Surgical Instrument Having a Drive Assembly

• US 20110180585A1
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bartlett, Steven, Czernik, Roman
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,254 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly, an elongate member extending from the handle assembly, a loading unit extending from the elongate member, a drive assembly operatively associated with the handle assembly and configured to translate through the loading unit upon actuation of the handle assembly, the drive assembly including a drive beam and an end member projecting distally from the drive beam, wherein a portion of the end member has a different thickness than the drive beam and a first jaw and a second jaw extending from the loading unit and operatively coupled to the drive assembly, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw movable in response to translation of the drive assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongate member extending from the handle assembly;

a tool assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw at a distal portion of the elongate member;

a drive assembly operatively associated with the handle assembly and configured to translate through the tool assembly upon actuation of the handle assembly, the drive assembly including;

a drive beam;

an end member projecting distally from the drive beam and having an upper portion and a lower portion

a cap attached to the upper portion of the end member, the cap having a different thickness than the end member; and

wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable in response to translation of the drive assembly.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end member has a length in a longitudinal direction of the drive beam and wherein the cap extends the length of the end member.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the upper portion of the end member extends distally in relation to the lower portion of the end member, forming a cantilevered portion.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the cap is attached through brazing.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the end member has a first thickness and a second portion of the end member has a second thickness, the first thickness being different than the second thickness.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw form part of a replaceable loading unit that can be separated from the elongate member.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw is an anvil.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the other of the first jaw and the second jaw is a staple cartridge.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the anvil has a ramped surface that is engaged by the upper portion of the end member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the staple cartridge has a ramped surface that is engaged by the upper portion of the end member.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the drive assembly further comprises at least one pin attached to the upper portion of the end member, the pin being positioned to engage one of the anvil and staple cartridge.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the end member forms a cantilevered portion of the end member and wherein the at least one pin is positioned to close the jaws when the drive assembly is translated.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the end member has a horizontal portion to engage one of the first jaw and the second jaw.