Surgical stapling and cutting instrument with improved firing system

• US 7,588,175 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Timm, Richard W., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Timperman, Eugene L., Fugikawa, Leslie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash; Brian D
• Application Number:
  US11/820,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0069 with universal joint, cardan joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• 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 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• 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 2017/2934 arcuate shaped 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 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/715 Cable tensioning mechanisms for removing slack

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising an elongate channel assembly that has a distal end and a proximal end and is constructed to operably support a staple cartridge assembly therein. The instrument may further include a knife assembly that is oriented for travel within the elongate channel assembly. At least one first cable transition support is operably mounted to the distal end of the elongate channel and at least one second cable transition support is operably attached to the knife assembly. A first cable is affixed to the distal end of the elongate channel assembly and extends around the first and second cable transition supports to interface with a cable drive system. In various embodiments, the cable drive system may comprise a winch assembly or a pinion driven rack.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said elongate channel assembly constructed to operably support a staple cartridge assembly therein;

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

a first distal cable transition support operably mounted to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;

at least one second cable transition support operably attached to said knife assembly; and

a first cable having a distal end affixed to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said first cable extending around said second cable transition support on said knife assembly and said first distal cable transition support and having a proximal end interfacing with a winch assembly;

a second distal cable transition support operably mounted to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly; and

a second cable having a distal end affixed to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said second cable extending around said second cable transition support on said knife assembly and said second distal cable transition support and having a proximal end interfacing with said winch assembly.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first and second distal cable transition supports are selected from the group of cable transition supports consisting of pulleys, rods, and capstans.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said second cable transition support comprises a double pulley.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said winch assembly comprises:

a first rotatable spool to which said first cable is attached; and

a second rotatable spool to which said second cable is attached.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first rotatable spool has a decreasing diameter along its axial direction and wherein said second rotatable spool has a decreasing diameter along its axial direction.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first rotatable spool has a diameter in a central portion that is larger than diameters of the end portions thereof and wherein said second rotatable spool has a diameter in a central portion that is larger than the diameters on the end portions thereof.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first and second spools are driven by an actuation system selected from the group of actuation systems consisting of manually driven actuators, electrical powered motors, alternating current powered motors, and air powered motors.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first rotatable spool is rotatable in directions that are opposite from other directions in which said rotatable second spool rotates.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 further comprising a transmission assembly communicating with said winch assembly for selectively changing between directions in which the first and second rotatable spools rotate.

10. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical instrument comprising an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said elongate channel assembly constructed to operably support a staple cartridge assembly therein;

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

a first distal cable transition support operably mounted to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;

at least one second cable transition support operably attached to said knife assembly; and

a first cable having a distal end affixed to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said first cable extending around said second cable transition support on said knife assembly and said first distal cable transition support and having a proximal end interfacing with a winch assembly;

a second distal cable transition support operably mounted to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly; and

a second cable having a distal end affixed to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said second cable extending around said second cable transition support on said knife assembly and said second distal cable transition support and having a proximal end interfacing with said winch assembly;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and constructed to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

first and second distal cable transition supports on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;

first and second proximal cable transition supports operably attached to said proximal end of said elongate channel assembly;

a reciprocatable drive member;

a first cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member, said first cable operably supported on said first distal cable transition support and said first proximal cable transition support;

a second cable having one end attached to said knife assembly and another end attached to said reciprocatable drive member, said second cable operably supported on said second distal transition support and said second proximal transition support; and

at least one retract cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member and extending therebetween.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said first and second distal cable transition members and said first and second proximal cable transition members are selected from the group of cable transition members consisting of pulleys, rods, and capstans.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said reciprocatable drive member is selectively driven by a drive system selected from the group of drive systems consisting of manually driven actuator, electrical powered motors, alternating current powered motors, and air powered motors.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said drive system comprises:

a rack coupled said drive member; and

a driven pinion gear for selectively driving said rack in axial directions.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 further comprising a transmission assembly operably communicating with said driven pinion gear for selectively controlling a direction of rotation thereof.

16. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical instrument comprising an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and constructed to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

first and second distal cable transition supports on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;

first and second proximal cable transition supports operably attached to said proximal end of said elongate channel assembly;

a reciprocatable drive member;

a first cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member, said first cable operably supported on said first distal cable transition support and said first proximal cable transition support;

a second cable having one end attached to said knife assembly and another end attached to said reciprocatable drive member, said second cable operably supported on said second distal transition support and said second proximal transition support; and

at least one retract cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member and extending therebetween;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

17. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongate closure tube assembly operably coupled to said handle assembly;

an elongate channel assembly having a proximal end operably interfacing with said elongate closure tube assembly, said elongate channel assembly constructed to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;

two first distal cable transition supports operably attached to a distal end of said elongate channel assembly;

at least one second cable transition support operably attached to said knife assembly;

a first cable having a first anchor segment affixed to a first point of attachment on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said first cable extending from said first point of attachment around one of said first cable transition supports and said second cable transition support to interface with a winch assembly operably supported by said handle assembly; and

a second cable having a second anchor segment affixed to a second point of attachment on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said second cable extending from said second point of attachment around the other one of said first cable transition supports and said second cable transition support to interface with said winch assembly.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 further comprising an articulation joint in said elongate closure tube assembly.