Surgical instrument incorporating EAP blocking lockout mechanism

• US 7,143,925 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Timperman, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US11/157,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/182.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. The handle produces multiple firing strokes to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e., staple and sever) the end effector. A linked transmission reduces the required handle longitudinal length, yet achieves a rigid, strong configuration when straightened for firing. One or more electrically activated lockout mechanisms, such as electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators, are biased to prevent firing unless activated. One lockout is a spring-biased side pawl firing mechanism enabled by an EAP block actuator. Another is a firing trigger EAP lock. Yet another is a closure yoke EAP lock. Yet a further one is a manual retraction EAP lock that locks the firing mechanism. Thereby, various sensed or commanded inputs may be incorporated to prevent inadvertent firing.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a control member received for movement in the elongate shaft;

an end effector operatively configured to actuate in response to a received control motion from the control member;

a handle proximally attached to the elongate shaft to position the end effector through a surgical opening;

a control actuator attached for movement to the handle and coupled to the control member, the control actuator operatively configured to move from a first position to a second position to produce the control motion upon an user input;

control circuitry operatively configured to generate an enabling signal; and

an electrically powered actuator biased into locking contact with the control actuator in the first position to prevent movement to the second position and biased to be responsive to the enabling signal to unlock from the control actuator.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrically powered actuator comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control actuator comprises a trigger.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control actuator comprises a longitudinally reciprocating member including a locking aperture, the electrically powered actuator comprising a locking bolt, spring biased into insertion through the locking aperture.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered actuator further comprises an electroactive polymer operatively configured to retract the locking bolt from the locking aperture.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control actuator further comprises a rack, the surgical instrument further comprising a manual retraction lever coupled by a ratchet mechanism to the rack, the electrically powered actuator comprising a pawl lock precluding ratcheting.