Articulatable drive shaft arrangements for surgical cutting and fastening instruments

• US 20070233053A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick, Gillum, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument. The instrument also includes a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector. The instrument also includes a handle comprising a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, a motor for actuating the gear drive train, a closure trigger for causing the end effector to clamp an object positioned in the end effector when the closure trigger is retracted, and a firing trigger separate from the closure trigger for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. The instrument further comprises means for articulating the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a drive for generating a drive motion;

an end effector for performing at least one surgical procedure in response to said drive motion;

a proximate drive shaft operably communicating with said drive to transmit said drive motion therefrom;

a distal drive shaft operably communicating with said end effector to transmit said drive motion thereto; and

an articulation joint interfacing with said proximate drive shaft and said distal drive shaft for transmitting said drive motion from said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft while permitting said distal drive shaft to articulate relative to said proximate drive shaft.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said articulation joint comprises a gear assembly.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said gear assembly comprises:

a first drive gear coupled to said proximal drive shaft;

a second drive gear in meshing engagement with said first drive gear; and

a third drive gear coupled to said distal drive shaft and in meshing engagement with said second drive gear.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said second drive gear is mounted to a vertical shaft that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said proximate drive shaft and another longitudinal axis of said distal drive shaft.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said proximate drive shaft extends through a proximate spine tube and wherein said distal drive shaft extend through a distal spine tube that is pivotally coupled to said proximate spine tube by said vertical shaft.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said articulation joint comprises a universal joint assembly.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said U-joint comprises:

a proximal yoke member coupled to said proximate drive shaft;

a distal yoke member coupled to said distal drive shaft; and

a central joint body pivotally coupled to said proximal yoke member and said distal yoke member.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 wherein said central joint body can pivot relative to said proximal yoke member about a first pivot axis and wherein said central joint body can pivot relative to said distal yoke member about a second pivot axis that is substantially transverse to said first pivot axis.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said articulation joint comprises a torsion cable coupled to said proximate drive shaft and said distal drive shaft and extending therebetween.

10. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 1;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion;

an end effector for performing at least one surgical procedure;

a drive member operably supported by said handle portion for generating a drive motion;

a proximate drive shaft operably communicating with said drive member to transmit said drive motion therefrom;

a distal drive shaft operably communicating with said end effector to transmit said drive motion thereto; and

a gear assembly pivotally coupling said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft and transmitting said drive motion from said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said end effector is pivotally coupled to an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said gear assembly comprises:

a first drive gear coupled to said proximal drive shaft;

a second drive gear in meshing engagement with said first drive gear; and

a third drive gear coupled to said distal drive shaft and in meshing engagement with said second drive gear.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said second drive gear is mounted to a vertical shaft that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said proximate drive shaft and another longitudinal axis of said distal drive shaft.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 wherein said proximate drive shaft extends through a proximate spine tube and wherein said distal drive shaft extend through a distal spine tube that is pivotally coupled to said proximate spine tube by said vertical shaft.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said end effector comprises a device for clamping, severing, and stapling tissue.

17. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion;

an end effector for performing at least one surgical procedure;

a drive member operably supported by said handle portion for generating a drive motion;

a proximate drive shaft operably communicating with said drive member to transmit said drive motion therefrom;

a distal drive shaft operably communicating with said end effector to transmit said drive motion thereto; and

a universal joint assembly pivotally coupling said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft and transmitting said drive motion from said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 wherein said end effector is pivotally coupled to an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein said elongate shaft comprises:

a proximate spine tube operably supporting said proximate drive shaft therein;

a distal spine tube operably supporting said distal drive shaft and being pivotally coupled to said proximate spine tube.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 17 wherein said end effector comprises a device for clamping, severing, and stapling tissue.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion;

an end effector for performing at least one surgical procedure;

a drive member operably supported by said handle portion for generating a drive motion;

a proximate drive shaft operably communicating with said drive member to transmit said drive motion therefrom;

a distal drive shaft operably communicating with said end effector to transmit said drive motion thereto; and

a torsion cable coupling said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft and transmitting said drive motion from said proximate drive shaft to said distal drive shaft.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21 wherein said end effector is pivotally coupled to an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22 wherein said elongate shaft comprises:

a proximate spine tube operably supporting said proximate drive shaft therein;

a distal spine tube operably supporting said distal drive shaft and being pivotally coupled to said proximate spine tube.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 21 wherein said end effector comprises a device for clamping, severing, and stapling tissue.