmits these firing strokes to a firing rod that reciprocates in an elongate shaft to actuate the end effector. The flexible rack advantageously stows into a pistol grip of the handle when retracted to minimize handle length.
325 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
an end effector responsive to a longitudinal firing motion to perform a surgical operation;
a shaft distally connected to the end effector;
a shaft firing member slidingly received by the shaft to transfer the firing motion to the end effector; and
a handle proximally connected to the shaft and firing member, comprising;
a flexible firing member having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the shaft firing member, a firing actuator reciprocally positioned by an operator to distally translate a distal portion of the flexible firing member, and a handle housing comprising a barrel portion positioned to guide the distal portion of the flexible firing member and comprising a stowage area communicating with the barrel portion and positioned to guide a deflected proximal portion of the flexible firing member during retraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
-
-
19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
an implement portion responsive to a firing motion and diametrically dimensioned for endo-surgical use, the implement portion comprising;
a shaft;
a shaft firing member slidingly received by the shaft to transfer a firing motion;
an elongate channel coupled to the shaft;
an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel, responsive to the closing motion from the shaft, and including an anvil channel;
a firing bar attached to the firing member and including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil; and
a staple device received in the elongate channel and responsively coupled to the firing bar to form staples against the anvil; and
a handle proximally connected to the shaft and firing member, comprising;
a longitudinal firing member guide aligned with a proximal portion of the shaft firing member;
a flexible firing member having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the shaft firing member;
a firing actuator reciprocally positioned by an operator to distally translate a distal portion of the flexible firing member into the longitudinal firing member guide; and
a handle housing comprising a stowage area communicating with a proximal end of the longitudinal firing member guide to receive a deflected proximal portion of the flexible firing member during retraction.
-
Specification