Surgical stapling instrument having preloaded firing assistance mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle;
an elongate implement portion;
a firing mechanism, comprising;
a distal portion received for longitudinal reciprocating motion in the elongate implement portion, and a proximal portion received in the handle for reciprocating movement between an unfired position and a fired position and coupled to the distal portion to transfer the related longitudinal reciprocating motion;
a firing actuator movably attached to the handle and coupled to move the proximal portion of the firing mechanism from the unfired position to the fired position; and
an assistance mechanism, comprising;
a follower member received in the handle, proximate and aligned for movement between the unfired and fired positions of the proximal portion of the firing mechanism, a biasing member operatively configured to urge the follower member in a selected direction between unfired and fired positions and to be preloaded by movement of the shuttle in an opposing direction, and an engagement mechanism operatively configured, in response to the proximal portion of the firing mechanism beginning movement in the selected direction, to release the follower member that is preloaded by the biasing member and engaged to the proximal portion of the firing mechanism.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical severing and stapling instrument clamps tissue in a staple applying assembly comprising a lower jaw of an elongate channel holding a staple cartridge and a pivotally opposed upper jaw (anvil). A firing handle drives a rack in a handle connected to a firing rod and bar that pass through an elongate shaft and into the staple applying assembly to sever and staple tissue. Upon release of the firing handle, a retraction spring assists in withdrawing the rack and other firing components. To advantageously assist in firing, a spring biased plunger is cocked prior to firing to impart assistance upon depression of the firing trigger. Alternatively, a torsion coil spring ratchet mechanism is preloaded to act through a gear into the rack to assist. As a further alternative, a retraction spring is preloaded and disengaged until the rack is fully fired.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
an elongate implement portion;
a firing mechanism, comprising;
a distal portion received for longitudinal reciprocating motion in the elongate implement portion, and a proximal portion received in the handle for reciprocating movement between an unfired position and a fired position and coupled to the distal portion to transfer the related longitudinal reciprocating motion;
a firing actuator movably attached to the handle and coupled to move the proximal portion of the firing mechanism from the unfired position to the fired position; and
an assistance mechanism, comprising;
a follower member received in the handle, proximate and aligned for movement between the unfired and fired positions of the proximal portion of the firing mechanism, a biasing member operatively configured to urge the follower member in a selected direction between unfired and fired positions and to be preloaded by movement of the shuttle in an opposing direction, and an engagement mechanism operatively configured, in response to the proximal portion of the firing mechanism beginning movement in the selected direction, to release the follower member that is preloaded by the biasing member and engaged to the proximal portion of the firing mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
an elongate implement portion;
a firing drive train, comprising;
a distal portion received for longitudinal reciprocating motion in the elongate implement portion, and a proximal portion received in the handle for reciprocating movement between an unfired position and a fired position and coupled to the distal portion to transfer the related longitudinal reciprocating motion;
a firing trigger pivotally attached to the handle and coupled to move the proximal portion of the firing drive train from the unfired position to the fired position; and
a firing assistance mechanism, comprising;
a follower member received in the handle, proximate and aligned for movement between the unfired and fired positions of the proximal portion of the firing drive train, a biasing member operatively configured to become preloaded by movement of the follower member from the fired position to the unfired position, an engagement mechanism operatively configured to engage the follower member to the proximal portion of the firing drive train in response to the follower member being retracted to the unfired position and to disengaging the follower member from the proximal portion of the firing drive train in response to the engaged follower member and firing drive train being fired to the fired position, and a brake operatively configured to maintain the proximal portion of the firing drive train retracted until the firing trigger is actuated for firing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
an elongate implement portion;
a firing drive train, comprising;
a distal portion received for longitudinal reciprocating motion in the elongate implement portion, and a proximal portion received in the handle for reciprocating movement between an unfired position and a fired position and coupled to the distal portion to transfer the related longitudinal reciprocating motion;
a firing trigger pivotally attached to the handle and coupled to move the proximal portion of the firing drive train from the unfired position to the fired position; and
a retraction assistance mechanism, comprising;
a follower member received in the handle, proximate and aligned for movement between the unfired and fired positions of the proximal portion of the firing drive train, a biasing member operatively configured to become preloaded by movement of the follower member from the unfired position to the fired position, and an engagement mechanism operatively configured to engage the follower member to the handle in response to being moved to the fired position and to disengaging the follower member from the handle and to engage the following member to the proximal portion of the firing drive train in response to the proximal portion of the firing drive train being moved to the fired position. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification