Surgical stapling instrument having articulation joint support plates for supporting a firing bar

• US 6,964,363 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Heuil, Joseph Charles, Wales, Kenneth S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DURAND, PAUL R
• Application Number:
  US10/615,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/175.1
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots

Abstract

A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic articulates an end effector by having a geared articulation mechanism that converts rotational motion from a handle portion. A firing bar longitudinally translates between the handle portion and the end effector. The firing bar head is thickened in order to present an undistorted cutting edge and engagement features to the opposing jaws of the end effector. The firing bar also advantageously includes a thinned or tapered proximal portion in the form of a strip or band that negotiates the articulation mechanism flexibility. To prevent buckling of the firing bar strip during firing, a pair of support plates adjustably flank the firing bar strip through the articulation mechanism. Various versions show resilient and spring engagement of each end of the support plate to distal and proximal sides of the articulation mechanism, as well as a resilient support plate.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce an articulation motion and a firing motion;

a shaft having a longitudinal axis attached to the handle portion for transferring the articulation motion and the firing motion;

an articulation mechanism coupling the shaft to the end effector and responsive to the articulation motion to rotate the end effector from the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

an end effector distally attached to the articulation mechanism;

a firing mechanism responsive to the firing motion and coupled for movement through the articulation mechanism and end effector in response to the firing motion;

a pair of support plates flanking the firing mechanism across the articulation mechanism,

each support plate including ends having a pair of springs longitudinally coupled with both sides of a frame recess formed in the articulation mechanism.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle portion comprises a handle means for producing a rotational articulation motion and a longitudinal firing motion, and the shaft comprises a shaft means for separately transferring the rotational articulation motion and the longitudinal firing motion.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the handle means further comprises a means for producing a longitudinal closing motion, and the shaft means further comprises a means for separately transferring the longitudinal closing motion.

4. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion, a closing motion, and an articulation motion;

a shaft coupled to the handle portion operable to separately transfer the firing motion, the closing motion, and the articulation motion;

an elongate channel coupled to the shaft;

an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel, responsive to the closing motion from the shaft;

a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil;

an articulation mechanism pivoting the elongate channel from the shaft in response to the articulation motion;

a pair of support plates flanking the firing mechanism across the articulation mechanism,

each support plate including ends having a pair of springs longitudinally coupled with both sides of a frame recess formed in the articulation mechanism.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the firing device engages the anvil and elongate channel to affirmatively space the anvil from the elongate channel during longitudinal travel between the anvil and elongate channel.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the firing device further comprises a distally presented cutting edge, the surgical instrument further comprising a staple cartridge engaged by the elongate channel and including a proximally opened slot for receiving the cutting edge of the firing device, the staple cartridge including a plurality of staples cammed upwardly by the distal longitudinal movement of the firing device.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion operably configured to produce a rotational articulation motion and a longitudinal firing motion;

a shaft operably configured to separately transfer the rotational articulation motion and the longitudinal firing motion;

an end effector distally coupled to the shaft means;

an articulation mechanism responsive to the rotational articulation motion to articulate the end effector;

a firing bar responsive to the longitudinal firing motion of the handle portion, the firing bar comprising;

an elongate strip longitudinally positioned for movement through the articulation mechanism, and

a firing bar head distally connected to the elongate strip and positioned for longitudinal movement in the end effector;

a support plate means for providing articulating support flanking the firing bar elongate strip through the articulation means; and

each support plate means including ends having a pair of springs longitudinally coupled with both sides of a frame recess formed in the articulation means.