Surgical stapling and cutting instrument with improved anvil opening features

• US 20080308601A1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Timm, Richard W., Shelton, Frederick E., Swayze, jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0069 with universal joint, cardan joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2934 arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/715 Cable tensioning mechanisms for removing slack

Abstract

A surgical instrument that has an elongate channel assembly configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein. An anvil assembly may be movably and detachably coupled to the elongate channel assembly. In various embodiments, the anvil assembly may have a pair of trunnions pivotally received in open-ended slots in the elongate channel assembly. The trunnions may be retained in the opened ended slots by a selectively movable trunnion retention bar or by a closure member configured to apply a closing motion to the anvil. In other embodiments, a knife assembly may be supported within the elongate channel assembly for axial travel therein. The knife assembly may be provided with a detachable pin that is configured to ride in a slot in the anvil as the knife assembly is driven in the elongate channel assembly to draw the anvil assembly toward the elongate channel assembly. The pin is configured to be detached from the knife assembly to enable the anvil assembly to be detached therefrom.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongate channel assembly configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein; and

an anvil assembly movably coupled to said elongate channel assembly and being selectively movable between open and closed positions, said anvil assembly further being selectively detachable from said elongate channel assembly.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of open ended slots in a portion of said elongate channel assembly;

a pair of trunnions formed on said anvil assembly and oriented to be received in said pair of open ended slots in said portion of said elongate channel assembly; and

a trunnion retention member oriented to selectively retain said pair of trunnions in said pair of open ended slots.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said trunnion retention member comprises a trunnion retention bar that is selectively axially movable relative to said elongate channel assembly.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said trunnion retention member comprises an closure tube member constructed to selectively apply a closure motion to said anvil assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a driven knife assembly supported for travel within said elongate channel assembly.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said anvil assembly has a slot therein for receiving a pin coupled to said driven knife assembly.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said pin is detachably coupled to said driven knife assembly.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 further comprising a pin detachment member on said anvil assembly for detaching said pin from said driven knife assembly.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7 wherein said pin has at least one reinforcing member formed thereon.

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:

an elongate channel assembly configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

an anvil assembly operably coupled to said elongate channel assembly and being selectively movable between open and closed positions; and

a driven knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly, said driven knife assembly having a pin member detachably coupled thereto and oriented for travel within a slot in said anvil assembly.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said pin is supported in an open-ended slot in said knife assembly.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said pin is supported in a slot in said knife assembly and wherein said knife assembly has an undercut portion formed therein adjacent said slot to permit a bottom portion of said knife assembly forming a portion of said slot to be biased away from an upper portion forming said slot to permit said pin to be removed from said slot upon contact with a detachment member on said anvil assembly.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said pin is supported in a slot in said knife assembly and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a reinforcement member formed on a portion of said knife assembly adjacent said slot.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said pin is supported in a slot in said knife assembly, said slot formed by a bendable flap formed in said knife assembly such that when said pin is contacted by a detachment member on said anvil assembly, said bendable flap may be moved to a position wherein said pin may be detached from said knife assembly.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said pin has at least one reinforcement flap formed thereon.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 11;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

18. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongate channel assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

an anvil assembly having a proximal end movably and selectively detachably coupled to said proximal end of said elongate channel assembly; and

a knife assembly movably supported within said elongate channel assembly and operably communicating with a drive system for driving said knife assembly from said proximal end of said elongate channel assembly to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said knife assembly configured to movably engage said anvil assembly such that, as said knife assembly is driven from said proximal end to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said knife assembly draws said anvil assembly toward said elongate channel assembly and wherein said knife assembly is configured to disengage said anvil assembly after said knife assembly has been driven to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 further comprising a spring member on said anvil assembly for disengaging a portion of said knife assembly in engagement with said anvil assembly when said knife assembly has been driven to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 wherein said anvil assembly has a slot formed therein for receiving a pin detachably coupled to said knife assembly.