SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A DIRECTIONAL SWITCHING MECHANISM

• US 20110042441A1
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Timm, Richard W., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/178.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a switching mechanism which allows a surgeon to selectively advance or retract a staple driver, cutting member, and/or other movable member within a staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument can include a handle, a trigger operatively coupled to the handle, a firing drive, and an end effector. In at least one embodiment, the trigger can be configured to slide between a first position in which an operation of the trigger can advance the movable member at a first rate and a second position in which an operation of the trigger can retract the movable member at a second rate.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a firing drive configured to selectively generate a firing motion and a retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises;

a firing trigger;

a first drive member comprising a plurality of first gear teeth;

a second drive member comprising a plurality of second gear teeth; and

a drive shaft, comprising;

a first gear operably engageable with said first gear teeth; and

a second gear operably engageable with said second gear teeth,

wherein said firing trigger is movable between a first position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said first drive member to transmit said firing motion to said drive shaft and a second position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said second drive member to transmit said retraction motion to said drive shaft.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing trigger is slidable between said first position and said second position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing trigger is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and wherein said firing trigger is slidable along said axis of rotation between said first position and said second position.

4. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a firing drive configured to selectively generate a firing motion and a retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises;

a firing trigger;

a first drive member comprising a plurality of first gear teeth;

a second drive member comprising a plurality of second gear teeth; and

a shaft assembly comprising

a drive shaft;

a first gear operably engaged with said drive shaft, wherein said first gear is operably engageable with said first gear teeth; and

a second gear operably engaged with said drive shaft, wherein said second gear is operably engageable with said second gear teeth,

wherein said firing trigger is movable between a first position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said first drive member to transmit said firing motion to said drive shaft and a second position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said second drive member to transmit said retraction motion to said drive shaft; and

a staple cartridge attachment portion configured to attach a staple cartridge assembly to said shaft assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said firing trigger is slidable between said first position and said second position.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said firing trigger is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and wherein said firing trigger is slidable along said axis of rotation between said first position and said second position.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a firing drive, comprising;

a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle;

a drive shaft operably engaged with said firing trigger, wherein an actuation of said firing trigger rotates said drive shaft about an axis;

an elongate shaft assembly;

a transmission, wherein said transmission is selectively configurable in a first configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about an axis in a first direction and a second configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction, said transmission comprising a pinion gear, wherein said drive shaft is mated with said elongate shaft assembly in said first configuration such that said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly rotate in a first ratio, and wherein said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly are mated with said pinion gear in said second configuration such that said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly rotate in a second ratio, wherein said first ratio is different than said second ratio; and

a staple cartridge attachment portion configured to attach a staple cartridge assembly to said elongate shaft assembly