Surgical stapling instruments

• US 20080314955A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Boudreaux, Chad P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a shaft, an end effector movable relative to the shaft, a locking mechanism configured to engage the shaft and/or end effector to fix the relative relationship between the shaft and end effector, and a closure system configured to close the end effector and engage the locking mechanism to prevent it from becoming unlocked. The instrument can further include a firing drive comprising a trigger, a firing member, and a pawl, where the pawl is rotatable between a first position in which the pawl is disengaged from the firing member and a second position in which the trigger can advance the pawl and firing member toward the end effector. The instrument can also include a reel, a band, where the band can be wound around the reel to retract the firing member, and a return mechanism for selectively engaging the trigger with the firing member and the reel.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a joint;

an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

an anvil movably coupled to said channel;

a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector; and

a closure drive operably engaged with said anvil, wherein said closure drive is movable between a first position and a second position to move said anvil between an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when said closure drive is in said second position, said closure drive is configured to hold said locking mechanism in said locked configuration.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said closure drive is movable into an intermediate position to pivot said anvil into a partially closed position, and wherein, when said closure drive is in said intermediate position, said end effector is movable relative to said elongate shaft.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises:

a lock member including a first end and a second end, wherein said lock member is slidable relative to said joint, and wherein said first end of said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and

an actuator, wherein said second end of said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator, and wherein said closure drive is configured to abut said actuator when said closure drive is in said second position and prevent said lock member from being slid relative to said joint.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said closure drive includes a trigger and a driver, wherein said trigger is configured to move said driver toward said actuator, wherein said driver is configured to abut said actuator when said closure drive is in said second position, wherein said elongate shaft assembly includes a sheath operably engaged with said anvil and said trigger, and wherein said trigger is configured to move said sheath relative to said end effector and pivot said anvil upon an actuation of said trigger.

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 surgical instrument in a sterile container.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said closing motion is configured to pivot said anvil into a partially closed position, and wherein, when said anvil is in said partially closed position, said end effector is movable relative to said elongate shaft.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a joint;

an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

an anvil movably coupled to said channel;

a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector; and

a closure drive configured to generate a closing motion, wherein said closure drive includes a driver, wherein said anvil is operably engaged with said driver and is movably responsive to said closing motion, and wherein said driver is configured to engage said locking mechanism as a result of said closing motion and prevent said locking mechanism from being configured in said unlocked configuration.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said locking mechanism comprises:

a lock member including a first end and a second end, wherein said lock member is slidable relative to said joint, and wherein said first end of said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and

an actuator, wherein said second end of said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator, and wherein said driver is configured to abut said actuator as a result of said closing motion and prevent said lock member from being slid relative to said joint.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said closure drive further includes a trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to move said driver toward said actuator, wherein said elongate shaft assembly includes a sheath operably engaged with said anvil and said trigger, and wherein said trigger is configured to move said sheath relative to said end effector and pivot said anvil upon an actuation of said trigger.

10. 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 surgical instrument in a sterile container.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a cutting member operably supported within said channel; and

a firing drive, comprising;

a trigger;

a firing member operably engaged with said cutting member;

a pawl, wherein said pawl is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and wherein said pawl is engaged with said firing member when said pawl is in said second position; and

a pawl pin operably engaged with said trigger and said pawl, wherein, upon an actuation of said trigger, said trigger is configured to advance said pawl pin and said pawl toward said end effector and, when said pawl is in said second position, said pawl is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said firing drive further includes a tilter mechanism operably engaged with said pawl, wherein said tilter mechanism includes a cam, wherein said pawl is configured to contact said cam when said pawl is advanced by said trigger, and wherein said cam is configured to rotate said pawl into said second position.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said pawl is configured to move relative to said tilter mechanism prior to contacting said cam, and wherein said pawl is configured to advance said tilter mechanism after contacting said cam.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said tilter mechanism includes a second cam, and wherein, when said pawl contacts said second cam, said second cam is configured to rotate said pawl into said first position and disengage said pawl from said firing member.

