ARTICULATING SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING A TWO-PIECE E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an implement portion responsive to firing motions applied thereto from an actuation device, the implement portion comprising;
an elongate channel configured for attachment to a portion of the actuation device and including a channel slot,a staple cartridge received by the elongate channel and incorporating a proximally positioned wedge member aligned to cam upward a driver supporting a staple,an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel and including an anvil channel comprising a vertical slot inwardly open along a longitudinal axis of the anvil and comprising left and right rectangular prism-shaped recesses communicating with, bisected by, and transverse to the vertical slot, wherein said left and right rectangular prism-shaped recesses extend substantially along the longitudinal length of the vertical slot,a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the vertical slot of the anvil channel of the anvil,an upper member comprised of left and right lateral upper pins sized to slidingly engage upper and lower inner surfaces of the left and right rectangular-shaped recesses of the anvil channel,a lower member engaging the channel slot, anda middle member operable to actuate the staple cartridge by distally translating the wedge member of the staple cartridge, the firing device positively engaging both the elongate channel and the anvil during longitudinal firing travel to provide spacing therebetween for staple formation, and wherein engagement of the firing device during firing maintains vertical spacing between the elongate channel and the anvil resisting both pinching due to an inadequate clamped tissue and partial opening due to an excessive amount of clamped tissue.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.
1770 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an implement portion responsive to firing motions applied thereto from an actuation device, the implement portion comprising; an elongate channel configured for attachment to a portion of the actuation device and including a channel slot, a staple cartridge received by the elongate channel and incorporating a proximally positioned wedge member aligned to cam upward a driver supporting a staple, an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel and including an anvil channel comprising a vertical slot inwardly open along a longitudinal axis of the anvil and comprising left and right rectangular prism-shaped recesses communicating with, bisected by, and transverse to the vertical slot, wherein said left and right rectangular prism-shaped recesses extend substantially along the longitudinal length of the vertical slot, a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the vertical slot of the anvil channel of the anvil, an upper member comprised of left and right lateral upper pins sized to slidingly engage upper and lower inner surfaces of the left and right rectangular-shaped recesses of the anvil channel, a lower member engaging the channel slot, and a middle member operable to actuate the staple cartridge by distally translating the wedge member of the staple cartridge, the firing device positively engaging both the elongate channel and the anvil during longitudinal firing travel to provide spacing therebetween for staple formation, and wherein engagement of the firing device during firing maintains vertical spacing between the elongate channel and the anvil resisting both pinching due to an inadequate clamped tissue and partial opening due to an excessive amount of clamped tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an implement portion responsive to firing motions from an actuation device coupled thereto and being diametrically dimensioned for endo-surgical use, the implement portion comprising; an elongate channel coupled to the shaft and including a channel slot; an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel, responsive to closing motions applied thereto by the actuation device, and including an anvil channel; and a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil, the firing device configured to affirmatively space the anvil from the elongate channel during longitudinal travel between the anvil and elongate channel, wherein the firing device is configured to affirmatively space the anvil from the elongate channel during longitudinal travel between the anvil and elongate channel by including an upper member having an upper surface and a lower surface that longitudinally slidingly engage the anvil. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification