SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING FEATURES

• US 20180168640A1
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,588,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• 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 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 : Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes first and second jaws that are movable about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other. A closure member is configured to move the first and second jaws from the fully open position to the fully closed position when the closure member is moved in a first direction. At least one jaw opening cam is supported for movement relative to the closure member and the first and second jaws. Each of the jaw opening cams is configured to apply an opening motion to the first and second jaws when the closure member is moved in a second direction.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other;

a shaft assembly operably interfacing with said surgical end effector, said shaft assembly comprising a closure member configured to move said first and second jaws from said fully open position to said fully closed position when said closure member is moved in a first direction and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

at least one jaw opening cam supported for movement relative to said closure member and said first and second jaws, each said at least one said jaw opening cam configured to apply an opening motion to said first and second jaws when said closure member is moved in a second direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one jaw opening cam is movably coupled to said closure member.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein each of said at least one jaw opening cam is movably coupled to said closure member by a tension spring.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a first arcuate cam surface that corresponds to each of said at least one jaw opening cams and wherein said second jaw comprises a second arcuate cam surface that corresponds to each of said first arcuate cam surface and curves in a direction away from said first arcuate cam surface.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein each of said at least one jaw opening cams has a wedge shape that is configured to simultaneously engage said corresponding first and second arcuate cam surfaces.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said surgical end effector is coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to a shaft axis defined by said shaft assembly.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a first closure cam surface and wherein said second jaw comprises a second closure cam surface, each of said first and second closure cam surfaces positioned for camming contact with said closure member as said closure member moves in said first direction to apply closure motions to said first and second jaws.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said shaft assembly further comprises:

a firing member assembly configured for axial movement in said first direction upon application of a firing motion thereto; and

an end effector firing member operably coupled to said firing member assembly configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of a surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in said elongate channel when said firing member assembly is moved in said first direction a predetermined firing distance.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other;

a shaft assembly operably interfacing with said surgical end effector, said shaft assembly comprising a closure member configured to move said first and second jaws from said fully open position to said fully closed position when said closure member is moved in a first direction and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a first wedge-shaped cam movably coupled to said closure member by a first extendable coupler for movement relative to said closure member; and

a second wedge-shaped cam movably coupled to said closure member by a second extendable coupler for movement relative to said closure member, said first and second wedge-shaped cams applying opening motions to said first and second jaws when said closure member is moved in a second direction.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first wedge shaped cam is oriented between a first arcuate cam surface on said first jaw and a second arcuate surface on said second jaw and wherein said second wedge shaped cam is oriented between another first arcuate cam surface on said first jaw and another second arcuate cam surface on said second jaw.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first extendable coupler comprises a first tension spring and wherein said second extendable coupler comprises a second tension spring.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said surgical end effector is coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to a shaft axis defined by said shaft assembly.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said shaft assembly further comprises:

a firing member assembly configured for axial movement in said first direction upon application of a firing motion thereto; and

an end effector firing member operably coupled to said firing member assembly configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of a surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in said elongate channel when said firing member assembly is moved in said first direction a predetermined firing distance.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first jaw comprises a first closure cam surface and wherein said second jaw comprises a second closure cam surface, each of said first and second closure cam surfaces positioned for camming contact with said closure member as said closure member moves in said first direction to apply closure motions to said first and second jaws.

17. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other;

a shaft assembly operably interfacing with said surgical end effector, said shaft assembly comprising a closure member configured to move said first and second jaws from said fully open position to said fully closed position when said closure member is moved in a first direction and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

at least one jaw opening cam supported between corresponding portions of said first and second jaws; and

means for movably coupling each of said at least one jaw opening cam to said closure member such that each of said at least one jaw opening cam is located distal to said closure member, said means for movably coupling applying a tension force to said at least one jaw opening cam as said closure member is moved in a second direction.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein said first jaw comprises a first closure cam surface and wherein said second jaw comprises a second closure cam surface, each of said first and second closure cam surfaces positioned for camming contact with said closure member as said closure member moves in said first direction to apply closure motions to said first and second jaws.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein said closure member is axially movable between an unactuated position corresponding to said fully open position to a fully actuated position corresponding to said fully closed position and wherein each of said at least one jaw opening cam is distal to said closure member when said closure member is in said unactuated position.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.