15. 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 surgical instrument in a sterile container.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a cutting member operably supported within said channel; and

a firing drive, comprising;

a trigger;

a firing member operably engaged with said cutting member;

a pawl operably engaged with said trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to advance said pawl, wherein said pawl is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and wherein, when said pawl is in said second position, said pawl is configured to engage said firing member and advance said firing member toward said send end effector; and

a tilter mechanism operably engaged with said pawl, wherein said tilter mechanism includes a cam, wherein said pawl is configured to contact said cam when said pawl is advanced by said trigger, and wherein said cam is configured to rotate said pawl into said second position.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said pawl is configured to move relative to said tilter mechanism prior to contacting said cam, and wherein said pawl is configured to advance said tilter mechanism after contacting said cam.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said tilter mechanism includes a second cam, and wherein, when said pawl contacts said second cam, said second cam is configured to rotate said pawl into said first position and disengage said pawl from said firing member.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said firing drive further includes a pawl pin, wherein said pawl pin is operably engaged with said trigger and said pawl, and wherein said trigger includes a slot configured to receive said pawl pin and advance said pawl pin toward said end effector upon an actuation of said trigger.

20. 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 surgical instrument in a sterile container.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a cutting member operably supported within said channel; and

a firing drive, comprising;

a trigger;

a firing member operably engaged with said cutting member;

a pawl operably engaged with said trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to advance said pawl, wherein said pawl is rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein, when said pawl is in said second position, said pawl is configured to engage said firing member and advance said firing member toward said send end effector, and wherein said pawl is not biased into said first position and said second position by a spring.

22. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a cutting member operably supported within said channel; and

a firing drive, comprising;

a firing member operably engaged with said cutting member, wherein said firing drive is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector and to move said cutting member relative to said channel;

a reel; and

a band operably connected to said firing member, wherein said firing member is configured to pull said band relative to said reel when said firing member is advanced toward said end effector, and wherein said reel is configured to pull said band and retract said firing member relative to said end effector.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein said firing drive further includes a trigger, wherein said trigger is operably engaged with said firing member to advance said firing member toward said end effector upon a first actuation of said trigger, wherein said reel is not operably engaged with said trigger during said first actuation of said trigger, and wherein said reel is operably engageable with said trigger in order to, upon a subsequent actuation of said trigger, rotate said reel and retract said band and said firing member.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein said reel includes a cam member, wherein said firing drive further includes a cam follower, wherein said cam member is configured to move said cam follower between a first position and a second position, and wherein said cam follower is configured to operably engage said reel with said trigger when said cam follower is positioned in said second position.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein said band is connected to said reel, and wherein said reel is configured to wind at least a portion of said band around said reel.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 22;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.

27. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a cutting member operably supported within said channel;

a firing drive, comprising;

a trigger;

a firing member, wherein said firing member is operably engaged with said cutting member, wherein said trigger is selectively engageable with said firing member, and wherein, upon a first actuation of said trigger, said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector;

a cam, wherein said firing member is configured to rotate said cam in a first direction when said firing member is advanced toward said end effector; and

a cam follower, wherein said cam is configured to move said cam follower between a first position and a second position when said cam is rotated in said first direction, wherein said cam follower is configured to operably engage said trigger with said cam when said cam follower is positioned in said second position by said cam, and wherein said trigger is configured to rotate said cam in a second direction and retract said firing member upon a subsequent actuation of said trigger when said trigger is operably engaged with said cam.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein said cam follower is further configured to operably disengage said trigger from said firing member when said cam follower is positioned in said second position.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein said firing drive further includes a band connected to said firing member and said cam, wherein said firing member is configured to pull said band relative to said cam when said firing member is advanced, and wherein said cam is configured to pull said band to retract said firing member.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein said firing drive further includes a pawl operably engaged with said trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to advance said pawl, wherein said pawl is rotatable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said pawl is not engaged with said firing member when said pawl is in said disengaged position, wherein, when said pawl is in said engaged position, said pawl is engaged with said firing member and is configured to advance said firing member toward said send end effector, and wherein said follower is configured to secure said pawl in said disengaged position when said cam follower is moved into said second position.

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

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 27;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.

32. (canceled)

33. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an end effector, comprising;

a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

a cutting member operably supported within said channel; and

a firing drive, comprising;

a trigger;

a firing member operably engaged with said cutting member;

a pawl operably engaged with said trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to advance said pawl, wherein said pawl is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and wherein, when said pawl is in said second position, said pawl is configured to engage said firing member and advance said firing member toward said send end effector; and

a tilter mechanism configured to rotate said pawl between said first position and said second position;

wherein said tilter mechanism is frictionally engaged with said housing.