Cable driven surgical stapling and cutting instrument with improved cable attachment arrangements

• US 20080308603A1
• 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., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Application Number:
  US11/820,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308603A1
• 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 cable attachment arrangement for attaching a cable to a surgical instrument component. In various embodiments, the cable attachment arrangement comprises a wedge-shaped slug that is attached to a portion of the cable and shaped to be received in a complementary shaped pocket in the surgical instrument component. In various embodiments, the slug may be wedge-shaped or conical in shape. In other embodiments, an end portion of the cable is folded over adjacent another portion of the cable and attached thereto by clamps or adhesive to form a loop sized to receive a portion of a surgical instrument component therein. Other embodiments comprise an endless cable formed from woven material wherein the ends of the cable are woven together.

Claims

1. A cable attachment arrangement for attaching a cable to a surgical instrument component, said cable attachment arrangement comprising a slug attached to a portion of said cable and shaped to be received in a complementary shaped pocket in the surgical instrument component.

2. The cable attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein said slug is attached to said cable by a fastening method selected from the group of fastening methods consisting of crimping, swaging, gluing, overmolding, and ultrasonic welding.

3. The cable attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein said slug is fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of lead, copper, brass, stainless steel, titanium, thermoplastic material, nylon and polycarbonate.

4. The cable attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein said pocket is open on at least one side thereof to permit said slug to be inserted therein.

5. The cable attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein said slug is wedge-shaped or conical-shaped.

6. A cable attachment arrangement for attaching a cable to a surgical instrument component, said cable attachment arrangement comprising an attachment member compressed onto said cable, said attachment member having a size and shape configured to be received in a complementary-shaped pocket in the surgical instrument component such that as tension is applied to said cable in a first direction away from the attachment member, said attachment member is further compressed onto said cable.

7. A method for attaching a cable to a surgical instrument component, said method comprising:

positioning an end portion of the cable adjacent another portion of the cable to form a loop that is sized to receive at least a portion of the surgical instrument component therein; and

affixing the end portion of the cable to the another portion of the cable.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said affixing comprises clamping the end portion of the cable to the another portion of the cable with at least one clamp.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said affixing comprises gluing the end portion of the cable to the another portion of the cable.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said affixing comprises melting the end portion to the another portion of the cable.

11. A drive member for driving a movable component of a surgical instrument, said drive member comprising a cable fabricated from woven material and having two ends that are interwoven together to form an endless cable assembly sized to extend over at least a driven member and at least a portion of said movable component.

12. The drive member of claim 11 wherein said cable is fabricated from material selected from the group of materials consisting of woven wire and woven plastic.

13. The drive member of claim 11 wherein said cable comprises a plurality of fibers of sufficient number to be woven in a Chinese finger cuff pattern to join said ends together.

14. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

a cable drive system;

a drive cable interfacing with said cable drive system; and

a wedge-shaped slug attached to a portion of said drive cable and shaped to be received in a complementary shaped pocket in the knife assembly.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 14;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

a cable drive system; and

a drive cable having a proximal portion interfacing with said cable drive system, said drive cable further having a distal end portion oriented adjacent another portion of said drive cable and affixed thereto to form a loop sized to receive at least a portion of said knife assembly therein.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said distal end portion of said drive cable is affixed to said another portion of said drive cable by fasteners selected from the group of fasteners consisting of clamps and adhesive.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 16;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

19. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly, said knife assembly having at least one protrusion thereon;

a driven pulley; and

an endless drive cable fabricated from woven material and having two ends that are interwoven together to form an endless cable assembly sized to extend over said driven pulley and interface with said knife assembly.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 wherein said drive cable is fabricated from material selected from the group of material consisting of woven wire and woven plastic.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein said cable comprises a plurality of fibers of sufficient number to be woven in a Chinese finger cuff pattern to join said ends together.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 19;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.