Linear stapling mechanism with cutting means

• US 5,307,976 A
• Filed: 07/20/1992
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Cook, Robert, Olson, Todd, Steed, Gary, Meiser, Dan, Rhad, Edward, Huffman, Eric, Powell, Darrel, Chen, Ralph, Otten, Matthew, Knodell, Thomas, VanOverloop, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): RADA, RINALDI I
• Application Number:
  US07/917,636
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/180, 227/176, 227/178
• US Class Current: 227/175.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2922 toggle linkages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2948 Sealing means, e.g. for sealing the interior from fluid entry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A stapler mechanism is described which contains a stapling assembly, and anvil assembly, firing means and knife means. These means are activated by a firing trigger. The anvil assembly is closed upon the stapling assembly by means of a closure trigger. The firing trigger is inoperable until the closure trigger has been activated. Another mechanism in the stapler is capable of locking the closure trigger after use so it does not spring open inadvertently before use of the firing trigger. Additionally, the stapler mechanism allows forward motion of both triggers and also is capable of allowing reverse motion of the closure trigger to open the mechanism.

Claims

1. An endoscopic surgical tissue fastening instrument comprising:

a tissue fastening portion;

a handle portion having a handle; and

an elongated shaft portion connecting said tissue fastening portion and said handle portion,

wherein said tissue fastening portion contains a cartridge portion having a plurality of fasteners arranged to be placed into tissue and an anvil portion arranged to clamp tissue between said anvil portion and said cartridge portion so as to permit the firing of said tissue fasteners into tissue; and

said cartridge portion and anvil portion pivotable one with respect to the other;

and said handle portion containing a closure trigger and a firing trigger, said closure trigger remotely connected to said anvil portion, said closure trigger capable of causing said anvil portion to pivot so as to bring said anvil portion into proximity with said cartridge portion, and said firing trigger connected to said cartridge portion and capable of firing said fasteners from said cartridge portion into said tissue so as to fasten said tissue, and

wherein said firing trigger and said closure trigger are pivotable with respect to said handle, and said closure trigger having;

an initial position, and a clamping position pivotally displaced from said initial position; and

said firing trigger having;

an initial position pivotally displaced from said closure trigger initial position, an intermediate position pivotally displaced from said firing trigger initial position, and a final position pivotally displaced from said intermediate position; and

further including engagement means on said closure trigger for actuating said firing trigger from its initial position to its intermediate position during motion of said closure trigger from its initial position to its clamping position.

2. The instrument of claim 1 further containing a knife in said tissue fastening portion, said knife further connected to said firing trigger, and said knife capable of severing tissue contained between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion.

3. The instrument of claim 1 further containing clutch means in said handle portion, said clutch means causing engagement of said firing trigger with said cartridge portion when said firing trigger has moved to said intermediate position so that said firing means is thereafter able to cause firing of said tissue fasteners from said cartridge portion during motion of said firing trigger from said intermediate position to said final position.

4. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said closure trigger pivots from said initial position to said clamping position, wherein said clutch means engages said firing trigger, and said closure trigger pivoting through an arc of between 25°

and 50°

from said initial position to said clamping position.

5. The instrument of claim 4 wherein said engagement means pivots said firing trigger to through an arc between about 30°

to 60°

from its initial position to its intermediate position during motion of said closure trigger from its initial position to its clamping position.

6. The instrument of claim 2 further comprising a lockout mechanism which contacts said knife during motion of said knife between said tissue fastening portion and said anvil portion such that said knife moves said lockout mechanism to a position wherein said firing trigger is prevented from being refired.

7. The instrument of claim 6 wherein staples are contained in a cartridge forming said cartridge portion and said lockout mechanism is placed in said cartridge.

8. The instrument of claim 7 further comprising an obstructing mechanism contained on said shaft portion, and said obstructing mechanism contacting said knife after said lockout mechanism has been actuated on said cartridge.

9. The instrument of claim 7 wherein lockout mechanism comprises a tab on said cartridge portion, said tab contacting said knife during motion of said knife between said tissue fastening portion and said anvil portion, such that said tab moves from an initial position to a blocking position and said knife prevented from being moved when said tab is in said blocking position.

10. The instrument of claim 3 wherein said anvil portion is further connected to anvil shifting means, and said anvil shifting means contacting said shaft portion, wherein upon movement of said closure trigger to said clamping position, said anvil shifting means guides said anvil portion first from a position apart from said cartridge portion to a position parallel with said cartridge portion and further to a position in close proximity with said cartridge portion.

11. The instrument of claim 10 wherein said anvil portion is preloaded when in proximity of said cartridge portion.

12. The instrument of claim 3 further comprising a pawl, wherein said firing trigger is prevented from engaging with said tissue fastening portion by said pawl.

13. The instrument of claim 4 further containing multiplier means connecting said closure trigger and said firing trigger, such that the angular arc of travel of said closure trigger from said initial position to said clamping position causes said multiplier means to produce a pivoting motion in said firing trigger through a greater angular arc than passed through by said closure trigger.

