Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a multistroke firing position indicator and retraction mechanism

• US 7,364,061 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEVERSON, RYAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/674,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/182.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/175.4, 227/180.1, 227/19, 606/143, 606/139, 606/142, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

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. In particular, the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order 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. A traction biased firing mechanism avoids binding in driving this straightened linked rack in cooperation with an anti-backup mechanism, with a lockout mechanism that prevents releasing the closure trigger during firing. Furthermore, an external indicator gives feedback to the surgeon as to how far firing has progressed, as well as providing a manual retraction capability.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate implement portion responsive to a firing motion to perform a surgical procedure; and

a handle connected to the elongate implement portion, comprising;

a firing mechanism operably configured to produce full travel of the firing motion between an unfired position and a fully fired position,

a firing trigger engageable to the firing mechanism during a plurality of firing strokes to move the firing mechanism during a plurality of firing strokes from the unfired position toward the fully fired position, and

an indicator member rotationally related to the firing mechanism to indicate the position of the firing mechanism during firing, the indicator member moveable from the unfired to the fully fired position;

wherein the handle further comprises a housing and the indicator member includes a knob exposed by the housing;

wherein the indicator member is disengageable from the firing mechanism during firing;

wherein the indicator member comprises an indicator gear having at least one dwell area and a gear section, the gear section engageable to the firing mechanism.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the indicator member includes an actuator, the indicator member coupled to the firing mechanism for transferring a return motion from the actuator to urge the firing mechanism toward the unfired position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle when grasped laterally exposes the knob, the handle further comprising a lever attached to the knob and extending longitudinally for actuation by either hand.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the firing mechanism includes a rack portion, the handle further comprising an idler gear enmeshed with the rack portion and registered to engage the gear section of the indicator gear.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the enlongate implement portion comprises an end effector, the end effector comprises a stapling device responsive to the longitudinal firing motion to perform the surgical operation of stapling.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the enlongate implement portion further comprises a shaft, the end effector comprises:

an elongate channel connected to the shaft;

an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel for clamping tissue; and

a staple cartridge received in the elongate channel;

wherein the firing member distally terminates in a firing bar operably configured to actuate the staple cartridge to form staples in the clamped tissue.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate implement portion responsive to a firing motion to perform a surgical procedure;

a handle operated by a user;

a firing member communicating the firing motion from the handle to the elongate implement portion;

a firing mechanism engageable to the firing member and operably configured to produce full travel of the firing motion between an unfired position and a fully fired position,

a firing trigger engageable to the firing mechanism during at least one firing stroke to move the firing mechanism from the unfired position toward the fully fired position, and

a manual retraction member configured for actuation by an operator and operably configured to impart a return motion to the firing member;

wherein the manual retraction member is disengageable from the firing mechanism during firing;

wherein the manual retraction member comprises an indicator gear having at least one dwell area and a gear section, the gear section engageable to the firing mechanism.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the manual retraction member further comprises a retraction know, the handle when grasped laterally exposes the retraction knob, the handle further comprising a lever attached to the knob and extending longitudinally for actuation by either hand.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the firing mechanism includes a rack portion, the handle further comprising an idler gear enmeshed with the rack portion and registered to engage the gear section of the indicator gear.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the elongate implement portion comprises an end effector, the end effector comprises a stapling device responsive to the longitudinal firing motion to perform the surgical operation of stapling.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein elongate implement portion comprises a shaft, the end effector comprises:

an elongate channel connected to the shaft;

an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel for clamping tissue; and

a staple cartridge received in the elongate channel;

wherein the firing member distally terminates in a firing bar operably configured to actuate the staple cartridge to form staples in the clamped tissue.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the implement portion is dimensionally sized for endo-scopic surgical procedures.