Surgical stapling and cutting instrument with improved closure system

• US 20080308607A1
• 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. IV, Timperman, Eugene L., Fugikawa, Leslie M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,588,176 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 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

Closure systems for applying a closure motion to an anvil assembly of a surgical instrument. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a cable drive knife assembly and the anvil assembly thereof is moved to a closed position when contacted by a closure tube assembly that has a pushing force applied thereto. Other embodiments include closure systems that may be actuated by rotary motion. Various lockable articulation joints are also disclosed.

Claims

1. 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;

at least one cable operably interfacing with said knife assembly and a cable drive system for driving said knife assembly within said elongate channel assembly;

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

a closure tube assembly operably supported adjacent said elongate channel assembly for selectively applying a closing motion to said anvil assembly upon application of a pushing motion to said closure tube assembly.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a closure tube drive system operably interfacing with a portion of said closure tube assembly to selectively apply said pushing motion thereto such that as said closure tube drive system applies said pushing motion to said closure tube assembly, said closure tube assembly applies said closing motion to said anvil assembly.

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

a proximal closure tube segment interfacing with said closure tube drive system; and

a distal closure tube segment pivotally coupled to said proximal closure tube segment for selective pivotal travel about at least two axes that are orthogonal to each other relative to said proximal closure tube segment and oriented for selective contact with said anvil assembly to transfer said closing motion thereto.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said distal closure tube segment is pivotally coupled to a central closure tube segment for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about at least one pivot axis and wherein said central closure tube segment is pivotally coupled to said proximal closure tube segment for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about at least one other pivot axis wherein said at least one pivot axis is orthogonal to said at least one other pivot axis.

5. 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.

6. 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 drive system for applying a driving motion to said knife assembly;

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

a closure ring operably supported adjacent an end of said elongate channel assembly for selectively applying a closing motion to said anvil assembly; and

a closure tube segment operably interfacing with said closure ring, such that upon application of an actuation motion to said closure tube segment, said closure ring is driven into closing contact with said anvil assembly.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 further comprising at least one pin protruding from said closure ring, said at least one pin being received in a corresponding slot in said closure tube segment such that, upon application of said actuation motion to said closure tube segment, said closure ring is moved in a distal direction into closing contact with said anvil assembly.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said actuation motion is a rotary motion.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 6 further comprising at least one pin protruding from said closure tube segment, said at least one pin being received in a corresponding slot in said closure ring such that, upon application of said actuation motion to said closure tube segment, said closure ring is moved in a distal direction into closing contact with said anvil assembly.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 6 further comprising a brake system operably interacting with said closure tube segment to selectively lock said closure tube segment in a desired position.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said closure ring is configured to apply a pulling motion to said anvil assembly upon application of a second actuation motion to said closure tube assembly to cause said anvil assembly to move to an open position.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said actuation motion is a first rotary motion and wherein said second actuation is another rotary motion.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said closure tube segment is threadably coupled to said closure ring.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 6;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

a spine assembly coupled to said elongate channel assembly;

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly upon application of a drive motion thereto;

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

a closure ring operably supported on said spine assembly adjacent said elongate channel assembly for selective axial contact with said anvil assembly;

at least one first cable transition support operably mounted to said closure ring;

at least one second cable transition support operably attached to said spine assembly; and

a closure cable operably extending around said first and second cable transition supports and interfacing with a cable drive system to apply an actuation motion to said closure ring to drive said closure ring into closing contact with said anvil assembly.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein said first and second cable transition supports are selected from the group of cable transition supports consisting of pulleys, rods, and capstans.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein said spine assembly comprises:

a distal spine segment coupled to said elongate channel assembly; and

a proximal spine segment movably coupled to said distal spine segment.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 wherein said proximal spine segment is movably coupled to said distal spine segment by a ball joint assembly.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 15;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

20. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

a spine segment;

an articulation joint interfacing between said elongate channel assembly and said spine segment, said articulation joint comprising;

a socket member; and

a ball-shaped member protruding from one of said elongate channel assembly and said spine segment and received within said socket to facilitate selective movement of said elongate channel assembly relative to said spine segment, said ball-shaped member having at least one radially extendable portion for selective locking contact with said socket member to selectively prevent movement of said ball-shaped member within said socket member upon application of a locking motion to said at least one radially extendable portion.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 20 further comprising at least one cable attached to said radially extendable portion, such that as a tension force is applied to said cables, said radially extendable portions are caused to radially extend within said socket member.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 20 further comprising an actuation member extending through a central portion of said ball-shaped member and being configured to apply a radial motion to said radially extendable portions as an axial actuation motion is applied to said actuation member.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 20;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

24. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

a spine segment; and

an articulation joint interfacing between said elongate channel assembly and said spine segment, said articulation joint comprising;

a socket member in one of said elongate channel assembly and said spine segment;

a ball-shaped member movably received in said socket member and protruding from the another of said elongate channel member and said spine segment; and

at least one locking portion selectively engagable with said ball-shaped member to prevent movement of said ball-shaped member within said socket member.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein said at least one locking portion comprises at least one radially contractable portion of said socket member.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 25 further comprising at least one cable operably interfacing with said at least one radially contractable portion of said socket member such that as a tension force is applied to said cables, said at least one radially contractable portion of said socket member is caused to radially contract into locking contact with said ball-shaped member.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein said locking portion comprises a closure ring supported for selective sliding travel onto at least a portion of said socket member such that when said closure ring is slid thereon, at least some of said radially contractable portions of said socket member are moved into locking contact with said ball-shaped member.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein said at least one locking portion comprises a locking pin supported for selective locking engagement with one of a portion of said ball member and a portion of said socket member.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 28 wherein said locking pin is oriented for selective engagement with a portion of said ball-shaped member that has at least one detent formed therein.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 28 wherein said locking pin is received in said ball-shaped member and oriented for selective engagement with a portion of said socket that has at least one detent therein.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 24;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.