14. The instrument of claim 13 wherein said multiplier means is a radially operated two part linkage, said linkage causing said firing trigger and said closure trigger to rotate simultaneously along different circumferential axes.

15. The instrument of claim 14 wherein said clutch means simultaneously disengages said closure trigger from said firing trigger when said closure trigger is in said clamping position and said firing trigger is engaged by said clutch means to said tissue fastening portion.

16. The instrument of claim 4 further containing reset means connected to said handle portion and said closure trigger, said reset means actuated when said closure trigger is in said clamping position, and said reset means including a push button attached to spring means, and said push button actuating said spring means so that said spring means returns said closure trigger from its clamping position to its initial position and similarly moves said anvil portion to pivot out of proximity with said cartridge portion.

17. An endoscopic surgical tissue fastening instrument comprising:

a tissue fastening portion;

a handle portion having a handle; and

an elongated shaft portion connecting said tissue fastening portion and said handle portion,

wherein said tissue fastening portion contains a cartridge portion having a plurality of fasteners arranged to be placed into tissue and an anvil portion arranged to clamp tissue between said anvil portion and said cartridge portion so as to permit the firing of said tissue fasteners into tissue; and

said cartridge portion and anvil portion pivotable one with respect to the other;

and said handle portion containing a closure trigger and a firing trigger, said closure trigger remotely connected to said anvil portion, said closure trigger capable of causing said anvil portion to pivot so as to bring said anvil portion into proximity with said cartridge portion, and said firing trigger connected to said cartridge portion and capable of firing said fasteners from said cartridge portion into said tissue so as to fasten said tissue, and

wherein said firing trigger and said closure trigger are pivotable with respect to said handle, and said closure trigger having;

an initial position, and a clamping position pivotally displaced from said initial position; and

said firing trigger having;

an initial position pivotally displaced from said closure trigger initial position, an intermediate position pivotally displaced from said firing trigger initial position, and a final position pivotally displaced from said intermediate position; and

further including engagement means on said closure trigger for actuating said firing trigger from its initial position to its intermediate position during motion of said closure trigger from its initial position to its clamping position; and

further containing clutch means in said handle portion, said clutch means causing engagement of said firing trigger with said cartridge portion when said firing trigger has moved to said intermediate position so that said firing means is thereafter able to cause firing of said tissue fasteners from said cartridge portion during motion of said firing trigger from said intermediate position to said final position.

18. An endoscopic surgical tissue fastening instrument comprising:

a tissue fastening portion;

a handle portion having a handle; and

an elongated shaft portion connecting said tissue fastening portion and said handle portion,

wherein said tissue fastening portion contains a cartridge portion having a plurality of fasteners arranged to be placed into tissue and an anvil portion arranged to clamp tissue between said anvil portion and said cartridge portion so as to permit the firing of said tissue fasteners into tissue; and

said cartridge portion and anvil portion pivotable one with respect to the other;

and said handle portion containing a closure trigger and a firing trigger, said closure trigger remotely connected to said anvil portion, said closure trigger capable of causing said anvil portion to pivot so as to bring said anvil portion into proximity with said cartridge portion, and said firing trigger connected to said cartridge portion and capable of firing said fasteners from said cartridge portion into said tissue so as to fasten said tissue, and

wherein said firing trigger and said closure trigger are pivotable with respect to said handle, and said closure trigger having;

an initial position, and a clamping position pivotally displaced from said initial position; and

said firing trigger having;

an initial position pivotally displaced from said closure trigger initial position, an intermediate position pivotally displaced from said firing trigger initial position, and a final position pivotally displaced from said intermediate position; and

further including engagement means on said closure trigger for actuating said firing trigger from its initial position to its intermediate position during motion of said closure trigger from its initial position to its clamping position; and

further containing multiplier means connecting said closure trigger and said firing trigger, such that the angular arc of travel of said closure trigger from said initial position to said clamping position causes said multiplier means to produce a pivoting motion in said firing trigger through a greater angular arc than passed through by said closure trigger.

19. The instrument of claim 18 wherein said multiplier means is a radially operated two part linkage, said linkage rotating said firing trigger and said closure trigger simultaneously along different circumferential axes.

20. The instrument of claim 18 further containing a clutch means in said handle portion, said clutch means causing engagement of said firing trigger with said cartridge portion when said firing trigger has moved to said intermediate position so that said firing means is thereafter able to fire said tissue fasteners from said cartridge position during motion of said firing trigger from said intermediate position to said final position.

21. The instrument of claim 18 further containing a knife in said tissue fastening portion, said knife further connected to said firing trigger, and said knife capable of severing tissue contained between said cartridge portion and said anvil portion.

22. The instrument of claim 21 further comprising a lockout mechanism which contacts said knife during motion of said knife between said tissue fastening portion and said anvil portion such that said knife causes said lockout mechanism to move to a blocking position wherein lockout mechanism prevents said firing trigger from being refired.