SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS

• US 20160174973A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Baxter, Chester O. III, Harris, Jason L., Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• 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 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 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 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is coupled to a shaft assembly by an articulation joint. A flexible firing beam extends through the articulation joint to interface with a firing member in the surgical end effector to apply a firing motion thereto. In at least one form, a pair of firing beam support members flank the flexible firing beam across the articulation joint. The firing beam support members are movably coupled together to prevent lateral movement away from each other in directions transverse to a shaft axis that is defined by the shaft assembly while permitting the firing beam support members to move axially relative to each other.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in respond to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a pair of firing beam support members flanking said flexible firing beam across said articulation joint, said firing beam support members of said pair being movably coupled together to prevent lateral movement away from each other in directions transverse to said shaft axis while permitting said firing beam support members to move axially relative to each other.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said flexible firing beam includes first and second lateral sides and wherein said firing beam support members comprise:

a first compression plate positioned against a portion of said first lateral side of said flexible firing beam; and

a second compression plate positioned against another portion of said second lateral side of said flexible firing beam.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said first and second compression plates are coupled together by a proximal coupler and a distal coupler that each extend at least partially around corresponding portions of said first and second compression plates and portions of said firing beam that extend between said first and second compression plates.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said proximal coupler extends around corresponding proximal portions of said first and second compression plates and said distal coupler extends around corresponding distal portions of said first and second compression plates.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said corresponding proximal portions comprise upper and lower proximal notches in each of said first and second compression plates and wherein said corresponding distal portions comprise upper and lower distal notches in each of said first and second compression plates.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said upper and lower proximal notches and said upper and lower distal notches define a predetermined amount of axial travel that said first and second compression plates may move relative to each other.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said proximal and distal couplers extend completely around the corresponding portions of the first and second compression plates and the portions of said firing beam extending therebetween.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein each said firing beam support member comprises a distal end coupled to a corresponding portion of one of said first and second jaw members and a proximal end coupled to a corresponding portion of said shaft assembly.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 wherein each said distal end is movably coupled to said corresponding portion of one of said first and second jaw members and each said proximal end is movably coupled to said corresponding portion of said shaft assembly.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in response to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly to enable said surgical end effector to be selectively articulated relative to said shaft assembly about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a flexible firing beam support assembly flanking the flexible firing beam across said articulation joint, said flexible firing beam support assembly comprising;

a first side member adjacent a portion of a first side of said flexible firing beam;

a second side member adjacent another portion of a second side of said flexible firing beam and being coupled to said first side member in spaced apart relation thereto;

a distal end coupled to one of said first and second jaw members; and

a proximal end coupled to a portion of said shaft assembly.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said distal end is movably coupled to said one of said first and second jaw members and said proximal end is movably coupled to said portion of said shaft assembly.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said distal end comprises a distal flange assembly extending between said first and second side members and coupled thereto, said distal flange assembly being sized to be movably received within an aperture in said one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein and wherein said proximal end comprises a proximal flange assembly coupled to said first and second side members and extending therebetween and being configured to be movably received within another aperture in said portion of said shaft assembly for axial travel therein.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10 further comprising:

a first upper lip on said first side member and extending in a direction toward said second side member; and

a second support lip on said second side member and extending in another direction toward said first side member.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said firing beam support assembly further comprises:

a top portion spanning said portion and said another portion of said firing beam and interconnecting said first and second side members; and

a bottom portion spanning said portion and said another portion of said firing beam and interconnecting said first and second side members, said first and second side members and said top and bottom portions forming a flexible box-shaped member spanning said articulation joint.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 wherein said first and second side members include a plurality of openings therethrough.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 14 further comprising

a first friction spacer supported adjacent said first side of said firing beam;

and

a second friction spacer adjacent said second side of said firing beam.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 10 further comprising:

a closure system operably interfacing with at least one of said first and second jaw members for applying said closure motion thereto; and

a firing system operably interfacing with said firing beam to apply said firing motion thereto, said firing system being independently operable from said closure system.

18. A surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in response to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly to enable said surgical end effector to be selectively articulated relative to said shaft assembly about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a plurality of firing beam support members journaled on a portion of said firing beam corresponding with said articulation joint, each of said firing beam support members being independently moveable relative to each other.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 further comprising at least one axially movable articulation actuator extending through each said firing beam support member.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 wherein said at least one axially movable articulation actuator comprises a pair of tension cables extending through each said firing beam support member.