Surgical instrument having a directional switching mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle;
a firing drive configured to selectively generate a rotary firing motion and a rotary retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises;
a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle;
a first ratchet assembly, comprising;
a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel; and
a second ratchet assembly, comprising;
a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel;
an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle, said elongate shaft assembly comprising a rotatable drive shaft, wherein said drive shaft is operably engaged with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein said first pawl is selectively engaged with said first ratchet wheel to transmit said rotary firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft, and wherein said second pawl is selectively engaged with said second ratchet wheel to transmit said rotary retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft; and
an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising;
an elongate channel configured to operably receive a staple cartridge therein;
an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel; and
a cutting member operably supported within said elongate channel,wherein said cutting member is operably engaged with said elongate shaft assembly and is responsive to said rotary firing and said rotary retraction motions from said firing drive.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a switching mechanism which allows a surgeon to selectively advance or retract a staple driver and/or cutting member within a staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument can include a handle, a trigger operatively coupled to the handle, a firing drive, and an end effector. The firing drive can include a first ratchet assembly configured to advance a cutting member in the end effector and a second ratchet assembly configured to retract the cutting member. The trigger can include first and second pawls pivotably mounted thereon which are configured to be selectively engaged with the first and second ratchet assemblies, respectively. In at least one embodiment, the trigger can be configured to slide between a first position in which the first pawl is engaged with the first ratchet assembly and a second position in which the second pawl is engaged with the second ratchet assembly.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a firing drive configured to selectively generate a rotary firing motion and a rotary retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle; a first ratchet assembly, comprising; a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel; and a second ratchet assembly, comprising; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle, said elongate shaft assembly comprising a rotatable drive shaft, wherein said drive shaft is operably engaged with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein said first pawl is selectively engaged with said first ratchet wheel to transmit said rotary firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft, and wherein said second pawl is selectively engaged with said second ratchet wheel to transmit said rotary retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft; and an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably receive a staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel; and a cutting member operably supported within said elongate channel, wherein said cutting member is operably engaged with said elongate shaft assembly and is responsive to said rotary firing and said rotary retraction motions from said firing drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a firing drive configured to selectively generate a rotary firing motion and a rotary retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle; a first drive member; and a second drive member; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle, said elongate shaft assembly comprising a rotatable drive shaft, wherein said drive shaft is operably engaged with said first drive member and said second drive member, wherein said firing trigger is movable between a first position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said first drive member to transmit said rotary firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft and a second position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said second drive member to transmit said rotary retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft; and an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel; and a cutting member operably supported within said elongate channel, wherein said cutting member is operably engaged with said elongate shaft assembly and is responsive to said rotary firing and retraction motions from said firing drive, wherein said first drive member includes a plurality of first gear teeth, wherein said second drive member includes a plurality of second gear teeth, and wherein said drive shaft includes a first gear operably engaged with said first gear teeth and a second gear operably engaged with said second gear teeth. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a firing drive, comprising; a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle; a drive shaft operably engaged with said firing trigger, wherein an actuation of said firing trigger rotates said drive shaft about an axis; an elongate shaft assembly; a transmission, wherein said transmission is selectively configurable in a first configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about an axis in a first direction and a second configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction, said transmission comprising a pinion gear, wherein said drive shaft is mated with said elongate shaft assembly in said first configuration such that said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly rotate in a first ratio, and wherein said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly are mated with said pinion gear in said second configuration such that said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly rotate in a second ratio, wherein said first ratio is different than said second ratio; and an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel; and a cutting member operably supported within said elongate channel, wherein said cutting member is operably engaged with said elongate shaft assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a firing drive configured to selectively generate a firing motion and a retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger; a first ratchet assembly, comprising; a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel; and a second ratchet assembly, comprising; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel; and a rotatable drive shaft operably engageable with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said first ratchet wheel to transmit said firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said second ratchet wheel to transmit said retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a firing drive configured to selectively generate a firing motion and a retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger; a first ratchet assembly, comprising; a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel; and a second ratchet assembly, comprising; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel; a shaft assembly comprising a rotatable drive shaft operably engaged with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said first ratchet wheel to transmit said firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said second ratchet wheel to transmit said retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft; and a staple cartridge attachment portion configured to attach a staple cartridge assembly to said shaft assembly. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a firing drive configured to selectively generate a rotary firing motion and a rotary retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle; a first ratchet assembly, comprising; a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel; and a second ratchet assembly, comprising; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle, said elongate shaft assembly comprising a rotatable drive member, wherein said drive member is operably engageable with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said first ratchet wheel to transmit said rotary firing motion to said drive member and rotate said drive member, and wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said second ratchet wheel to transmit said rotary retraction motion to said drive member and rotate said drive member; and a staple cartridge attachment portion configured to attach a staple cartridge assembly to said elongate shaft assembly.
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28. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a firing drive configured to selectively generate a rotary firing motion and a rotary retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle; a first drive member; and a second drive member; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle, said elongate shaft assembly comprising a rotatable drive shaft, wherein said drive shaft is operably engageable with said first drive member and said second drive member, wherein said firing trigger is movable between a first position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said first drive member to transmit said rotary firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft and a second position in which said firing trigger is operably engaged with said second drive member to transmit said rotary retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft; and a staple cartridge attachment portion configured to attach a staple cartridge assembly to said elongate shaft assembly, wherein said first drive member includes a plurality of first gear teeth, wherein said second drive member includes a plurality of second gear teeth, and wherein said drive shaft includes a first gear operably engageable with said first gear teeth and a second gear operably engageable with said second gear teeth.
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29. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a firing drive configured to selectively generate a firing motion and a retraction motion, wherein said firing drive comprises; a firing trigger; a first ratchet assembly, comprising; a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel; and a second ratchet assembly, comprising; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel; a rotatable drive shaft operably engageable with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said first ratchet wheel to transmit said firing motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said second ratchet wheel to transmit said retraction motion to said drive shaft and rotate said drive shaft; and a staple cartridge attachment portion configured to attach a staple cartridge assembly to said surgical instrument.
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Specification