SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH INDEPENDENT JAW CONTROL FEATURES

• US 20150173746A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, Chester O. III, Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Dugan, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,839,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector that comprises a lower jaw and an upper jaw that are supported for movable travel toward and away from each other. The instrument may further include a firing member that is operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector. The instrument may also include a first jaw closure system that operably interfaces with the lower jaw and is configured to selectively move the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. A second jaw closure system operably interfaces with the upper jaw and is configured to selectively move the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw. A firing system operably interfaces with the firing member and is configured to apply firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting and stapling instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil movably supported relative to the elongated channel such that the anvil and elongated channel may move toward and away from each other; and

a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel through the surgical staple cartridge upon application of a firing motion to the firing member and wherein the surgical cutting and stapling instrument further comprises;

a first jaw closure system operably interfacing with the elongated channel and configured to selectively move the elongated channel relative to the anvil;

a second jaw closure system operably interfacing with the anvil and configured to selectively move the anvil relative to the elongated channel; and

a firing system operably interfacing with the firing member and configured to apply firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the surgical staple cartridge.

2. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 1 wherein the first jaw closure system is configured to move a portion of the elongated channel toward and away from a corresponding portion of the anvil.

3. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 2 wherein the second jaw closure system is configured to move the corresponding portion of the anvil toward and away from the portion of the elongated channel.

4. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongated channel is pivotally coupled to an elongated shaft assembly about a pivot axis and wherein the anvil is pivotally supported relative to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative to the elongated channel about the pivot axis.

5. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 1 wherein the firing member comprises a tissue cutting head configured for axial travel through the surgical staple cartridge such that upon application of one of the firing motions thereto, the firing member moves the anvil towards the elongated channel and severs tissue clamped between the surgical staple cartridge supported in the elongated channel and the anvil.

6. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 5 wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises a bio-absorbable cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein.

7. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 4 further comprising a handle operably supporting portions of each of the first jaw closure system, the second jaw closure system and the firing system therein and wherein the elongated shaft assembly is operably coupled to the surgical end effector for transferring first jaw control motions from the first jaw control system to the elongated channel jaw, second jaw control motions from the second jaw control system to the anvil and firing motions from the firing system to the firing member.

8. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 7 wherein the first jaw control system comprises a first jaw actuator bar movably supported by the elongated shaft assembly for selective axial travel in response to actuation of the first jaw closure system, the first jaw actuator bar operably interfacing with the elongated channel and wherein the second jaw control system comprises a second jaw actuator bar movably supported by the elongated shaft assembly for selective axial travel relative to the first jaw actuator bar in response to actuation of the second jaw closure system, the second jaw actuator bar operably interfacing with the anvil.

9. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 6 wherein said firing member comprises a tissue cutting head configured for axial travel through the surgical staple cartridge such that upon application of one of the firing motions to the tissue cutting head, the tissue cutting head moves the anvil into crushing engagement with the bio-absorbable cartridge body to form the surgical staples supported therein and severs tissue clamped between the anvil and the surgical staple cartridge.

10. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 4 further comprising a housing operably supporting portions of each of the first jaw closure system, the second jaw closure system and the firing system therein and wherein the elongated shaft assembly is operably coupled to the surgical end effector for transferring first jaw control motions from the first jaw control system to the elongated channel jaw, second jaw control motions from the second jaw control system to the anvil and firing motions from the firing system to the firing member.

11. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

a housing;

an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to the housing;

a surgical end effector, comprising;

an elongated channel configured to support a surgical staple cartridge therein, the elongated channel movably coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft assembly;

an anvil movably coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly, the anvil and elongated channel being supported for movable travel toward and away from each other; and

a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

a first jaw closure system operably supported by the housing;

a first jaw actuator bar operably supported by the elongated shaft assembly and operably interfacing with the elongated channel and the first jaw closure system such that actuation of the first jaw closure system causes the elongated channel to move relative to the anvil;

a second jaw closure system operably supported by the housing;

a second jaw actuator bar operably supported by the elongated shaft assembly and operably interfacing with the anvil and the second jaw closure system such that actuation of the second jaw firing system causes the anvil to move relative to the elongated channel;

a firing system operably supported by the housing and operably interfacing with the firing member such that actuation of the firing system causes the firing member to move axially relative to the elongated channel and the anvil.

12. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 11 wherein the elongated channel and the anvil are pivotally coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for pivotal travel relative thereto about a common axis.

13. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a handle.

14. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 11 wherein the first jaw closure system is configured to move a portion of the elongated channel toward and away from a corresponding portion of the anvil.

15. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 14 wherein the second jaw closure system is configured to move the corresponding portion of the anvil toward and away from the portion of the elongated channel.

16. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 15 wherein the firing member comprises a tissue cutting head configured for axial travel through the surgical end effector such that upon application of one of the firing motions thereto, the firing member moves the anvil towards the elongated channel and severs tissue clamped between the surgical staple cartridge supported in the elongated channel.

17. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 16 wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises a bio-absorbable cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein.

18. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil supported relative to the elongated channel such that the anvil and elongated channel may selectively move toward and away from each other; and

a firing member operably supported for selective axial travel through the surgical staple cartridge and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

means for selectively moving the elongated channel relative to the anvil;

means for selectively moving the anvil relative to the elongated channel; and

means for applying firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the surgical staple cartridge.

19. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 18 wherein the elongated channel is configured to be pivotally coupled to an elongated shaft assembly about a pivot axis and wherein the anvil is pivotally supported relative to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative to the elongated channel about the pivot axis.

20. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 18 wherein the firing member comprises a tissue cutting head configured for axial travel through the surgical staple cartridge such that upon application of one of the firing motions thereto, the firing member moves the anvil into crushing engagement with the surgical staple cartridge to form the surgical staples therein.