Surgical instrument including a locking assembly

• US 7,637,410 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada; Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez; Michelle
• Application Number:
  US11/544,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/181.1, 227/175.3, 227/176.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00845 of moving parts with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, an articulating tool assembly and a locking assembly is disclosed. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion and defines a first longitudinal axis. The articulating tool assembly defines a second longitudinal axis and is movable from a first position where the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position where the second longitudinal axis is at an angle to the first longitudinal axis. The locking assembly includes a pusher in mechanical cooperation with the body portion and a pivot in mechanical cooperation with the articulating tool assembly. The pusher includes a mating surface dimensioned to mate with a pivot mating surface. The pusher is distally biased towards the pivot and is forced proximally as the articulating tool assembly is moved to the second position.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion;

a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis;

an articulating tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis, the articulating tool assembly being disposed at a distal end of the body portion and being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis;

a locking assembly including a pusher in mechanical cooperation with the body portion and a pivot in mechanical cooperation with the articulating tool assembly, the pusher having an elongated pusher mating surface dimensioned to mate with an elongated pivot mating surface of the pivot, the pusher being distally biased towards the pivot and forced proximally as the articulating tool assembly is moved to the second position;

wherein each of the elongated pusher and pivot mating surfaces extends laterally across the first longitudinal axis; and

wherein a majority of a length of the pusher mating surface is substantially flat, the substantially flat length of the pusher mating surface being substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein a majority of a length of the pivot mating surface is substantially flat, the substantially flat length of the pivot mating surface being substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one spring is in mechanical cooperation with the body portion and distally biases the pusher.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further includes a link, the link being in mechanical engagement with the pivot and the pusher.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the link is in pivotable engagement with the pivot.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pivot includes a shelf, the shelf overlapping at least a portion of the pusher when the pusher mating surface is in contact with the pivot mating surface.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the articulating tool assembly is part of a disposable loading unit.

7. A disposable loading unit configured for releasable engagement with a surgical instrument, comprising:

a proximal portion of the disposable loading unit configured for releasable engagement with an endoscopic portion of the surgical instrument;

a body portion of the disposable loading unit defining a first longitudinal axis;

an articulating tool of the disposable loading unit assembly disposed distally of the body portion being securable to a distal end of the body portion and defining a second longitudinal axis, the articulating tool assembly being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis;

a locking assembly including a link in mechanical cooperation with the body portion, and a pusher, the pusher being in mechanical cooperation with the body portion and the locking assembly including a pivot in mechanical cooperation with the articulating tool assembly, the pusher having an elongated pusher mating surface dimensioned to mate with an elongated pivot mating surface of the pivot, the pusher being distally biased towards the pivot and forced proximally as the articulating tool assembly is moved to the second position;

wherein each of the elongated pusher and pivot mating surfaces extends laterally across the first longitudinal axis; and

wherein a length of the pusher mating surface is substantially flat, the substantially flat length of the pusher mating surface being substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein a length of the pivot mating surface is substantially flat, the substantially flat length of the pivot mating surface being substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis.

8. The disposable loading unit of claim 7, the pusher is distally biased towards the pivot by at least one spring.

9. The disposable loading unit of claim 7, wherein the link is in mechanical engagement with the pivot and the pusher.

10. The disposable loading unit of claim 9, wherein the link is in pivotable engagement with the pivot.

11. The disposable loading unit of claim 7, wherein the pivot includes a shelf, the shelf overlapping at least a portion of the pusher when the pusher mating surface is in contact with the pivot mating surface.