MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL FASTENER DEVICE WITH MECHANISMS FOR ADJUSTING A TISSUE GAP WITHIN THE END EFFECTOR

• US 20110011915A1
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,444,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical fastener apparatus having a handle, an elongated shaft having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end extending therefrom. An end effector including a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position. A cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge attached to the end effector. An electrically powered actuator for deploying the surgical fasteners, the actuator including a power source and a motor. Means for electrically adjusting the amount of spacing between the jaws when the end effector is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener apparatus comprising:

a. a handle, an elongated shaft having a proximal end attached to said handle and a distal end extending therefrom, an end effector comprising a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position, and a cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, said cartridge attached to said end effector;

b. an electrically powered actuator for deploying said surgical fasteners, said actuator comprising a power source and a motor;

c. means for electrically adjusting the amount of spacing between said jaws when said end effector is in said closed position.

2. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end effector comprises:

an elongated channel configured to operably support said cartridge therein; and

an anvil pivotally coupled to said elongated channel and being selectively pivotable between said open and closed positions.

3. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 2 wherein said actuator comprises an actuator portion movable within said end effector in response to activation motions received from said motor, said actuator portion having a lower actuator portion slidably engaging said elongate channel and an upper portion having a pair of retainer members configured to slidably engage said anvil.

4. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for electrically adjusting comprises a height adjustment member on each of said retention members, each said height adjustment member positioned between said retention member and a corresponding portion of said anvil and in electrical communication with said power source, each said height adjustment member having a thickness that increases in response to electrical current from said power source.

5. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for electrically adjusting comprises a height adjustment member on said anvil corresponding to each of said retention members on said upper actuator portion, each said height adjustment member positioned between said corresponding retention member and said anvil and in electrical communication with said power source, each said height adjustment member having a thickness that increases in response to electrical current from said power source.

6. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

at least one electrical contact in said elongated channel and electrically communicating with said power source; and

at least one slide contact on said lower actuator, said at least one slide contact in sliding electrical contact with a corresponding one of said at least one electrical contact in said elongate channel and in electrical communication with said height adjustment members to transmit said electrical current thereto.

7. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 3 wherein said upper actuator portion is movable relative to said lower actuator portion.

8. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for electrically adjusting comprises means for electrically moving said upper actuator portion relative to said lower actuator portion.

9. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for electrically moving comprises a second electric motor coupled to said upper and lower actuator portions and in electrical communication with said power source.

10. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one electrical contact in said elongated channel and electrically communicating with said power source; and

at least one slide contact on said lower actuator, said at least one slide contact in sliding electrical contact with a corresponding one of said at least one electrical contact in said elongate channel and in electrical communication with said second electric motor.

11. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 4 wherein said height adjustment members comprise electro-active polymer material.

12. A surgical fastener apparatus comprising:

a handle;

an end effector operably coupled to said handle, said end effector comprising;

an elongated channel configured to support a cartridge therein;

an anvil movably supported on said elongated channel for selective movement toward said elongated channel to closed positions and away from said elongated channel to open positions, said anvil having an elongated slot therein;

an actuator member movably supported within said elongated channel and selectively movable from an unactuated proximal position to actuated positions within said elongated channel, said actuator member comprising;

a lower actuator portion slidably engaging said elongated channel;

an upper actuator portion configured to protrude into said elongated slot;

a retainer member protruding from each lateral side of said upper actuator portion in a direction that is substantially transverse to said elongated slot in said anvil;

a height adjustment members on each said retainer member to selectively adjust a spacing between said anvil and said elongated channel when said anvil is in one of said closed positions in response to electrical current applied thereto.

13. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one electrical contact in said elongated channel and electrically communicating with said power source; and

at least one slide contact on said lower actuator portion, said at least one slide contact in sliding electrical contact with a corresponding one of said at least one electrical contact in said elongate channel and in electrical communication with said second electric motor.

14. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 12 wherein said height adjustment members are on said anvil adjacent each lateral side of said elongated slot for confronting relationship with said retainer members.

15. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

at least one electrical contact in said elongated channel and electrically communicating with said power source; and

at least one slide contact on said lower actuator portion, said at least one slide contact in sliding electrical contact with a corresponding one of said at least one electrical contact in said elongate channel and in electrical communication with said second electric motor.

16. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 12 wherein said height adjustment members comprise electro-active polymer material.

17. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 14 wherein said height adjustment members comprise electro-active polymer material.

18. A surgical fastener apparatus comprising:

a handle;

an end effector operably coupled to said handle, said end effector comprising;

an elongated channel configured to support a cartridge therein;

an anvil movably supported on said elongated channel for selective movement toward said elongated channel to closed positions and away from said elongated channel to open positions, said anvil having an elongated slot therein;

an actuator member movably supported within said channel and selectively movable from an unactuated proximal position to actuated positions within said elongated channel in response to drive motions applied thereto by a first electrically powered motor supported in said handle, said actuator member comprising;

a lower actuator portion slidably engaging said elongated channel;

an upper actuator portion configured to protrude into said elongated slot and movable relative to said lower actuator portion;

a retainer member protruding from each lateral side of said upper actuator portion in a direction that is substantially transverse to said elongated slot in said anvil; and

a second electrically powered motor coupled to said upper and lower actuator portions for selectively moving said upper actuator portion relative to said lower actuator portion.

19. The surgical fastener apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

at least one electrical contact in said elongated channel and electrically communicating with said power source; and

at least one slide contact on said lower actuator, said at least one slide contact in sliding electrical contact with a corresponding one of said at least one electrical contact in said elongate channel and in electrical communication with said second electric motor.