Surgical stapling and cutting instrument with side mounted retraction member

• US 20080237296A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Schall, Christoper J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips

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 linked transmission reduces the required handle longitudinal length, yet achieves a rigid, strong configuration when straightened for firing. A traction biased firing mechanism avoids binding in driving this straightened linked rack. The instrument further has a manually actuatable retraction system that does not require the use of additional springs or other mechanisms to generate retraction forces which must be overcome when generating the forces necessary to fire the device. In various embodiments, the retraction system provides a visual indication to the surgeon as to how far firing has progressed.

Claims

1. (canceled)

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10. (canceled)

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

an end effector for performing a surgical operation, said end effector operably coupled to said handle assembly and operably supporting a firing member that is movable from a fully retracted position to a fired position in response to a longitudinal firing motion applied thereto and from said fired position to said retracted position upon application of a retraction motion thereto;

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

an elongate shaft assembly coupling said end effector to said handle assembly and configured to transfer said opening and closing motions and said firing and retraction motions thereto;

a linked rack operably supported by said handle assembly;

a firing rod communicating with said linked rack and said end effector for transmitting said firing and retraction motions thereto;

a firing trigger operably supported by said handle assembly and configured to interact with said linked rack such that actuation of said firing trigger causes said linked rack to apply said firing motion to said firing rod;

a retraction rack movably supported within said handle assembly for linear travel therein;

a first gear rotatably supported by said handle assembly in meshing engagement with said linked rack and said retraction rack;

a retraction lever coupled to said retraction rack such that actuation of said retraction lever in a first direction applies a sole retraction force to said retraction rack that is communicated to said linked rack through said first gear to cause said firing member to move from said fired position to said fully retracted position;

a locking arm movably supported by said handle assembly and being movable between unlocked positions to a locked position wherein said locking arm retainingly engages said second gear when said closure trigger is in an unlocked position; and

a release mechanism interfacing with said locking arm to selectively apply an unlocking motion thereto.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said retraction lever is caused to move in a second direction as said linked rack applies said firing motion to said firing rod.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said end effector comprises:

an elongate channel coupled to said elongate shaft assembly and being sized to receive a staple cartridge therein; and

an anvil coupled to said elongate channel and being selectively movable between open and closed positions in response to open and closing motions from said elongate shaft assembly and wherein said firing member comprises a cutting and severing member operably supported within said elongate channel and being responsive to said firing and retraction motions from said firing rod.

15. (canceled)

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21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

an end effector for performing a surgical operation, said end effector operably coupled to said handle assembly and operably supporting a firing member that is movable from a fully retracted position to a fired position in response to a longitudinal firing motion applied thereto;

a linked rack operably supported by said handle assembly;

a firing rod communicating with said linked rack and said end effector for transmitting firing and retraction motions thereto;

a firing trigger operably supported by said handle assembly and configured to interact with said linked rack such that actuation of said firing trigger causes said linked rack to apply said firing motion to said firing rod;

a retraction lever movably supported by said handle assembly;

a retraction rack operably interfacing with said retraction lever and movably supported within said handle assembly for linear travel therein; and

a first gear rotatably supported by said handle assembly in meshing engagement with said linked rack and said retraction rack such that actuation of said retraction lever in a first direction causes said firing member to move from said fired position to said fully retracted position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 21 wherein said firing drive causes said retraction lever to move in a second direction as said longitudinal firing motion is applied to said firing member.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 21 further comprising:

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

an elongate shaft assembly coupling said end effector to said handle assembly and configured to transfer said opening and closing motions and said firing and retraction motions thereto.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said end effector comprises:

an elongate channel coupled to said elongate shaft assembly and being sized to receive a staple cartridge therein; and

an anvil coupled to said elongate channel and being selectively movable between open and closed positions in response to open and closing motions from said elongate shaft assembly and wherein said firing member comprises a cutting and severing member operably supported within said elongate channel and being responsive to said firing and retraction motions from said elongate shaft assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said closure drive further comprises:

a locking mechanism for automatically locking said closure drive in a locked position after said closure drive has fully applied said closing motion to said end effector; and

a release mechanism interfacing with said locking mechanism to selectively apply an unlocking motion thereto.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said locking mechanism interfaces with said firing drive such that said locking mechanism prevents actuation of said firing drive unless said closure drive is in said locked position.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 21;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.