ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE

• US 20130270322A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Scheib, Charles J., Jaworek, Gary S., Hall, Steven G.
• Application Number:
  US13/835,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20130270322A1
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of magnetic elements configured to articulate an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument can comprise at least one electromagnet which can be selectively activated, or polarized, to generate a magnetic field sufficient to motivate a second magnetic element, such as a permanent magnet and/or an iron core, for example, mounted to the end effector. In certain embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of magnetic elements configured to open and/or close an end effector of the surgical instrument. In at least one embodiment, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of magnetic elements configured to advance and/or retract a firing bar, cutting member, and/or staple sled within the surgical instrument in order to incise and/or staple tissue positioned within an end effector of the surgical instrument.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a longitudinal shaft housing extending from said handle, wherein said longitudinal shaft housing and said handle define an internal volume;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable relative to said shaft housing about said articulation joint; and

a motor configured to rotate said end effector, wherein said motor is positioned within said internal volume.

20. The surgical instrument system of claim 19, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

21. The surgical instrument system of claim 19, further comprising a battery configured to supply electrical power to said motor, wherein said battery is positioned within said internal volume.

22. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft assembly extending from said handle, said shaft assembly comprising;

a longitudinal axis;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint;

an articulation driver configured to be translated proximally and distally relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said articulation driver is operably coupled with said end effector and is configured to rotate said end effector; and

a firing driver configured to be translated proximally and distally relative to said longitudinal axis and to apply an operative motion to said end effector; and

a motor system configured to operate said shaft assembly.

23. The surgical instrument system of claim 22, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

24. The surgical instrument system of claim 22, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said motor system is positioned within said internal volume.

25. The surgical instrument system of claim 22, further comprising a battery configured to supply electrical power to said motor system.

26. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft assembly extending from said handle, said shaft assembly comprising;

a longitudinal axis;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint;

an articulation bar configured to be displaced proximally and distally along said longitudinal axis, wherein said articulation driver is operably coupled with said end effector and is configured to rotate said end effector; and

a firing bar configured to be translated proximally and distally along said longitudinal axis to apply an operative motion to said end effector; and

a motor configured to operate said shaft assembly.

27. The surgical instrument system of claim 26, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

28. The surgical instrument system of claim 26, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said motor is positioned within said internal volume.

29. The surgical instrument system of claim 26, further comprising a battery configured to supply electrical power to said motor.

30. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft assembly extending from said handle, said shaft assembly comprising;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint; and

a firing member configured to move relative to said end effector and to apply an operative motion to said end effector; and

a battery configured to supply power to said shaft assembly.

31. The surgical instrument system of claim 30, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

32. The surgical instrument system of claim 30, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said battery is positioned within said internal volume.

33. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a shaft assembly, comprising;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint; and

a drive member configured to move relative to said end effector and to apply an operative motion to said end effector; and

a motor configured to drive said end effector and said drive member.

34. The surgical instrument system of claim 33, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

35. The surgical instrument system of claim 33, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said motor is positioned within said internal volume.

36. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable relative to said shaft about said articulation joint; and

a motor configured to rotate said end effector.

37. The surgical instrument system of claim 36, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

38. The surgical instrument system of claim 36, wherein said handle and said shaft define an internal volume, and wherein said motor is positioned within said internal volume.

39. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft assembly extending from said handle, said shaft assembly comprising;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint; and

a firing member configured to move relative to said end effector and to apply an operative motion to said end effector; and

a motor configured to operate said shaft assembly.

40. The surgical instrument system of claim 39, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

41. The surgical instrument system of claim 39, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said motor is positioned within said internal volume.

42. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft assembly extending from said handle, said shaft assembly comprising;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint; and

a firing member configured to move relative to said end effector and to apply an operative motion to said end effector; and

a battery configured to supply power to said shaft assembly.

43. The surgical instrument system of claim 42, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

44. The surgical instrument system of claim 42, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said battery is positioned within said internal volume.

45. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft assembly extending from said handle, said shaft assembly comprising;

an articulation joint;

an end effector rotatable about said articulation joint;

an articulation driver operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation driver is configured to rotate said end effector; and

a firing driver configured to apply an operative motion to said end effector;

a motor system configured to operate said shaft assembly; and

a system configured to selectively motivate said articulation driver and to selectively motivate said firing driver.

46. The surgical instrument system of claim 45, wherein said system is capable of operating said articulation driver and said firing driver concurrently.

47. The surgical instrument system of claim 45, wherein said system is capable of operating said articulation driver and said firing driver independently and concurrently.

48. The surgical instrument system of claim 45, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

49. The surgical instrument system of claim 45, wherein said handle and said shaft assembly define an internal volume, and wherein said motor system is positioned within said internal volume.