Surgical stapling and cutting instruments

• US 20080308602A1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Timm, Richard W., Timperman, Eugene L., Armstrong, Glen A., Schall, Christopher J., Fugikawa, Leslie M., Shelton, Frederick E., Scheib, Charles J.
• Application Number:
  US11/820,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308602A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/715 Cable tensioning mechanisms for removing slack

Abstract

A multi-axis surgical stapling and cutting instrument. In various embodiments, the instrument includes a tool assembly that operably supports a cable powered knife assembly and further has an anvil that is actuated by axial movement of a closure ring. The instrument may further include a disposable reload unit that may be attached to the reusable portion of the instrument without the use of tools. Various embodiments may also employ an active articulation control system for actively articulating the tool assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a tool assembly operably supporting a cable driven knife assembly therein and having an anvil assembly movably coupled thereto for selective movement between open and closed positions;

a closure ring operably interfacing with said tool assembly for selectively applying at least a closing motion to said anvil assembly; and

a distal closure tube segment for selectively applying an actuation motion to said closure ring to cause said closure ring to apply said closing motion to said anvil assembly, said distal closure tube segment pivotally attached to a closure tube assembly by an articulation joint that facilitates pivotal travel of said tool assembly relative to said closure tube assembly.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising an articulation joint locking assembly for selectively locking said articulation joint in a desired position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising an active articulation system interfacing with said articulation joint to apply articulation motions thereto.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said distal closure tube segment is operably mounted to a distal spine segment that is pivotally coupled to said closure tube assembly by said articulation joint and wherein said articulation system comprises a plurality of articulation actuation members coupled to said distal spine segment and interfacing with an articulation control system oriented relative to a proximal end of said closure tube assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said articulation control system is operably supported by a handle assembly operably coupled to the proximal end of said closure tube assembly and wherein said articulation control system comprises a joy stick assembly.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said articulation joint comprises:

an articulation member pivotally coupled to said tool assembly for selective pivotal travel about a horizontal axis, said articulation member pivotally coupled to a spine member for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about a vertical axis;

means for selectively applying horizontal articulation motion to said tool assembly to selectively cause said tool assembly to pivot about said horizontal axis relative to said articulation member; and

means for selectively applying a vertical articulation motion to said articulation member to selectively cause said articulation member to pivot about said vertical axis relative to said spine member.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 further comprising:

means for selectively locking said tool assembly in any one of a plurality of first positions about said horizontal axis relative to said articulation member; and

means for selectively locking said articulation member in any one of a plurality of second positions about said vertical axis relative to said spine member.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 wherein said means for selectively locking said tool assembly comprises:

at least one set of first horizontal locking teeth on a portion of said tool assembly; and

a set of second horizontal locking teeth corresponding to each said set of first horizontal locking teeth and being selectively movable into and out of engagement therewith and wherein said means for selectively locking said articulation member comprises;

at least one set of first vertical locking teeth on said articulation member; and

a set of second vertical locking teeth corresponding to each set of first vertical locking teeth and being selectively movable into and out of engagement therewith.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said closure tube assembly comprises:

an intermediate closure tube segment pivotally attached to said distal closure tube segment by said articulation joint; and

a proximal closure tube segment removably coupled to said intermediate closure tube segment.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein said proximal closure tube segment is removably coupled to said intermediate closure tube segment by a quick disconnect joint 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 cable drive system operably supported by said handle assembly;

a proximal closure tube operably coupled to closure tube actuation system operably supported by said handle assembly; and

a disposable reload unit operably and removably coupled to said proximal closure tube by a joint assembly, said disposable reload unit comprising;

a tool assembly operably supporting a knife assembly therein constructed to be driven by said cable drive system in said handle assembly and an anvil assembly movably coupled thereto for selective movement between open and closed positions upon receipt of actuation motions from said proximal closure tube.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said disposable reload unit further comprises an articulation joint.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said articulation joint is constructed to be actively articulated by an articulation control system supported by said handle assembly when said disposable reload unit is coupled to said proximal closure tube.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said articulation joint is constructed to facilitate selective pivotal travel of said disposable reload unit about multiple axes relative to said proximal closure tube.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 13 further comprising an articulation joint locking assembly for selectively locking said articulation joint in a desired position.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said cable drive system comprises;

a knife screw shaft driven by a drive system selected from the group of drive systems consisting of manually driven drive systems and motor driven drive systems; and

a nut threadably journaled on said driven knife screw and coupled to a proximal end of at least one drive cable coupled to said knife assembly.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said joint assembly comprises a quick disconnect joint.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 12;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

20. A surgical instrument comprising:

a disposable reload assembly, comprising;

a tool assembly operably supporting a knife assembly therein and having an anvil assembly selectively movable between open and closed positions;

a distal spine segment;

a distal closure tube segment coupled to said distal spine segment;

a closure ring operably coupled to said distal closure tube segment and said tool assembly such that upon rotation of said distal closure tube segment, said closure ring is caused to move axially relative thereto to apply actuation motions to said anvil assembly;

an intermediate spine segment coupled to said distal spine segment by an articulation joint assembly;

an intermediate closure tube segment coupled to said articulation joint to transmit a rotary actuation motion through said articulation joint to said distal closure tube segment;

a knife screw shaft operably supported within said intermediate closure tube segment and constructed to rotate in response to a rotary drive motion;

a knife nut on said knife screw shaft; and

a drive cable attached to said knife assembly and said knife nut and

wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a handle assembly;

a proximal closure tube assembly operably coupled to a closure tube actuation system operably supported by said handle assembly;

a rotary drive shaft operably coupled to a rotary drive system supported by said handle assembly; and

a quick disconnect joint for operably interconnecting;

said intermediate closure tube segment with said proximal closure tube segment;

said intermediate spine segment to said proximal spine segment; and

said knife screw to said knife drive shaft without the use of tools.