Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with improved volume storage

• US 20080029570A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Application Number:
  US11/497,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20080029570A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00548 Gas cartridges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0545 Tools

Abstract

A surgical instrument for use in connection with a pneumatically powered tool. IN various embodiments, the instrument include a drive system that is configured to apply at least one actuation motion to the pneumatically powered tool upon receipt of a flow of gas under pressure. The instrument may further comprise a material storage member that is fluidically coupled to the drive system. The material storage member may contain a material in a first non-gaseous state that selectively vaporizes into the gas under pressure upon actuation of the drive system. A power source for a gas driven device is also disclosed. In various embodiments, the power source comprises a material storage member that is fluidically coupled to the gas driven device. The material storage member contains a material having a first non-gaseous state and which selectively vaporizes into a gas under pressure upon actuation of the gas driven device.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for use in connection with a pneumatically powered tool, the surgical instrument comprising:

a drive system configured to apply at least one actuation motion to the pneumatically powered tool upon receipt of a flow of gas under pressure; and

a material storage member fluidically coupled to said drive system, said material storage member containing a material in a first non-gaseous state that selectively vaporizes into the gas under pressure upon actuation of the drive system.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first state of the material is liquid.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein the material is selected from the group of materials consisting of Nitrous Oxide, Dimethylethyl ether, methylethyl ether, Sodium Hydride, Propane, Isobutane, Butane, Hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA):

either HFA 134a (1,1,1,2,-tetrafluoroethane) or HFA 227 (1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane), and Carbon Dioxide.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein the material storage member comprises:

a cylinder;

a discharge port in the cylinder; and

a member located within the cylinder to prevent passage of the material in the liquid state through the discharge port while permitting passage of the material in the vapor state through the discharge port.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said liquid material vaporizes upon the addition of heat thereto.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein the material is selected from the group of materials consisting of propane and butane.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first state of the material is a solid that converts to a liquid state upon the addition of heat thereto and wherein the liquid state of the material vaporizes into the gas under pressure upon actuation of the drive system.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 wherein the material is selected from a group of materials consisting of paraffin and sodium hybrids.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 4 further comprising a handle assembly supporting at least a portion of the drive system therein and wherein the cylinder is supported by the handle assembly.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein said cylinder is removably attachable to the handle assembly.

11. 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.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

a closure drive supported by said handle assembly and configured to generate a closing motion and an opening motion;

a pneumatically powered drive system supported by said handle assembly and being configured to selectively generate a firing motion and a retraction motion in response to flows of gas under pressure;

an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle assembly and communicating with said closure drive to transfer said opening and closing motions and further communicating with said pneumatically powered drive system to transfer said firing and retraction motions;

an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising;

an elongate channel sized to receive a staple cartridge therein;

an anvil pivotally coupled to said elongate channel and being pivotally responsive to said open and closing motions from said elongate shaft assembly; and

a firing mechanism operably supported within one of said elongate channel and the staple cartridge and being movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to an application of said firing motion from said pneumatically powered drive system and being movable from said actuated position to said unactuated

position in response to another application of said retraction motion from said

pneumatically powered drive system and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a material storage member supported by said handle assembly and being fluidically coupled to said drive system, said material storage member containing a material in a first non-gaseous state that selectively vaporizes into the gas under pressure upon actuation of the drive system.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein the first state of the material is liquid.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein the material storage member comprises:

a cylinder;

a discharge port in the cylinder; and

a member located within the cylinder to prevent passage of the material in the liquid state through the discharge port while permitting passage of the material in the vapor state through the discharge port.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said liquid material vaporizes upon the addition of heat thereto.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein the first state of the material is a solid that converts to a liquid state upon the addition of heat thereto and wherein the liquid state of the material vaporizes into the gas under pressure upon actuation of the drive system.

17. A power source for a gas driven device, the power source comprising:

a material storage member fluidically coupled to the gas driven device; and

material stored within the material storage member, the material having a first non-gaseous state and selectively vaporizes into a gas under pressure upon actuation of the gas driven device.

18. The power source of claim 17 wherein the first state of the material is liquid.

19. The power source of claim 18 wherein said liquid material vaporizes upon the addition of heat thereto.

20. The power source of claim 17 wherein the first state of the material is a solid that converts to a liquid state upon the addition of heat thereto and wherein the liquid state of the material vaporizes into the gas under pressure upon actuation of the drive system.