FIRING SYSTEM LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20180070942A1
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Baxter, III, Chester O., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Morgan, Jerome R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,039,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2903 transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/35 for telesurgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms

Abstract

Surgical end effectors and fastener cartridges having firing lockout arrangements for preventing or limit a firing stroke when a cartridge has not been operably installed in the end effector or a spent cartridge has not been replaced.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A surgical end effector, comprising:

an elongate channel;

a rotary drive shaft;

a firing member configured to pivot laterally between an inoperable position and an operable position, wherein a rotation of said rotary drive shaft is configured to move said firing member between a proximal position and a distal position when said firing member is in said operable position; and

a fastener cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fasteners ejectably positioned in said cartridge body; and

an alignment member comprising a fastener-ejecting surface, wherein said alignment member is configured to pivot said firing member laterally from said inoperable position to said operable position upon installation of said fastener cartridge in said elongate channel.

21. The surgical end effector of claim 20, wherein said cartridge body further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal channel extending from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said firing member is misaligned with said longitudinal channel when in said inoperable position, and wherein said firing member is aligned with said longitudinal channel when in said operable position.

22. The surgical end effector of claim 20, further comprising a first jaw comprising a first lockout notch configured to receive a portion of said firing member when said firing member is in said inoperable position.

23. The surgical end effector of claim 22, further comprising a second jaw comprising a second lockout notch configured to receive another portion of said firing member when said firing member is in said inoperable position.

24. The surgical end effector of claim 23, wherein said first lockout notch is on a first lateral side of the surgical end effector, and wherein said second lockout notch is on an opposing lateral side of the surgical end effector.

25. The surgical end effector of claim 22, further comprising a second jaw, wherein said second jaw obstructs the movement of said firing member in said longitudinal slot when said firing member is in said inoperable position.

26. The surgical end effector of claim 20, wherein said firing member is configured to drive said alignment member distally when said firing member moves from said proximal position to said distal position.

27. The surgical end effector of claim 20, wherein said alignment member further comprises an alignment notch configured to receive a portion of said firing member.

28. The surgical end effector of claim 20, further comprising a distal end portion comprising a cradle, wherein said rotary drive shaft further comprises a distal rotary bearing positioned in said cradle.

29. A surgical end effector, comprising:

an elongate channel;

a rotary drive arrangement;

a rotary drive shaft moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to said rotary drive arrangement;

a firing member, wherein a rotation of said rotary drive shaft is configured to move said firing member between a proximal position and a distal position; and

a fastener cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body;

a plurality of fasteners ejectably positioned in said cartridge body; and

an alignment member configured to move said rotary drive shaft from said disengaged position to said engaged position upon installation of said fastener cartridge in said elongate channel.

30. The surgical end effector of claim 29, wherein said rotary drive arrangement further comprises a bore, and wherein said rotary drive shaft comprises a bearing segment positioned in said bore.

31. The surgical end effector of claim 30, further comprising a retaining pin configured to bias said bearing segment toward a first position corresponding to said disengaged position of said rotary drive shaft.

32. The surgical end effector of claim 31, wherein said alignment member further comprises a wedge configured to move intermediate said bore and said bearing segment upon installation of said fastener cartridge in said elongate channel.

33. The surgical end effector of claim 32, wherein said alignment member further comprises a spring configured to bias said wedge out of engagement with said bearing segment.

34. The surgical end effector of claim 29, wherein said rotary drive arrangement further comprises an internal spur gear, and wherein said rotary drive shaft comprises an external spur gear configured to operably engage said internal spur gear.

35. The surgical end effector of claim 29, further comprising a distal end portion comprising a cradle, and wherein said rotary drive shaft comprises a distal rotary bearing positioned in said cradle.

36. A surgical end effector, comprising:

an elongate channel;

a distal end portion;

a rotary drive shaft extending to said distal end portion;

a firing member, wherein a rotation of said rotary drive shaft is configured to move said firing member between an unfired proximal position and a fired distal position; and

a fastener cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body defining a longitudinal firing path;

a plurality of fasteners ejectably positioned in said cartridge body; and

means for pivoting said firing member into alignment with said longitudinal firing path upon installation of said fastener cartridge in said elongate channel.

37. The surgical end effector of claim 36, further comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein said firing member further comprises a first flange slidably received by said first jaw and a second flange slidably received by said second jaw as said firing member moves from said unfired proximal position to said fired distal position.

38. The surgical end effector of claim 37, wherein said first jaw further comprises a first lockout notch configured to receive said first flange when said firing member is in an inoperable position, and wherein said second jaw further comprises a second lockout notch configured to receive said second flange when said firing member is in the inoperable position.

39. The surgical end effector of claim 38, wherein said first lockout notch is on a first lateral side of the surgical end effector, and wherein said second lockout notch is on an opposing lateral side of the surgical end effector.