ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE

• US 20160206314A1
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Scheib, Charles J., Jaworek, Gary S., Hall, Steven G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,758,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector movably coupled to said shaft, said end effector comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and

an anvil movably coupled to said staple cartridge channel; and

a solenoid, comprising;

a housing mounted to said shaft;

windings configured to generate a magnetic field; and

a magnetic element mounted to said end effector, wherein said magnetic field is configured to displace said magnetic element and articulate said end effector relative to said shaft.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said end effector is pivotably mounted to said shaft about a pivot, and wherein said magnetic element is configured to rotate said end effector about said pivot when said magnetic element is displaced by said windings.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said solenoid is a first solenoid, and wherein said surgical stapler further comprises a second solenoid, said second solenoid comprising:

a second housing mounted to said shaft;

second windings configured to generate a second magnetic field; and

a second magnetic element mounted to said end effector, wherein said second magnetic field is configured to displace said second magnetic element and articulate said end effector relative to said shaft.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 3, wherein said end effector is pivotably mounted to said shaft about a pivot, wherein said first magnetic element is configured to rotate said end effector about said pivot in a first direction when said first magnetic element is displaced by said windings, and wherein said second magnetic element is configured to rotate said end effector about said pivot in a second direction when said second magnetic element is displaced by said second windings.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said magnetic element comprises an iron rod.

6. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector movably coupled to said shaft, said end effector comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a first gear portion; and

an anvil movably coupled to said staple cartridge channel; and

a motor, comprising;

a housing mounted to said shaft;

windings configured to generate a magnetic field;

a magnetic element configured to be rotated by the magnetic field produced by said windings; and

a second gear portion configured to be rotated by said magnetic element, wherein said second gear portion is operably engaged with said first gear portion such that the rotation of said magnetic element is transferred to said end effector.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 6, wherein said first gear portion comprises a rack of first teeth arranged in a non-linear array, and wherein said second gear portion comprises a pinion gear having a plurality of second teeth configured to drive said first teeth and rotate said end effector about an axis.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 6, wherein said first gear portion comprises a worm gear, and wherein said second gear portion comprises a worm.

9. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a shaft, comprising;

a frame; and

a driver rotatable relative to said frame;

an end effector, comprising;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge;

an anvil movably coupled to said staple cartridge channel; and

a gear portion, wherein said driver is operably engaged with said gear portion; and

a motor, comprising;

a first magnetic element mounted to said frame; and

a second magnetic element mounted to said driver, wherein said first magnetic element is configured to generate at least one magnetic field sufficient to displace said second magnetic element relative to said frame and rotate said driver.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein said first magnetic element comprises an electromagnet which can be selectively energized to create said magnetic field.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 9, further comprising a pivot connecting said end effector and said frame, wherein said rotatable driver is configured to articulate said end effector about said pivot.

12. The surgical stapler of claim 11, wherein said end effector is pivotable about a pivot axis, wherein said driver is rotatable about a shaft axis, and wherein said shaft axis is substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein said second magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet embedded within said driver.

14. A surgical stapler, comprising:

an actuator;

a first magnetic element operably coupled with said actuator;

a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge;

an anvil movably coupled to said staple cartridge channel; and

a second magnetic element operably coupled to said anvil, wherein said first magnetic element is configured to apply a magnetic force to said second magnetic element upon an actuation of said actuator, and wherein said magnetic force is sufficient to pivot said anvil relative to said staple cartridge channel.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 14, wherein said actuator is operably coupled to a power source, and wherein said actuator is configured to selectively supply electrical current to said first magnetic element.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said first magnetic element includes an electromagnet which is energized by the electrical current from the power source.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 15, wherein said actuator is configured to selectively switch the polarity of electrical current supplied to said first magnetic element.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 14, wherein the operation of said actuator is configured to change the polarity of said first magnetic element.