RATCHETING FEATURE ON TISSUE STAPLE TRIGGER TO PREVENT PREMATURE JAW OPENING

• US 20130175320A1
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Chester O. Baxter III, Johnny H. Alexander, III
• Inventors: Mandakolathur Vasudevan, Venkataramanan, Dunki-Jacobs, Adam R., Baxter, Chester O. III, Morgan, Jerome R., Henderson, Cortney E., Miller, Christopher C., Hunt, John V., Jamison, Barry T., Weizman, Patrick A., Young, Joseph E., Kimball, Cory G., Shurtleff, Carl J., Chekan, Edward G., Felder, Kevin D., Alexander, Johnny H. III, Swindon, Patrick J., Schowalter, Joseph P., Cummings, John F., Baker, Kent P., Serber, Julia F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,549,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body, a pivotable trigger, and a ratcheting assembly. The ratcheting assembly may include a rotary ratchet coupled to the trigger and a pawl coupled to the body. The rotary ratchet may further include a ramp that disengages the ratchet from the pawl. A release feature may be included to selectively disengage a second member of the ratcheting assembly from a first member. In some versions, the release feature may include a rotation knob or a slidable handle. In another configuration, the ratcheting assembly may have a first member coupled to an actuator and a second member coupled to the body. The assembly may include a lock member coupled to the body that selectively engages a plurality of teeth disposed on the actuator. Alternatively, the assembly may include a pivotable pawl coupled to the actuator that engages one or more notches formed in the body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a stapling head assembly; and

(b) an actuator handle assembly comprising;

i. a body,

ii. a trigger pivotably mounted to the body, and

iii. a ratcheting assembly comprising a first member and a second member;

wherein the trigger is operable to drive one or more staples out of the stapling head assembly; and

wherein the ratcheting assembly is operable to selectively maintain a position of the trigger relative to the body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a rotary ratchet coupled to the trigger, and wherein the second member comprises a pawl operable to selectively engage the rotary ratchet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rotary ratchet is laterally slidable relative to the trigger, wherein the rotary ratchet comprises a ramp operable to laterally displace the rotary ratchet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second member comprises a release feature, wherein the release feature is operable to disengage the second member from the first member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the release feature comprises a rotation knob.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the release feature comprises a handle, wherein the handle of the release feature is slidable relative to the body, and wherein the handle of the release feature is operable to longitudinally displace the second member relative to the first member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first member is coupled to a driver actuator, wherein the second member is associated with the body, and wherein the trigger is operable to longitudinally actuate the driver actuator relative to the body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first member comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the second member comprises a lock member, wherein the lock member selectively engages one or more of the plurality of teeth.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the driver actuator further comprises a completion feature, wherein the completion feature is operable to disengage the lock member from the one or more of the plurality of teeth.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the body comprises a detent, wherein the completion feature is operable to engage the lock member with the detent.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the driver actuator further comprises a return feature, wherein the return feature is operable to disengage the lock member from the detent.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a first end of the second member is pivotably coupled to the body and a second end of the second member is coupled to the body by a return spring.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first member comprises a pivotable pawl, wherein the second member comprises a plurality of notches, wherein the pawl is operable to engage one or more of the notches when the driver actuator is actuated longitudinally.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the pawl is resiliently biased towards engagement with the one or more notches.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator longitudinally translatable relative to the stapling head assembly, wherein the first member or the second member of the ratcheting assembly is associated with the actuator.

16. An actuator handle assembly for surgical instrument, the assembly comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) a trigger pivotably mounted to the body;

(c) an actuator in communication with the trigger; and

(d) a ratcheting assembly comprising a first member and a second member;

wherein the first member is coupled to the actuator; and

wherein the ratcheting assembly is operable to maintain the actuator at a plurality of discrete longitudinal positions relative to the body.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second member comprises a pivotable lock member.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second member comprises a plurality of notches formed in the body, wherein the first member comprises a pivotable pawl coupled to the actuator, wherein the pawl comprises a locking feature operable to engage one or more notches.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the pawl comprises a nodule, wherein the actuator comprises a catch, wherein the catch is configured to selectively secure the pawl via the nodule, wherein the locking feature of the pawl is configured to disengage from the one or more notches when the pawl is selectively secured by the catch.

20. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a stapling head assembly;

(b) a selectively securable anvil, wherein the anvil is configured to couple to the stapling head assembly; and

(c) an actuator handle assembly comprising;

i. a body,

ii. a trigger pivotably coupled to the body,

iii. an actuator coupled to the trigger, and

iv. means for ratcheting the trigger or actuator relative to the body.